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A `cat` command clone with syntax highlighting, Git integration, and more.

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Tracked since2026
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The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free, no paid tier

Biggest pro

Better cat command

Biggest con

Learning new tool

TL;DR - bat

  • Modern `cat` replacement with syntax highlighting.
  • Integrates with Git to show file modifications.
  • Features automatic paging and can be combined with other CLI tools.
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups

What is bat?

Editorial review
bat is a command-line utility that acts as a modern replacement for the standard `cat` command. It enhances the display of file contents by adding features like syntax highlighting for a wide range of programming and markup languages, and integration with Git to show file modifications. It also includes automatic paging for large files, the ability to show non-printable characters, and seamless concatenation of multiple files. Designed for developers and anyone who frequently views text files in the terminal, bat improves readability and provides useful context. It can be easily integrated with other command-line tools like `fzf`, `find`, `fd`, `ripgrep`, `tail -f`, and `git diff`, making it a versatile addition to any terminal workflow. Its intelligent behavior allows it to act as a simple `cat` replacement when piping output, while offering advanced features for interactive viewing.

Available on: Linux, Windows, macOS

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Better cat command
  • Syntax highlighting
  • Git integration
  • Fast performance
  • Good defaults

Cons

  • Learning new tool
  • Different from cat
  • Config for customization
  • Large binary
  • Rust dependency

Key Features

Cat replacementSyntax highlightingGit integrationLine numbersTheme supportAutomatic paging

Pricing Plans

Open Source

Free

  • Full source code access
  • Apache License 2.0 license
  • Community support
  • Self-hosted

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bat FAQ

What is bat?

bat is a cat replacement that adds syntax highlighting, Git integration, and automatic paging to file viewing in the terminal.

Is bat free?

Yes, bat is completely free and open-source under the MIT/Apache 2.0 license.

How do I replace cat with bat?

Add 'alias cat=bat' to your shell config file, or use 'bat --plain' for output closer to cat.

Source: github.com

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