Stories with Tag Syntax Highlighting

• Herb: Powerful and seamless HTML-aware ERB parsing and tooling

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  Posted: 2025-04-16 12:52:27

  Verbose tl;dr

  Herb is a new command-line tool and Rust library designed to improve the developer experience of working with ERB (Embedded Ruby) templates. It focuses on accurate and efficient parsing of HTML-aware ERB, addressing issues like incorrect syntax highlighting and code completion in existing tools. Herb offers features such as syntax highlighting, formatting, linting (with custom rules), and symbolic renaming within ERB templates, enabling more productive development and refactoring of complex view logic. By understanding the underlying HTML structure, Herb can provide more contextually relevant results and prevent issues common in tools that treat ERB as plain text or simple HTML. It aims to become an essential tool for Ruby on Rails developers and anyone working extensively with ERB.

  The Herb project introduces a novel approach to working with ERB (Embedded Ruby) templates, focusing on powerful parsing capabilities and seamless integration with HTML. Instead of treating ERB as plain text with embedded Ruby code, Herb leverages an HTML-aware parser. This allows it to understand the structure and context of the HTML within the template, leading to more accurate and robust manipulation and analysis.

  Herb's core strength lies in its deep understanding of HTML syntax. By parsing both HTML and embedded Ruby code simultaneously, it avoids the pitfalls of traditional regular expression-based approaches which can struggle with complex HTML structures and edge cases. This HTML awareness allows for sophisticated tooling and transformations previously difficult to achieve with ERB.

  The project offers a variety of practical tools built upon this foundation. One key feature is rewriting, which enables modifications and transformations of the ERB template based on its HTML structure. This contrasts with simpler string manipulation and allows for changes that respect and maintain the HTML integrity. For example, adding or modifying attributes of specific HTML tags becomes a straightforward operation.

  Another highlighted capability is linting. Herb's linting functionalities go beyond basic syntax checking. The HTML awareness allows for more context-aware linting rules, potentially identifying issues related to HTML structure, accessibility, or best practices, in addition to standard Ruby code linting within the ERB template.

  Furthermore, Herb provides formatting capabilities. By understanding the HTML structure, Herb can format both the HTML and embedded Ruby code in a consistent and aesthetically pleasing way. This ensures a standardized code style within ERB templates, enhancing readability and maintainability.

  The project emphasizes a focus on performance, aiming to provide efficient parsing and tooling for even large and complex ERB files. It also strives for a seamless integration into existing developer workflows, suggesting potential for incorporation into editors and build processes. Overall, Herb positions itself as a robust and powerful solution for managing and manipulating ERB templates, addressing limitations of traditional tools through its innovative HTML-aware approach.

  • html
  • ERB
  • ruby
  • Templating
  • parsing
  • Tooling
  • Web Development
  • Frontend Development
  • Backend Development
  • Code Generation
  • Syntax Highlighting
  • Linting
  • Formatting

  Summary of Comments ( 3 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43704853

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised Herb for its innovative approach to templating, particularly its HTML-awareness and the potential for improved refactoring capabilities. Some expressed excitement about its ability to parse and manipulate ERB templates more effectively than existing tools. A few commenters questioned the long-term viability of the project given its reliance on Tree-sitter, citing potential maintenance challenges and parser bugs. Others were curious about specific use cases and integration with existing Ruby tooling. Performance concerns and the overhead introduced by parsing were also mentioned, but overall the reception was positive, with many expressing interest in trying out Herb.

  The Hacker News post titled "Herb: Powerful and seamless HTML-aware ERB parsing and tooling" has generated several comments discussing the merits and potential drawbacks of the Herb tool.

  Several commenters express enthusiasm for the project, praising its ability to address the challenges of working with ERB templates, particularly within complex HTML structures. One user highlights the difficulty of refactoring ERB and how Herb seems to offer a solution to this long-standing problem. Another appreciates the ability to rename components and the potential time savings this feature offers. The clean and appealing design of the website is also mentioned positively.

  Some users raise concerns and questions. One commenter questions the performance implications of parsing HTML and ERB simultaneously, expressing a preference for precompiling ERB to avoid runtime parsing overhead. This sparks a discussion about the performance characteristics of various templating approaches, with another user suggesting that the performance concerns might be negligible in many real-world scenarios. The maintainability of generated code is also raised as a potential issue.

  Another thread of discussion revolves around the choice of Ruby as the implementation language for Herb. One commenter expresses a desire for similar tooling in other languages, specifically mentioning Elixir. This leads to a brief discussion about the availability (or lack thereof) of comparable tools in different ecosystems.

  A few users share their personal experiences and workflows related to templating languages, offering alternative approaches and suggesting potential integrations with other tools. One user mentions using a custom DSL for templates, highlighting the benefits of a domain-specific approach.

  Overall, the comments reflect a generally positive reception of Herb, acknowledging its potential to improve the developer experience when working with ERB templates. However, some pragmatic concerns regarding performance and the broader applicability of the tool are also voiced.

• Postgres Language Server: Initial Release

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  Posted: 2025-03-29 09:13:43

  Verbose tl;dr

  The Postgres Language Server, now in its initial release, brings rich IDE features like auto-completion, hover hints, go-to-definition, and diagnostics to PostgreSQL development. Built using Rust and Tree-sitter, it parses SQL and PL/pgSQL, offering improved developer experience within various code editors and IDEs via the Language Server Protocol (LSP). While still early in its development, the project aims to enhance PostgreSQL coding workflows with intelligent assistance and real-time feedback.

  The Postgres Language Server, now available in its initial release, introduces robust language support for PostgreSQL within various code editors and Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). This server leverages the power of the pg_query library to parse PostgreSQL SQL queries and provide developers with valuable features that enhance productivity and code quality. Specifically, this release supports:

  • Syntax Highlighting: The server color-codes different parts of SQL queries based on their syntactic roles (keywords, identifiers, literals, etc.), improving readability and making it easier to spot syntax errors.
  • Completion Suggestions: As the user types a query, the language server offers context-aware suggestions for keywords, table names, column names, functions, and other database objects. This autocomplete functionality speeds up development and reduces typos.
  • Hover Tooltips: By hovering over a database object (e.g., a table name or function call), the user can access detailed information, including the object's definition, data type, and associated comments, directly within their editor.
  • Go-to Definition: Clicking on a database object allows developers to jump directly to its definition within their project or connected database. This facilitates navigation and understanding of the database schema.
  • Diagnostics and Error Reporting: The language server performs real-time analysis of SQL queries and flags potential errors or inefficiencies, such as syntax errors, misspelled object names, or ambiguous references. This early feedback helps prevent bugs and improves query quality.
  • Formatting: The server can automatically format SQL queries according to predefined style rules, ensuring consistent code formatting across a project.

  Developed by the Supabase community, the Postgres Language Server is implemented in Rust, promising performance and reliability. The project is released under the permissive MIT license, encouraging community contributions and wider adoption. While this initial release represents a significant step forward, the project roadmap outlines plans for future enhancements, including support for more advanced features like query planning insights, refactoring tools, and integration with additional database systems. The project is available for use with various editors and IDEs through language server client extensions, enhancing the development experience for PostgreSQL users.

  • Postgres
  • PostgreSQL
  • Language Server
  • LSP
  • SQL
  • Database
  • IDE
  • Code Completion
  • Syntax Highlighting
  • diagnostics
  • Supabase
  • Open Source
  • Software Development
  • Programming Tools

  Summary of Comments ( 30 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43513996

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally expressed enthusiasm for the Postgres Language Server, praising its potential and the effort put into its development. Some highlighted its usefulness for features like auto-completion, go-to-definition, and hover information within SQL editors. A few commenters compared it favorably to existing tools, suggesting it could be a superior alternative. Others discussed specific desired features, such as integration with pgTAP for testing and improved support for PL/pgSQL. There was also interest in the project's roadmap, with inquiries about planned support for other PostgreSQL features.

  The Hacker News post titled "Postgres Language Server: Initial Release" sparked a discussion with several insightful comments. Many commenters expressed enthusiasm for the project and its potential.

  One commenter highlighted the utility of the language server, especially for features like "go to definition" and autocompletion, noting how helpful these can be when working with complex SQL queries or stored procedures. They emphasized that such tools can significantly improve developer productivity.

  Another user pointed out the increasing demand for and adoption of language servers across different programming ecosystems, positioning this Postgres language server as a valuable addition to this trend. They appreciated the project's contribution to making database development more streamlined.

  A different commenter discussed the challenges of implementing a language server for SQL, mentioning the complexities of parsing SQL dialects correctly. They lauded the project for tackling this difficult task. They also expressed hope for future support of specific database features like functions and procedures, understanding that a robust language server requires handling various database objects.

  Someone shared their positive experience with the language server within their preferred editor, Neovim, coupled with the nvim-lspconfig plugin. They served as a real-world example of the project's practical application.

  The practicality of the language server was further echoed by another commenter who specifically appreciated its assistance with recalling column names, a common pain point in database development.

  A user with a deeper understanding of language servers touched upon the intricacies of the Language Server Protocol (LSP) and its role in facilitating features like autocompletion. They underscored the importance of correctly implementing the LSP specifications for seamless integration with different editors and IDEs.

  Finally, a commenter discussed the potential benefits for users of pgAdmin, a popular Postgres administration tool, suggesting that integration with pgAdmin would significantly enhance its functionality. They envisioned the language server features directly assisting users within the pgAdmin interface.

  Overall, the comments reflect a positive reception of the Postgres Language Server, with users highlighting its potential to enhance productivity, address common database development challenges, and integrate well with existing tooling. Several commenters also expressed anticipation for future developments and wider adoption of the project.

• Emacs Tree-sitter custom highlighting

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  Posted: 2025-03-01 08:17:29

  Verbose tl;dr

  This blog post details how to implement custom syntax highlighting in Emacs using tree-sitter. The author demonstrates creating a minor mode for highlighting TODO items and FIXMEs in comments within C++ code. This involves defining specific queries that target the comment nodes in the tree-sitter parse tree and then associating faces (colors and styles) with the captured nodes. The example provides a practical illustration of leveraging tree-sitter's structured code understanding to achieve more precise and context-aware highlighting than traditional regular expression-based approaches. The post also briefly covers how to incorporate these queries into a theme for broader application and includes a troubleshooting tip for ensuring tree-sitter highlighting is active.

  Amit Patel's blog post, "Emacs Tree-sitter Custom Highlighting," explores leveraging the power of tree-sitter, a parsing library, for granular and context-aware syntax highlighting within Emacs. He begins by highlighting the limitations of traditional regular expression-based highlighting, noting its struggles with complex language constructs and the potential for slowdowns due to backtracking. Tree-sitter, in contrast, parses the code into an abstract syntax tree, allowing for more precise and efficient highlighting based on the actual structure of the code.

  Patel meticulously details the process of setting up tree-sitter in Emacs, including the installation of necessary packages and configuration steps. He then delves into the core of the post: customizing highlighting rules. He explains how to define custom "queries" using tree-sitter's query language. These queries effectively target specific nodes in the parsed syntax tree, enabling the application of distinct highlighting styles. He provides concrete examples demonstrating how to highlight function calls, variable declarations, and even specific keywords within different contexts.

  He emphasizes the flexibility and expressiveness of tree-sitter queries, showcasing how they can match patterns based not just on node types but also on their relationships within the tree, enabling highly specific highlighting scenarios. He illustrates this with an example of highlighting the self parameter in Python methods. Patel also covers handling language-specific configurations and ensuring smooth integration with existing Emacs themes.

  Furthermore, Patel explores more advanced usage, such as highlighting based on capture groups within queries and dynamically updating the highlighting as the code is modified. He acknowledges the initial complexity of learning the tree-sitter query language but argues that its power and precision justify the effort. He concludes by expressing his enthusiasm for the potential of tree-sitter to significantly enhance the code editing experience in Emacs. He encourages readers to explore the possibilities and contribute to the growing ecosystem of tree-sitter grammars and highlighting configurations.

  • Emacs
  • Tree-sitter
  • Syntax Highlighting
  • Customization
  • Elisp
  • Text Editor
  • Code Editor
  • parsing
  • programming
  • Software Development

  Summary of Comments ( 0 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43217195

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely praised the integration of tree-sitter into Emacs, highlighting the significant improvements in syntax highlighting accuracy and performance. Some expressed excitement over the potential for more advanced features like semantic highlighting and code navigation enabled by tree-sitter's deeper understanding of code structure. A few users shared their personal experiences with setting up and using tree-sitter in Emacs, offering tips and workarounds for common issues. One commenter noted the wider adoption of tree-sitter across various editors and its positive impact on the developer experience. Others discussed the technical details of tree-sitter's implementation, comparing it to traditional regular expression-based highlighting. A couple of comments touched on the potential for future improvements, such as asynchronous parsing and better support for more obscure languages.

  The Hacker News post "Emacs Tree-sitter custom highlighting" discussing Amit Patel's blog post about the same topic has generated several comments. Many users express excitement and appreciation for the advancements in syntax highlighting offered by tree-sitter integration within Emacs.

  Several commenters discuss the performance improvements and accuracy of tree-sitter parsing compared to traditional regular expression-based highlighting. One user points out that tree-sitter is particularly beneficial for languages with complex grammars, where regex-based highlighting often struggles. They specifically mention JavaScript as an example.

  Another commenter praises the ability to highlight based on semantic understanding, enabling features like highlighting all variables of a specific type within a scope. This is highlighted as a significant improvement over purely syntactic highlighting.

  Some discussion revolves around the installation and configuration of tree-sitter in Emacs. One user asks for clarification on the setup process, and another provides helpful links and tips for getting started.

  A few comments mention other text editors and IDEs that have already adopted tree-sitter, highlighting its growing popularity and effectiveness. One user mentions its use in Neovim, and another points to its origins within Atom.

  The overall sentiment in the comments is positive, with many users excited about the potential of tree-sitter to enhance the Emacs editing experience. Several express their intent to try out the new features and contribute to its development. The improvements to accuracy, performance, and the ability for semantic highlighting are repeatedly lauded.