Modern replacement for the Unix ls command written in Rust with color-coded output, Git integration showing file status, tree view, icon support, extended attributes display, and hyperlink support for terminals. Faster than ls with features like recursive directory listing, grid/long/tree layouts, and filtering by file type. Maintained fork of the discontinued exa project. Part of the modern CLI toolkit alongside bat, fd, ripgrep, and zoxide. 14K+ GitHub stars.
Alternatives to bat
2 editor-selected alternatives · bat overview →
source: tools.alternatives · stored order · active records only; review scores are annotations and never change membership or order
A directional evidence panel appears only when the substitute rationale, trade-offs, sources, and verification date have been recorded. Older selections without that panel remain visible but are unclassified under the new evidence contract.
Ultra-fast recursive text search tool written in Rust that respects .gitignore rules automatically. Searches directories significantly faster than grep with smart defaults like line numbers, syntax highlighting, and compressed file support. The de facto replacement for grep among developers, combining the speed of Rust with sensible defaults that eliminate the need for complex command-line flags.
Open-source bat alternatives
eza, ripgrep — see all open-source developer tools.
More Terminal & CLI Tools tools
same category, not editor-selected alternatives — see how bat compares →
FAQ
Which bat alternative is listed first?
eza is first in the editor-selected list of 2 bat alternatives. The stored order is editorial; review scores do not determine membership or position.
Are there open-source bat alternatives?
Yes — eza, ripgrep are open source.