BCD

Command-line tools › H

Run highlight from ChatGPT or Claude

Convert source code to formatted text with syntax highlighting. With BCD, ChatGPT, Claude and other AI apps can install and run highlight on your own computer and read what it prints.

Works on

About highlight

Version
4.22
License
GPL-3.0-or-later
Installs (last 365 days)
6,317 · #1,071 in Homebrew
Homepage
andre-simon.de/doku/highlight/en/highlight.php
Install
brew install highlight

Try asking

“Install highlight with Homebrew and show me its version”
“Read highlight --help and give me three useful examples for my files”
“Update highlight and tell me what changed”

Depends on

lua

Questions

Can ChatGPT run highlight on my computer?
Yes. With BCD on your Mac or Linux computer and command permission turned on for it, ChatGPT runs highlight there and reads the output. Claude and other apps with MCP connectors can too.

Do I need to install highlight first?
No. If Homebrew is installed, the AI can run brew install highlight for you.

Is it safe?
A new computer starts read-only: running commands is turned on per computer, and BCD reaches only the folders you allow.

Try it on your computer

BCD connects ChatGPT, Claude and other AI apps to your own Mac, Windows or Linux computer. One computer is free, with 20,000 tool calls a month and no card.

Program data from Homebrew, updated 2026-11-11. Installs are Homebrew's installs on request over the last 365 days.