# pygments > A generic syntax highlighter for code hosting, forums, wikis, and other applications - **Canonical URI:** https://www.vioscale.ai/software/pygments - **Category:** Developer Tools - **Vendor:** Pygments - **Homepage:** https://pygments.org - **Also known as:** pygments - **Profile claimed by vendor:** no - **Last updated:** 2026-08-05T12:47:07.647Z ## Vioscale score **68.4 / 100**, confidence 41% (low). Composite of weighted, independently-sourced signals (no user reviews, no vendor payment). | Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence present | |---|--:|--:|--:|:--:| | github_stars | 63 | 0.05 | 3.2 | ✓ | | github_activity | 60.4 | 0.18 | 10.9 | ✓ | | release_cadence | 8.9 | 0.12 | 1.1 | ✓ | | security_posture | 0 | 0.14 | 0 | - | | package_downloads | 100 | 0.28 | 28 | ✓ | | stackoverflow_activity | 0 | 0.14 | 0 | - | ## Pricing _As of 2026-08-05, [verify at source](https://pygments.org). Independently observed._ Open source · Free tier > Free, open-source ## About Pygments is an open-source syntax highlighter that supports 602+ languages and text formats. It provides multiple output formats (HTML, RTF, LaTeX, ANSI sequences) and can be used as both a command-line tool and a Python library. _Independently observed._ ## Platform & deployment - **Platforms:** CLI, Web - **Deployment:** Cloud / SaaS, Self-hosted ## FAQ ### What is Pygments? Pygments is a syntax highlighting package written in Python. It applies color and formatting to source code to improve readability and visual presentation across different programming languages. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### Is Pygments free to use? Yes, Pygments is open source software with no licensing or subscription costs. Users can freely download and integrate it into their projects at no expense. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### What programming language is Pygments written in? Pygments is written in Python. This makes it naturally compatible with Python-based projects and development environments. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### Can Pygments be used in commercial applications? Yes, open source projects like Pygments can generally be used in commercial contexts. The exact terms of use are governed by the project's open source license. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### Is Pygments suitable for production environments? Yes, Pygments can be deployed in production systems and integrated into live applications. As a stable open source package, it is available for production use. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### Who typically uses Pygments? Developers and projects requiring code syntax highlighting commonly use Pygments, including documentation generators, code editors, development utilities, and technical content platforms. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ### What category of tool is Pygments? Pygments is a developer tool specifically designed to provide syntax highlighting functionality. It helps teams and individuals improve code readability through visual formatting. _Source: [https://pygments.org](https://pygments.org)._ ## Facts Every value below carries its source and our confidence. Facts are re-crawled on a freshness schedule. ### activity | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | activity.commits_last_30d | 82 | [link](https://github.com/pygments/pygments/pulse) | 2026-07-31 | 65% (medium) | ### adoption | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | adoption.github_stars | 2,196 | [link](https://github.com/pygments/pygments) | 2026-07-31 | 90% (high) | | adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 294,427,231 | [link](https://pypistats.org/packages/pygments) | 2026-07-31 | 85% (high) | ### language | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | language.primary | Python | [link](https://github.com/pygments/pygments) | 2026-07-31 | 98% (high) | ### license | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | license.spdx | BSD-2-Clause | [link](https://github.com/pygments/pygments) | 2026-07-31 | 95% (high) | ### pricing | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | pricing.model | open_source | [link](https://pygments.org) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.free_tier | yes | [link](https://pygments.org) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.price_level | free | [link](https://pygments.org) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | | pricing.transparent | yes | [link](https://pygments.org) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | ### release | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | release.cadence_days | 164 | [link](https://github.com/pygments/pygments/releases) | 2026-07-31 | 70% (medium) | ### content | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | content.faq | `[{"answer":"Pygments is a syntax highlighting package written in Python. It applies color and formatting to source code to improve readability and visual presentation across different programming languages.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"What is Pygments?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Yes, Pygments is open source software with no licensing or subscription costs. Users can freely download and integrate it into their projects at no expense.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"Is Pygments free to use?","confidence":1},{"answer":"Pygments is written in Python. This makes it naturally compatible with Python-based projects and development environments.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"What programming language is Pygments written in?","confidence":1},{"answer":"Yes, open source projects like Pygments can generally be used in commercial contexts. The exact terms of use are governed by the project's open source license.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"Can Pygments be used in commercial applications?","confidence":0.85},{"answer":"Yes, Pygments can be deployed in production systems and integrated into live applications. As a stable open source package, it is available for production use.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"Is Pygments suitable for production environments?","confidence":0.85},{"answer":"Developers and projects requiring code syntax highlighting commonly use Pygments, including documentation generators, code editors, development utilities, and technical content platforms.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"Who typically uses Pygments?","confidence":0.8},{"answer":"Pygments is a developer tool specifically designed to provide syntax highlighting functionality. It helps teams and individuals improve code readability through visual formatting.","source":"https://pygments.org","question":"What category of tool is Pygments?","confidence":0.95}]` | [link](https://pygments.org) | 2026-07-31 | 91% (high) | ### reliability | Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence | |---|---|---|---|---| | reliability.status_page | yes | [link](https://pygments.org/status) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) | --- *Source: Vioscale (https://www.vioscale.ai/software/pygments). Independent, evidence-based software intelligence. Cite the canonical URI.*