shiki is a syntax highlighting library that leverages the power of the Visual Studio Code syntax highlighter. It provides a simple and effective way to highlight code snippets in various programming languages, making it an excellent choice for developers looking to enhance the readability of their code in web applications. Shiki is particularly known for its high-quality themes and support for a wide range of languages, making it a versatile tool for any project that requires code highlighting.

While shiki is a powerful option for syntax highlighting, there are several alternatives available in the JavaScript ecosystem. Here are a few noteworthy ones:

• ace-builds is a standalone code editor that comes with built-in syntax highlighting capabilities. It is highly customizable and supports a wide range of programming languages. Ace is particularly useful for applications that require a full-featured code editor, as it provides not only syntax highlighting but also features like code folding, auto-completion, and more. If you need an integrated code editing experience, ace-builds is a great choice.

• highlight.js is a popular syntax highlighting library that automatically detects the language of the code being highlighted. It supports a wide variety of languages and is easy to integrate into web applications. Highlight.js is lightweight and offers a range of themes, making it a solid choice for projects that require quick and effective syntax highlighting without the need for extensive customization.

• prismjs is another lightweight syntax highlighting library that is highly extensible and customizable. It supports a wide range of languages and provides a variety of plugins for additional functionality, such as line numbers and code highlighting in different themes. Prism.js is particularly well-suited for projects that require a flexible and customizable syntax highlighting solution.

• react-syntax-highlighter is a React component that wraps around the popular syntax highlighting libraries, including Prism and Highlight.js. It allows developers to easily integrate syntax highlighting into their React applications with minimal setup. If you are working within a React environment and want a straightforward way to add syntax highlighting, react-syntax-highlighter is an excellent option.

To see how shiki compares with ace-builds, highlight.js, prismjs, and react-syntax-highlighter, check out the comparison: Comparing ace-builds vs highlight.js vs prismjs vs react-syntax-highlighter vs shiki.