# Ruby newbie: IRB syntax highlighting

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-newbie-irb-syntax-highlighting/50147>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [December 13, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-newbie-irb-syntax-highlighting/50147 "2005-12-13T16:44:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tahir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@Tahir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tahir)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 4:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-newbie-irb-syntax-highlighting/50147/1 "2005-12-13T16:44:38Z")

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Hi

I am new to Ruby (just a couple of days) and programming.

I have got IRB in my shell now (I have Kubuntu installed) but was  
wondering if there is a way to switch on syntax highlighting in IRB so  
typed code can have some colour.

I have read of “eval.rb” which seems to be able to highlight code but I  
don’t I have this installed.

Any ideas?

I have ‘Kate’ as my text editor and obviously this can show code in  
colour but it would be nice to learn Ruby interactively in colour!

Thank you

Tahir

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**Author:** ![Tahir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@Tahir](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Tahir)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-newbie-irb-syntax-highlighting/50147/2 "2005-12-14T01:40:28Z")

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I have just figured out what “eval.rb” is !!  
Have downloaded it from  
[http://www.rubyist.net/~slagell/ruby/eval.txt](http://www.rubyist.net/~slagell/ruby/eval.txt)

irb now has colour highlighting!

Thanks anyway chaps

Tahir