4.8
QLColorCode
QuickLook plugin for source code with syntax highlighting.
SHARE
Screenshots (1)
Screenshot 1 of 1
Overview
QLColorCode is the classic, ultra-lightweight **macOS Quick Look plugin (.qlgenerator) designed to preview source code with syntax highlighting inside Finder using the GNU Highlight** library. Distributed as a streamlined bundle weighing only a few megabytes, QLColorCode brings instant code coloring to developers via simple defaults customization.
How It Works
QLColorCode operates through structured, deterministic execution stages:
**Classic Finder
.qlgenerator Plugin**: Registers lightweight source code Quick Look rendering into ~/Library/QuickLook for minimal overhead.GNU Highlight Pipeline: Leverages the fast
highlight engine to colorize C, C++, Swift, Python, Go, Java, and shell scripts on Spacebar preview.Defaults-Driven Configuration: Adjusts font families, text sizes, tab widths, and UTF-8/UTF-16 encodings natively via macOS
defaults write.Zero Background Memory Footprint: Executes cleanly inside Apple's transient
qlmanage sandbox only during active previews.Key Technical Features & Capabilities
**Zero-Daemon
.qlgenerator Architecture**: Runs purely inside macOS Quick Look processes with zero menu bar icons or idle RAM consumption.GNU Highlight Engine: Parses and formats source code syntax across C, C++, Objective-C, Java, Swift, Python, XML, and Shell files rapidly.
**Scriptable
defaults Configuration**: Configures fonts (Menlo, JetBrains Mono), font sizes, encodings (UTF-8, UTF-16), and color themes cleanly via terminal commands.Longstanding Open-Source Stability: Audited Objective-C codebase engineered for minimal Finder integration overhead.
Architecture & Technology Stack
Primary Languages: Objective-C, C, Shell
Libraries & APIs: GNU Highlight, Boost Headers, Apple QuickLook Plugin API
Install Target:
~/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgeneratorSupported Platforms: macOS (Universal Apple Silicon & Intel)
System Requirements
| Specification | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | macOS (Universal Apple Silicon & Intel) | Latest stable release build |
| Processor Architecture | 4-Core x86_64 or Apple Silicon M1 | 8-Core Apple Silicon / Core i7+ |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB Unified Memory | 16 GB+ High-Speed RAM |
| Disk Space | 1 GB free SSD storage | 5 GB+ free SSD storage |
Installation & Setup Guide
macOS Installation
bash
brew install --cask qlcolorcode
Or download QLColorCode.qlgenerator.zip, extract QLColorCode.qlgenerator, and drop it inside ~/Library/QuickLook/, then run qlmanage -r.
Building from Source
bash
git clone https://github.com/anthonygelibert/QLColorCode.git cd QLColorCode # Ensure Boost headers are installed (brew install boost) open QLColorCode.xcodeproj
How to Use & Workflow
1
Install Generator Bundle: Copy
QLColorCode.qlgenerator into ~/Library/QuickLook (create directory if absent).2
Reset Quick Look Cache: Execute
qlmanage -r in Terminal to reload Finder plugin bindings.3
Customize via Terminal: Adjust preferences smoothly using
defaults write org.n8gray.QLColorCode font Monaco.Troubleshooting & Common Issues
**Issue: macOS Sequoia restricts legacy
.qlgenerator plugins.***Cause*: Apple tightened modern macOS sandboxing around legacy QuickLook generators in favor of App Extensions.
*Resolution*: Ensure
xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator is cleared on supported macOS versions, or pair with modern QuickLook App Extensions (Glance or Syntax Highlight) on macOS 15+.How to Use & Getting Started
## Installation & Setup Guide
### macOS Installation
```bash
brew install --cask qlcolorcode
```
Or download `QLColorCode.qlgenerator.zip`, extract `QLColorCode.qlgenerator`, and drop it inside `~/Library/QuickLook/`, then run `qlmanage -r`.
### Building from Source
```bash
git clone https://github.com/anthonygelibert/QLColorCode.git
cd QLColorCode
# Ensure Boost headers are installed (brew install boost)
open QLColorCode.xcodeproj
```
Ready to run QLColorCode?
100% Free & Open-Source native desktop software. Star the repository to support development.
