Currently, code blocks in Claude Code's chat interface only show a dark background without full syntax highlighting (colored keywords, comments, strings, etc.).

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• [x] This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Feature Request: Enhanced Syntax Highlighting in Code Blocks

Description

Currently, code blocks in Claude Code's chat interface only show a dark background without full syntax highlighting (colored keywords, comments, strings, etc.).

In comparison, GitHub Copilot (also a chat interface in VS Code) displays full syntax highlighting using VS Code's Monaco Editor, which makes code much easier to read.

Current Behavior

• ✅ Code blocks have dark background
• ❌ No colored syntax highlighting
• ❌ Comments are gray/white (not green)
• ❌ Keywords are white (not purple/pink)
• ❌ Strings are white (not orange/yellow)

Expected Behavior

Code blocks should have full syntax highlighting like in VS Code:

• 🟢 Comments in green
• 🟣 Keywords (if, for, def, etc.) in purple/pink
• 🟡 Strings in orange/yellow
• 🟡 Function names in yellow
• Numbers, operators, etc. in appropriate colors

Example Comparison

GitHub Copilot (in VS Code):

• Full syntax highlighting ✅
• Easy to read and distinguish code elements ✅

Claude Code (current):

• Only dark background, all text in gray/white ❌
• Hard to read, eye strain ❌

Suggested Solution

Integrate VS Code's Monaco Editor or a similar syntax highlighting engine for rendering code blocks in the chat interface.

Why This Matters

Syntax highlighting significantly improves code readability, especially when reviewing modifications or comparing code snippets. This is crucial for developer productivity.

Environment

• OS: Windows
• Claude Code Version: [your version]

Proposed Solution

Expected Behavior

Code blocks should have full syntax highlighting like in VS Code:

• 🟢 Comments in green
• 🟣 Keywords (if, for, def, etc.) in purple/pink
• 🟡 Strings in orange/yellow
• 🟡 Function names in yellow
• Numbers, operators, etc. in appropriate colors

Example Comparison

GitHub Copilot (in VS Code):

• Full syntax highlighting ✅
• Easy to read and distinguish code elements ✅

Alternative Solutions

_No response_

Priority

Critical - Blocking my work

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

_No response_

Additional Context

_No response_