halibut ☆
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Description:
Yet another free document preparation system
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: documentation markup publishing html pdf
Install: brew install halibut
About:
Halibut is a lightweight, plaintext document preparation system designed for producing documentation in multiple output formats, primarily HTML and PostScript. It serves as a simpler alternative to complex systems like LaTeX or DocBook, focusing on ease of use for software documentation. Its main value proposition is providing high-quality formatted output from minimal, readable source files without a steep learning curve.
Key Features:
  • Single-pass compiler for fast processing
  • Supports multiple output formats (HTML, PostScript, PDF, plain text)
  • Simple, readable markup syntax
  • Built-in support for cross-references and indexes
  • Minimal dependencies
Use Cases:
  • Writing software manual pages and technical documentation
  • Generating project websites from a single source
  • Creating printable PDF guides and reference documents
Alternatives:
  • Pandoc – More versatile with wider format support, but heavier dependency
  • Sphinx – More feature-rich for Python projects, but Python-based and complex
  • LaTeX – More powerful for complex typesetting, but significantly steeper learning curve
Version History
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