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JSS Style Checker
What it is
JSS Style Checker checks LaTeX and BibTeX manuscripts against the Journal of Statistical Software style guide. It is free, MIT-licensed, and available through command-line, Python, R, browser, self-hosted, and extension-based options. The browser checker accepts .tex, .ltx, .bib, .Rnw, and .Rmd files and runs locally through WebAssembly; the maker says files stay in the browser tab. From a root file, the linter follows LaTeX input, include, subfile, and bibliography references to inspect the reachable project. Reviewer mode groups findings into a per-category compliance summary, and a GitHub Action can gate JSS-format vignettes in CI. Optional online Crossref lookup checks missing DOIs and can add them with --fix. The README reports measured recall and warns that a clean run does not prove compliance. The VS Code extension is scaffolded and depends on a language server not yet shipped. The project is independent of the journal and publisher.
For and against
For
- Free MIT-licensed distribution
- Local browser processing
- Multiple command-line and package options
- Reviewer compliance summaries
- GitHub Action for CI
Against
- Clean runs do not prove compliance
- VS Code extension is scaffolded
- Language server has not shipped
- Crossref lookup is optional online
The verdict
JSS Style Checker offers several ways to check manuscripts against the JSS style guide, including local browser processing and CI integration. Its reported recall and unfinished VS Code dependency mean results should be treated as guidance rather than proof of compliance.
Who it suits
JSS Style Checker suits authors, reviewers, and maintainers working with LaTeX, BibTeX, Sweave, or R Markdown manuscripts. It also fits teams wanting browser-local checks or CI gating.
Plans and prices
Free
MIT-licensed · no paid tier listed
Read 15 Oct 2026 · marketplace.visualstudio.com
On the record
- Automatic fixes
- The fix mode writes files atomically, rechecks each change and rolls back a file when a fix recreates its violation; dry-run produces a diff without writing.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser operation
- The browser checker runs locally through WebAssembly and says that selected manuscript files are not uploaded.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Capitalization checks
- Separate rules address capitalization in titles, sections and captions.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- CI integration
- A GitHub Action is provided for gating JSS-format vignettes in continuous integration.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Citation checks
- The checker validates natbib citation conventions and bibliography completeness, including DOI fields.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Coverage limitation
- Its coverage report identifies 64 style provisions as outside the implemented scope.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Crossref integration
- An optional Crossref mode verifies missing DOIs and can write matched DOI values into BibTeX files.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Distribution channels
- Packages are published as Python, Rust, R and npm/WebAssembly components, with a browser application and VS Code extension.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Documentation includes a rule catalogue, CLI contracts, design notes, changelog, evaluation harness and a companion paper.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- DOI lookup
- An optional online Crossref lookup can verify missing DOIs and, with --fix, add them to BibTeX files.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Extension status
- The Marketplace page describes the VS Code extension as scaffolded and says it depends on a language server that is staged but not yet shipped.marketplace.visualstudio.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository and its distribution channels use the MIT license.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: specialized scope
- The tool is independent of JSS and is intended as pre-submission assistance rather than an official guarantee of editorial acceptance.tex.stackexchange.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: VS Code readiness
- The Marketplace listing labels the extension scaffolded and says its language server was staged but not yet shipped, with installation instructions conditional on that shipment.marketplace.visualstudio.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Local processing
- The browser checker runs locally via WebAssembly, and the maker says files never leave the browser tab.kollerma.github.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainer background
- ETH Zurich records describe Manuel Koller as a former statistics consultant, PhD student and assistant, and list R software projects including robustlmm and robustbase.people.math.ethz.ch · read 15 Oct 2026
- Maintainer identity
- The GitHub account behind the project is Manuel Koller, whose profile showed 16 public repositories and 17 total stars.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Manuscript formats
- The linter follows LaTeX input, include, subfile, and bibliography references from a root file to check the reachable project.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
