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textlint
What it is
textlint is a pluggable tool for checking natural-language writing against rules you select. It parses text into an abstract syntax tree, applies installed rules, and reports errors or warnings. Markdown and plain text are supported out of the box; plugins can add HTML and other formats. There are no bundled default rules, so users need to install and configure the checks they want. The command-line interface can automatically fix problems and produce output in different formats. Integrations are listed for Visual Studio Code, Vim, Emacs, Atom, Sublime Text, micro, and NetBeans, and text checks can run in GitHub Actions for commits and pull requests. The CLI can also operate as an MCP server, allowing AI assistants to lint and fix text with a project’s configuration. For browser use, @textlint/editor is described as an offline linting extension. Developers can use high-level APIs to add textlint to applications. The project requires Node.js 20 or later and is free under the MIT license.
For and against
For
- Supports Markdown and plain text by default.
- Can automatically fix problems through its CLI.
- Integrates with several editors and GitHub Actions.
- MCP server mode lets AI assistants use project configuration.
- Free under the MIT license.
Against
- No default rules are bundled.
- Users must install and configure rules.
- Requires Node.js 20 or later.
The verdict
textlint offers flexible rule-based text checking across editors, automation, and applications. Expect to choose and install rules yourself, and meet the Node.js 20 requirement.
Who it suits
textlint suits writers and developers who want configurable checks in an editor, command line, browser, or CI workflow. It is also relevant to application developers who want to integrate text checking through its APIs.
Plans and prices
Open-source textlint
JavaScript natural-language linter · rules installed separately · Markdown/plain text defaults
Read 15 Oct 2026 · textlint.org
textlint
MIT-licensed software · requires Node.js 20+ · rules must be installed separately
Read 4 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- AI assistants
- The CLI can run as an MCP server that lets AI assistants lint and fix text using the project's textlint configuration.textlint.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Automatic fixes
- The CLI supports --fix and a dry-run mode, and can emit fixed text through a formatter.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser
- The integrations page describes @textlint/editor as a privacy-first browser extension for offline text linting.textlint.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Browser extension limitation
- The same report found that some form fields did not work correctly and that checking could make interaction somewhat heavier.gigazine.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Browser privacy
- A GIGAZINE hands-on report describes textlint editor browser extensions as privacy-oriented and offline, avoiding transmission of entered text to a server.gigazine.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Caching
- Caching can check only changed files using metadata or content-hash strategies.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- CI
- textlint can run in GitHub Actions workflows to check text in commits and pull requests.textlint.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- CI integration
- GitHub Actions can run textlint on pushes or pull requests and use GitHub annotations for inline findings.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- Configuration can be stored in .textlintrc JSON, YAML, or JavaScript files, or in a package.json textlint field.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Default formats
- Markdown and plain text work without extra processors; HTML and other formats require plugins.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Official docs include user configuration, CLI, integrations, MCP setup, rule and plugin authoring, formatter development, APIs, and FAQs.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Editor integrations
- Official integration documentation lists Atom, Sublime Text, Vim, Visual Studio Code, micro, NetBeans, and Emacs integrations.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Developers can publish custom rules, filter rules, presets, processor plugins, and formatters as npm modules.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Markdown and plain text are supported by default; HTML and other formats can be added with plugins.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Fixes and formatters
- The CLI supports automatically fixing problems and offers multiple output formatters.github.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Formatters
- Built-in output formatters include stylish, compact, checkstyle, GitHub, JSON, JUnit, TAP, table, and Unix styles.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- How it works
- It parses text into an abstract syntax tree, evaluates it with rules, and reports errors or warnings.textlint.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- The project is written in JavaScript and uses a plugin-based design.textlint.org · read 15 Oct 2026
