slim

Convert a Slim template to HTML

$ slimrb [input.slim]

$ echo "[h1 Hello]" | slimrb -s

$ slimrb -e [input.slim]

$ slimrb -p [input.slim]

$ slimrb -c [input.slim]

$ slimrb --rails [input.slim]

$ slimrb -l "{name: 'World'}" [input.slim]

$ slimrb -r [library] [input.slim]

slimrb [options] [inputfile_]

slimrb is the command-line tool for the Slim template language. Slim is a lightweight Ruby templating engine that reduces HTML syntax to essential parts while maintaining readability. It uses indentation for nesting, eliminating the need for closing tags.
Slim syntax is concise: div.container becomes \<div class="container"\>, and h1= title outputs the value of title in an h1 tag. Attributes use parentheses: a(href=url) Link.
The tool can render templates to HTML, convert them to ERB for use in other contexts, or compile them to raw Ruby code for inspection. The --pretty option is useful for debugging, producing formatted HTML output.
Slim integrates with Rails, Sinatra, and any Rack-based framework through Tilt. It is one of the fastest Ruby template engines, comparable to Erubis in production mode.

-s, --stdin

Read input from standard input instead of a file

Compile template to Ruby code without executing

Convert Slim template to ERB format

Generate Rails-compatible code (implies --compile)

Output pretty-printed HTML with indentation

Load a Ruby library or Slim plugin before processing

Set Slim engine options

Pass local variables to the template

Show full traceback on errors

Display version information

Show help message

Slim requires Ruby to be installed. Template syntax is whitespace-sensitive; mixing tabs and spaces can cause unexpected results. Some advanced Ruby expressions may need explicit output markers.

Slim was created by Andrew Stone, Fred Wu, and Daniel Mendler around 2010 as a cleaner alternative to ERB and Haml. The project aimed to provide minimal syntax while maintaining full Ruby integration. It uses the Temple framework for parsing and compilation.

erb(1), haml(1), pug(1), ruby(1)