subl

Sublime Text command-line launcher

TLDR

Open a file in Sublime Text

$ subl [path/to/file]

Open a file at a specific line and column

$ subl [path/to/file]:[line]:[column]

Open a directory as a project

$ subl [path/to/directory]

Open files in a new window

$ subl -n [file1] [file2]

Add folders to the current window instead of opening a new one

$ subl -a [path/to/directory]

Wait for files to close before returning (useful for git)

$ subl -w [path/to/file]

Open from stdin

$ echo "[text]" | subl -

SYNOPSIS

subl [options] [files] [directories]

subl is the command-line interface for Sublime Text, a popular cross-platform text editor. It allows opening files and directories from the terminal and integrating with Unix tools like git and subversion.Files can include a :line or :line:column suffix to open at a specific location (1-based). The tool can read from stdin using -. When used with -w, it blocks until files are closed, making it suitable as an external editor for version control systems (e.g., `EDITOR='subl -w' git commit`).

PARAMETERS

-n, --new-window

Open a new window instead of reusing an existing instance.

-a, --add

Add folders to the current window instead of opening a new window.

-w, --wait

Wait for the files to be closed before returning. Useful for version control editors.

-b, --background

Open files without activating the application window.

--project project

Load a specific .sublime-project or .sublime-workspace file.

--command command

Execute a Sublime Text internal command (e.g., save_all, build).

--safe-mode

Launch in a sandboxed clean environment without plugins.

--launch-or-new-window

Only open a new window if the application is already running.

-v, --version

Print version information and exit.

-h, --help

Display help message and exit.

CAVEATS

The subl command requires Sublime Text to be installed. On manual installations, you may need to create a symlink: ln -s /opt/sublime_text/sublime_text /usr/local/bin/subl. Package manager installations typically create this symlink automatically in /usr/bin/.

HISTORY

Sublime Text was created by Jon Skinner and first released in January 2008. The command-line helper subl has been part of Sublime Text since version 2, enabling terminal-based workflows. Sublime Text 3 was released in 2013, and Sublime Text 4 followed in 2021 with GPU rendering and improved performance.