embedex

Embed shared text and code snippets from source files into destination files that appear on hover in IDEs. For example:

• Embed TypeScript examples into TypeDoc comments and your README.
• Embed a Markdown snippet into multiple JSDoc comments.

embedex helps ensure a single source of truth while keeping sources runnable, linted, tested, and up-to-date with the code they are documenting.

Table of contents

• Install
• Usage
• CLI reference
• Local development commands

Install

Install as a dev dependency in your project:

npm install --save-dev embedex

Or globally:

npm install --global embedex

Usage

1. Add a source file to the ./examples directory (configurable). The first line is a comma-separated list of destination file paths to embed the source's file contents into. ./examples/greeter.ts:

   // embedex: README.md,src/greeter.ts
   import { greet } from "@my-scope/greeter";
   
   greet("world");

2. In the destination file, add an <embedex source="..."></embedex> tag that includes the source file's path.

   • ./README.md:

     # greeter
     
     Greets a person by name.
     
     <embedex source="examples/greeter.ts">
     </embedex>

   • ./src/greeter.ts:

     /**
      * Greets a person by name.
      *
      * @example
      * <embedex source="examples/greeter.ts">
      * </embedex>
      */
     function greet(name: string) {
       console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`);
     }

3. Run npx embedex.

4. The source is embedded!

   • ./README.md:

     # greeter
     
     Greets a person by name.
     
     <embedex source="examples/greeter.ts">
     
     ```ts
     import { greet } from "@my-scope/greeter";
     
     greet("world");
     ```
     
     </embedex>

   • ./src/greeter.ts:

     /**
      * Greets a person by name.
      *
      * @example
      * <embedex source="examples/greeter.ts">
      *
      * ```ts
      * import { greet } from "@my-scope/greeter";
      *
      * greet("world");
      * ```
      *
      * </embedex>
      */
     function greet(name: string) {
       console.log(`Hello, ${name}!`);
     }

CLI reference

Usage: embedex [options]

Embed shared text and code snippets from source files into destination files.

Options:
  -V, --version                output the version number
  -s, --sourcesGlob <pattern>  sources glob pattern (default: "examples/**/*.{md,ts}")
  -c, --check                  verify if sources are correctly embedded without making changes,
                               exits with non-zero code if updates are needed; useful for CI/CD
                               pipelines (default: false)
  -v, --verbose                show verbose output (default: false)
  -h, --help                   display help for command

Local development commands

See package.json scripts for a list of commands.