https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop
LaTeX Package, a Style Checker of .bib Files: it emits warnings in the TeX log if any issues are found
https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop
biber biblatex bibliography bibtex latex latex-package latex-packages linter style-checker
Last synced: 4 days ago
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LaTeX Package, a Style Checker of .bib Files: it emits warnings in the TeX log if any issues are found
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop
- Owner: yegor256
- License: mit
- Created: 2022-12-11T04:23:39.000Z (almost 3 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2025-10-03T21:31:01.000Z (11 days ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-10-03T23:26:12.049Z (11 days ago)
- Topics: biber, biblatex, bibliography, bibtex, latex, latex-package, latex-packages, linter, style-checker
- Language: Perl
- Homepage: https://ctan.org/pkg/bibcop
- Size: 754 KB
- Stars: 14
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 2
- Open Issues: 11
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE.txt
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README
# Bibcop: Style Checker of BibTeX .bib files
[](https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop/actions/workflows/l3build.yml)
[](https://ctan.org/pkg/bibcop)
[](https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)
This LaTeX package checks the quality of your `.bib` file and
emits warning messages if any issues are found. You may also like
[biblint](https://github.com/Kingsford-Group/biblint) and
[biblatex-check](https://github.com/pezmc/biblatex-check) tools —
they do _almost_ the same but from the command line.
Read [this blog post][BLOG], in order to understand
the motivation behind this package.
First, [install it][INSTALL] from [CTAN](https://ctan.org/pkg/bibcop)
and then use in the preamble
(if you use [BibTeX](http://www.bibtex.org/), for example):
```tex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{bibcop}
\begin{document}
\bibliographystyle{plain}
\bibliography{main}
\end{document}
```
You can also add it as a GitHub Action to your
GitHub repository, with the help of
[bibcop-action](https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop-action).
Otherwise, you can download
[`bibcop.sty`](https://yegor256.github.io/bibcop/bibcop.sty)
and add to your project (together with
[`bibcop.pl`](https://yegor256.github.io/bibcop/bibcop.pl)!).
You can also download
[`bibcop.pl`](https://yegor256.github.io/bibcop/bibcop.pl)
and use it as a command line tool
to check your `.bib` files and to auto-fix them
(you should have [Perl](https://www.perl.org) installed):
```bash
perl bibcop.pl --fix main.bib > fixed.bib
```
This command will read the `main.bib` file and
create `fixed.bib`, which will have the fixed and properly
formatted content (well, to some extent).
Be careful, all comments will be removed.
You can also make changes inline, not creating a new file:
```bash
perl bibcop.pl --fix --in-place main.bib
```
If you install the package using
[`tlmgr`](https://www.tug.org/texlive/tlmgr.html),
you should be able to use `bibcop` directly, without the
necessity to mention Perl:
```bash
tlmgr install bibcop
bibcop --help
```
## How to use as pre-commit hook
If you use [pre-commit], simply add this to your config:
```yaml
- repo: https://github.com/yegor256/bibcop
rev: 0.0.32
hooks:
- id: bibcop
args: []
```
## How to Contribute
If you want to contribute yourself, make a fork, then create a branch,
then run `l3build ctan` in the root directory. It should compile
everything without errors. If not, submit an issue and wait.
Otherwise, make your changes and then run `l3build ctan` again.
If the build is still clean, submit a pull request.
If you want to add a new check, add it as a Perl subroutine
to the `bibcop.pl` file. Don't forget to add a test to one of the test
files that stay in the `perl-tests/` directory.
When ready, run this, in order to check that all tests pass:
```bash
perl tests.pl
```
You should see the `GREAT!` message.
Copyright (c) 2022-2025 Yegor Bugayenko, MIT License
[BLOG]: https://www.yegor256.com/2023/09/05/style-checker-for-bibtex-files.html
[INSTALL]: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX/Installing_Extra_Packages
[pre-commit]: https://pre-commit.com/