draft
optional
Abstract
This NIP defines a new event kind for sharing and storing code snippets. Unlike regular text notes (kind:1
), code snippets have specialized metadata like language, extension, and other code-specific attributes that enhance discoverability, syntax highlighting, and improved user experience.
Event Kind
This NIP defines kind:1337
as a code snippet event.
The .content
field contains the actual code snippet text.
Optional Tags
filename
- Filename of the code snippetl
- Programming language name (lowercase). Examples: “javascript”, “python”, “rust”extension
- File extension (without the dot). Examples: “js”, “py”, “rs”description
- Brief description of what the code doesruntime
- Runtime or environment specification (e.g., “node v18.15.0”, “python 3.11”)license
- License under which the code is shared (e.g., “MIT”, “GPL-3.0”, “Apache-2.0”)dep
- Dependency required for the code to run (can be repeated)repo
- Reference to a repository where this code originates
Format
{
"id": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded SHA-256 of the the serialized event data>",
"pubkey": "<32-bytes lowercase hex-encoded public key of the event creator>",
"created_at": <Unix timestamp in seconds>,
"kind": 1337,
"content": "function helloWorld() {\n console.log('Hello, Nostr!');\n}\n\nhelloWorld();",
"tags": [
["l", "javascript"],
["extension", "js"],
["filename", "hello-world.js"],
["description", "A basic JavaScript function that prints 'Hello, Nostr!' to the console"],
["runtime", "node v18.15.0"],
["license", "MIT"],
["repo", "https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nostr"]
],
"sig": "<64-bytes signature of the id>"
}
Client Behavior
Clients that support this NIP SHOULD:
Display code snippets with proper syntax highlighting based on the language.
Allow copying the full code snippet with a single action.
Render the code with appropriate formatting, preserving whitespace and indentation.
Display the language and extension prominently.
Provide “run” functionality for supported languages when possible.
Display the description (if available) as part of the snippet presentation.
Clients MAY provide additional functionality such as:
Code editing capabilities
Forking/modifying snippets
Creating executable environments based on the runtime/dependencies
Downloading the snippet as a file using the provided extension
Sharing the snippet with attribution
References
#nip #grownostr