Multiindenter

Multiindenter is a software component or library that manages and applies multiple indentation rules within a single text stream. It is designed for editors, formatters, or compilers that must handle documents or code blocks with distinct indentation conventions, such as mixed-language files or literate programming formats.

The core concept of a multiindenter is a registry of indentation policies. Each policy specifies how to compute indentation levels for a particular language, block type, or region. A context-aware engine selects the appropriate policy based on syntax cues, file type, or explicit region markers, and then applies or reflows indentation accordingly. The system typically supports reading configuration data that defines tab handling, indentation width, and constraints like maximum or minimum indentation levels. It may also track an indentation stack to manage nested blocks and dedentation events.

Key features commonly associated with multiindenter include language-aware indentation, support for multiple styles within one document (for example, spaces versus tabs), automatic re-indentation during edits, and the ability to integrate with editors, IDEs, or batch tooling via APIs or command-line interfaces. It often provides extensibility through pluggable policies, allowing users to add new language rules or customize existing ones without altering the core engine.

Typical use cases involve files that combine code blocks in different languages (such as HTML with embedded CSS/JavaScript), notebooks or literate programming documents, and complex configuration files that mix structured blocks. Limitations can include ambiguity in regions lacking clear markers and performance considerations for large files or highly nested structures. See also indentation, code formatter, and language-aware editing.