An Integrated User Environment for RevBayes Using RevSyntax and VS Code
Abstract
RevBayes, a phylogenetic probabilistic graphical modeling software, presents prospective users with a steep learning curve. RevBayes lacks a custom integrated development environment (IDE) to facilitate writing and executing code, and as a resultmany users end up copying and pasting individual lines of code from a text editorinto a terminal window. This inefficient and error-prone process limits adoption of RevBayes for statistical phylogenetic analyses, impedes its use as a teaching tool, and creates unnecessary friction for existing users of the software. Here, we describe a user-friendly and efficient workflow for RevBayes analyses by leveraging VS Code, existing VS Code extensions, and our new development tool: RevSyntax. RevSyntax is a custom Visual Studio Code (VS Code) extension, developed to assistresearchers in statistical phylogenetic probabilistic modeling using RevBayes software. Our workflow allows researchers to use VS Code as an IDE for drafting, edit-ing, and executing Rev code, as well as for figure visualization and version control. By introducing simple additional features, RevSyntax smoothens the workflow forRevBayes users, demonstrating the value of customizing existing software for an improved user experience.
Keywords: RevBayes, phylogenetics, VS Code, IDE
How to Cite:
So, B., Smythies, C. A. & Tribble, C. M., (2026) “An Integrated User Environment for RevBayes Using RevSyntax and VS Code”, Bulletin of the Society of Systematic Biologists 5(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.18061/bssb.6970
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