Figlet Text Converter

Overview

This skill converts marked text in files to ASCII art using the figlet library. It uses a simple, universal tag syntax that works across all file types and intelligently preserves comment formatting when tags are placed in commented sections. The skill handles dependency management automatically and supports 400+ fonts with sensible defaults.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• User asks to convert text in a file to ASCII art
• User provides a file containing <figlet> tags
• User requests to list available figlet fonts
• User wants to add visual ASCII art headers or banners to code, documentation, or configuration files

Tag Syntax

Universal Markup

Insert <figlet> tags anywhere in a file to mark text for ASCII art conversion:

With font specification:

<figlet font="3-D">Text to Convert</figlet>

Using default font (standard):

<figlet>Text to Convert</figlet>

Usage in Different Contexts

Markdown Documents

# Section Title

<figlet font="Standard">Important Notice</figlet>

Content goes here...

Shell Scripts

#!/bin/bash

echo '<figlet>Deployment Started</figlet>'

# Script logic...

Python Code

# <figlet>Configuration</figlet>

config = {
    'setting': 'value'
}

PHP/JavaScript

// <figlet font="Block">Database Connection</figlet>

function connectDB() {
    // ...
}

Plain Text/Config Files

<figlet>System Status Report</figlet>

This report contains...

Workflow

Processing a File

When a user requests ASCII art conversion:

1. Read the file containing <figlet> tags
2. Validate all font names (error immediately if invalid)
3. For each tag:
   • Extract the font name (or use 'standard' if omitted)
   • Generate ASCII art for the text
   • Detect comment style from the surrounding line (// # -- /*)
   • Format output with appropriate comment prefixes
4. Replace tags with formatted ASCII art
5. Write changes back to the file

Handling Comments

The skill automatically detects comment context:

Single-line comments:

// <figlet>Section Break</figlet>

Outputs each line with // prefix:

// ___         _   _                  ____          _
// / __| ___  | | | | ___  _ _      | __ ) _ _  __| | |
// \__ \/ -_) | |_| |/ _ \| '  \    | _ \| '_|/ _` | |
// |___/\___|  \___/ \___/|_|_|_|   |_| \_\_|  \__,_|_|

Hash comments (Python, Shell):

# <figlet>Configuration</figlet>

Outputs with # prefix.

SQL/SQL comments:

-- <figlet>Query Section</figlet>

Outputs with -- prefix.

Block comments:

/* <figlet>Module Start</figlet>

Outputs with * prefix:

 * ___  _           _     _        ___   _             _
 * |  \/  | ___   __| | _ | | ___  / __| | |_  __ _  _ | |_
 * | |\/| |/ _ \ / _` ||_|| |/ -_) \__ \ |  _|/ _` || ||  _|
 * |_|  |_|\___/ \__,_| \__/ \___|  |___/ |_|  \__,_|\__|\__|

Plain text (no comment prefix):

<figlet>Plain ASCII Art</figlet>

Outputs raw ASCII art without formatting.

Font Selection

Default Font

If no font is specified, 'standard' is used:

<figlet>Default Font Example</figlet>

Custom Fonts

Specify any of 400+ available fonts:

<figlet font="Block">Bold Text</figlet>
<figlet font="3-D">3D Effect</figlet>
<figlet font="Shadow">Shadowed</figlet>

Finding Fonts

When user requests to list available fonts, run the font discovery script to show:

• Previews of the first 10 fonts with examples
• Complete alphabetical listing of all 400+ fonts
• Font names for use in tags

Popular fonts:

• standard (default)
• 3-D
• Block
• Big
• Shadow
• Slant
• Graffiti
• Doom

Error Handling

The skill validates fonts before processing:

• Invalid font specified: Error immediately with font name and suggestion to list available fonts
• File not found: Error with file path
• Node.js/npm issues: Error with installation instructions

Bundled Resources

scripts/

process-file.js

• Main processing script that reads files, finds all <figlet> tags, validates fonts, generates ASCII art, detects comment styles, and writes results
• Handles automatic Node.js verification and npm dependency installation on first run
• Usage: node process-file.js <file-path>

list-fonts.js

• Displays all available figlet fonts with previews and complete listing
• Helps users find the exact font names to use in tags
• Usage: node list-fonts.js

package.json

• Node.js project file with figlet v1.7.0+ dependency

.gitignore

• Excludes node_modules from version control

references/

usage-guide.md - Comprehensive reference documentation for all features and edge cases

Technical Details

• Node.js Requirement: v14 or higher
• Figlet Package: v1.7.0 or higher (auto-installed on first use)
• Tag Format: <figlet font="font-name">text</figlet> or <figlet>text</figlet>
• Comment Styles Supported: //, #, --, /*, or none
• Default Font: standard
• File Processing: In-place modification