diff --git a/website/STYLE.md b/website/STYLE.md
index 5315985..8d02ecb 100644
--- a/website/STYLE.md
+++ b/website/STYLE.md
@@ -80,8 +80,25 @@ This is planned and not yet available.
- Where both modes apply, show the **simple-mode** form and its
**advanced-mode (SQL)** equivalent — the in-app teaching echo already
pairs these, so docs mirror it.
+- Prefer **worked examples** (a real command on the library schema) over
+ abstract prose, and **always cross-link** the related reference/guide
+ pages (use stubs so links resolve before a page is written).
- Code blocks for exact input/output; reserve casts for motion/flow.
+### Code-block fences
+
+- **Simple-mode commands → ` ```rdbms `** — custom highlight grammar in
+ `src/grammars/rdbms.mjs`, registered with Expressive Code in
+ `astro.config.mjs` (keywords + types coloured).
+- **Advanced-mode SQL → ` ```sql `**; shell / install → ` ```sh `.
+- A decorative `> ` prompt is prepended to `rdbms` lines via CSS
+ (`src/styles/global.css`) — **do not type `>` in the fence**. It is
+ copy-safe (Expressive Code's copy button uses `data-code`) and
+ `user-select:none`.
+- **One command per line** in an `rdbms` block; a multi-line single
+ statement (e.g. advanced `CREATE TABLE`) belongs in a ` ```sql ` block,
+ where no prompt is added.
+
### Canonical library schema (source of truth for examples)
Use these exact names/types in every example:
diff --git a/website/astro.config.mjs b/website/astro.config.mjs
index 5607bc0..9ac3880 100644
--- a/website/astro.config.mjs
+++ b/website/astro.config.mjs
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ import starlight from '@astrojs/starlight';
import tailwindcss from '@tailwindcss/vite';
+// Custom highlight grammar for the playground's simple-mode command language
+// (advanced-mode examples use the built-in `sql` grammar). Fence with ```rdbms.
+import rdbmsLang, { rdbmsSyntax } from './src/grammars/rdbms.mjs';
+
// https://astro.build/config
export default defineConfig({
// TODO(Phase B/SEO): set `site` to the production URL once the domain is
@@ -21,6 +25,8 @@ export default defineConfig({
// public home. Omitted for now rather than linking the wrong repo.
// social: [{ icon: 'github', label: 'GitHub', href: '…' }],
customCss: ['./src/styles/global.css'],
+ // Register the simple-mode command grammar with Expressive Code (Shiki).
+ expressiveCode: { shiki: { langs: [rdbmsLang, rdbmsSyntax] } },
// Pragmatic structure (ADR-0044 §7 / website/STYLE.md): Getting
// started, Guides, Reference, Concepts. Autogenerated per directory;
// in-section order is controlled by each page's `sidebar.order`
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/concepts/projects-and-storage.md b/website/src/content/docs/concepts/projects-and-storage.md
index cd3991a..daefb8f 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/concepts/projects-and-storage.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/concepts/projects-and-storage.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ the CSV files. Because it is derived, it never needs to be shared or backed
up separately — and if it is ever missing or stale, the `rebuild` command
regenerates it from the readable files:
-```text
+```rdbms
rebuild
```
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ When you start the playground without naming a project, it creates a
**temporary** project with an automatic name. Temporary projects are perfect
for quick experiments. When you want to keep one, give it a name:
-```text
+```rdbms
save
```
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ keeping a course's projects together, or for testing.
The `export` command packages a project as a zip you can send to anyone:
-```text
+```rdbms
export
```
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/first-project.md b/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/first-project.md
index 30562f1..e2e05ec 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/first-project.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/first-project.md
@@ -15,41 +15,41 @@ and press Enter to run them.
## Create a table
-A table needs at least a primary key. The `with pk` clause names the
-primary-key column and its type:
+The quickest way to make a table is `with pk` on its own, which gives you a
+ready-made primary key column called `id`:
-```text
-create table authors with pk author_id(serial)
+```rdbms
+create table authors with pk
```
-`serial` is an auto-incrementing number — you will not have to fill it in
-yourself.
+You never fill `id` in yourself — the database assigns it as you add rows.
+(You can also name and type the key yourself; see the
+[Tables reference](/reference/tables/).)
## Add a couple of columns
In simple mode you create a table with its key, then add the other columns
one at a time:
-```text
+```rdbms
add column to authors: name (text)
add column to authors: birth_year (int)
```
## Add a row
-`insert` adds a row. List the columns you are supplying — the `author_id`
-fills itself in because it is a `serial`:
+`insert` adds a row. List the columns you are supplying — `id` fills itself
+in automatically:
-```text
+```rdbms
insert into authors (name, birth_year) values ('Ada Lovelace', 1815)
```
-The playground shows the row it just inserted, including the generated
-`author_id`.
+The playground shows the row it just inserted, including the generated `id`.
## Look at the data
-```text
+```rdbms
show data authors
```
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/modes.md b/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/modes.md
index 4464d93..91fe1bd 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/modes.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/getting-started/modes.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ in **simple mode**, and reach for **advanced mode** when you want full SQL.
Simple mode is a friendly, keyword-based command language designed for
learning. Commands read close to English:
-```text
+```rdbms
create table authors with pk author_id(serial)
show data authors
```
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ select title, published from books where published >= 2000 order by published;
Switch modes with the `mode` command:
-```text
+```rdbms
mode advanced
mode simple
```
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ open it, so a project set up for SQL practice reopens in advanced mode.
When you are in simple mode and want to run a single SQL statement without
switching, prefix the line with a colon:
-```text
+```rdbms
:select count(*) from books
```
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/guides/build-the-library.md b/website/src/content/docs/guides/build-the-library.md
index bc618d1..f79ea1b 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/guides/build-the-library.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/guides/build-the-library.md
@@ -15,9 +15,13 @@ from scratch in simple mode: two tables, a relationship between them, and a
few rows. By the end you will have used the create → add column → relate →
insert → query loop end to end.
+We give each table a **named** primary key (like `author_id`) so the
+relationship reads clearly — but `with pk` on its own gives you a default
+`id` if you prefer, as in [Your first project](/getting-started/first-project/).
+
## 1. Create the authors table
-```text
+```rdbms
create table authors with pk author_id(serial)
add column to authors: name (text)
add column to authors: birth_year (int)
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@ add column to authors: birth_year (int)
## 2. Create the books table
-```text
+```rdbms
create table books with pk book_id(serial)
add column to books: title (text)
add column to books: author_id (int)
@@ -37,7 +41,7 @@ add column to books: published (int)
An author has many books, so `books.author_id` should point at
`authors.author_id`. Declare that one-to-many relationship:
-```text
+```rdbms
add 1:n relationship from authors.author_id to books.author_id
```
@@ -48,7 +52,7 @@ the `books` side.
`author_id` and `book_id` are `serial`, so they fill themselves in:
-```text
+```rdbms
insert into authors (name, birth_year) values ('Ada Lovelace', 1815)
insert into authors (name, birth_year) values ('Alan Turing', 1912)
insert into books (title, author_id, published) values ('Notes on the Analytical Engine', 1, 1843)
@@ -56,7 +60,7 @@ insert into books (title, author_id, published) values ('Notes on the Analytical
## 5. Look at your data
-```text
+```rdbms
show data authors
show data books
```
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/reference/tables.md b/website/src/content/docs/reference/tables.md
index c53b771..32049c4 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/reference/tables.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/reference/tables.md
@@ -11,16 +11,24 @@ in the Reference.
## Create a table (simple mode)
-Every table is created with its primary key. The `with pk` clause lists the
-primary-key column(s):
+The simplest way to create a table is `with pk` on its own — it gives the
+table a ready-made primary-key column named `id` that the database fills in
+for you:
-```text
+```rdbms
+create table authors with pk
+```
+
+Prefer to name the key, or give it a specific type? Name it in the `with pk`
+clause:
+
+```rdbms
create table authors with pk author_id(serial)
```
-Other columns are added afterwards with `add column`:
+Either way, the rest of the columns are added afterwards with `add column`:
-```text
+```rdbms
add column to authors: name (text)
add column to authors: birth_year (int)
```
@@ -30,14 +38,14 @@ add column to authors: birth_year (int)
To make the primary key span more than one column, list them, comma
separated:
-```text
+```rdbms
create table loans with pk book_id(int), member_id(int)
```
**Syntax**
-```text
-create table with pk ()[, ...]
+```rdbms-syntax
+create table with pk [()[, ...]]
```
## Create a table (advanced mode)
@@ -58,13 +66,13 @@ keys — see the Constraints and Relationships references.
**Syntax**
-```text
+```rdbms-syntax
create table [if not exists] ( [constraints], ...)
```
## Drop a table
-```text
+```rdbms
drop table authors
```
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/reference/types.md b/website/src/content/docs/reference/types.md
index 70d8963..d5138d7 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/reference/types.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/reference/types.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ by hand.
avoiding easily-confused characters). Always kept unique. Useful when you
want an identifier that is compact but not guessable or sequential.
-```text
+```rdbms
create table members with pk member_id(serial)
add column to members: member_code (shortid)
insert into members (name) values ('Grace Hopper')
diff --git a/website/src/grammars/rdbms.mjs b/website/src/grammars/rdbms.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8231f79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/website/src/grammars/rdbms.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+// Minimal Shiki / TextMate grammar for the RDBMS Playground *simple-mode*
+// command language, so docs code blocks fenced as ```rdbms get syntax
+// highlighting. Advanced-mode examples use the built-in `sql` grammar.
+//
+// Keyword/clause vocabulary is taken from the in-app help/usage strings
+// (`src/friendly/strings/en-US.yaml`) and the command grammar. Matching is
+// case-insensitive (keywords are case-insensitive in the app; identifiers
+// are case-preserving and intentionally left unscoped so they read as plain
+// text against the coloured keywords).
+//
+// Two language ids share one grammar:
+// - `rdbms` — real commands; gets a decorative `> ` prompt via CSS.
+// - `rdbms-syntax` — abstract syntax templates (with ); same
+// highlighting, but a distinct `data-language` so the
+// prompt (scoped to data-language='rdbms') is NOT added.
+
+const patterns = [
+ { include: '#comment' },
+ { include: '#string' },
+ { include: '#flag' },
+ { include: '#number' },
+ { include: '#constant' },
+ { include: '#type' },
+ { include: '#keyword' },
+];
+
+const repository = {
+ comment: {
+ match: '#.*$',
+ name: 'comment.line.number-sign.rdbms',
+ },
+ string: {
+ name: 'string.quoted.single.rdbms',
+ begin: "'",
+ end: "'",
+ patterns: [{ match: "''", name: 'constant.character.escape.rdbms' }],
+ },
+ flag: {
+ match: '--[A-Za-z][A-Za-z-]*',
+ name: 'keyword.operator.flag.rdbms',
+ },
+ number: {
+ match: '\\b[0-9]+(?:\\.[0-9]+)?\\b',
+ name: 'constant.numeric.rdbms',
+ },
+ constant: {
+ match: '(?i)\\b(true|false|null)\\b',
+ name: 'constant.language.rdbms',
+ },
+ type: {
+ match: '(?i)\\b(text|int|real|decimal|bool|date|datetime|blob|serial|shortid)\\b',
+ name: 'support.type.rdbms',
+ },
+ keyword: {
+ match:
+ '(?i)\\b(create|table|tables|drop|add|column|with|pk|to|from|into|values|insert|update|set|where|delete|show|data|rename|change|alter|relationship|relationships|index|indexes|on|as|references|constraint|not|unique|default|check|primary|key|cascade|restrict|and|or|in|between|like|is|explain|replay|undo|redo|save|new|load|rebuild|export|import|copy|mode|help|hint|quit|messages|all|last|types|simple|advanced)\\b',
+ name: 'keyword.control.rdbms',
+ },
+};
+
+/** Real simple-mode commands — gets the `> ` prompt (via CSS). */
+export default {
+ name: 'rdbms',
+ scopeName: 'source.rdbms',
+ aliases: ['rdbms-playground'],
+ patterns,
+ repository,
+};
+
+/** Abstract syntax templates — same highlighting, no prompt. */
+export const rdbmsSyntax = {
+ name: 'rdbms-syntax',
+ scopeName: 'source.rdbms-syntax',
+ patterns,
+ repository,
+};
diff --git a/website/src/styles/global.css b/website/src/styles/global.css
index c221a37..6eb5983 100644
--- a/website/src/styles/global.css
+++ b/website/src/styles/global.css
@@ -2,3 +2,26 @@
@import '@astrojs/starlight-tailwind';
@import 'tailwindcss/theme.css' layer(theme);
@import 'tailwindcss/utilities.css' layer(utilities);
+
+/* Command prompt for simple-mode (`rdbms`) code blocks: a decorative "> "
+ before each command line so consecutive commands read as distinct entered
+ lines (advanced-mode `sql` blocks are left unprefixed). It is CSS ::before
+ content with user-select:none, so it is NOT part of the copy buffer
+ (Expressive Code copies the block's `data-code`) and is never selected. */
+[data-language='rdbms'] .ec-line .code::before {
+ content: '> ';
+ color: var(--sl-color-gray-3);
+ user-select: none;
+ -webkit-user-select: none;
+}
+
+/* The app's input field is single-line, so a multi-command copy can't be
+ pasted-and-run as one unit. Hide Expressive Code's copy button on
+ *multi-line* `rdbms` blocks (each line is a separate command — type them
+ one at a time). Single-command `rdbms` blocks keep copy, and `sql` / `sh`
+ blocks are unaffected (always one pasteable unit). Also hide it on
+ `rdbms-syntax` templates, which contain and aren't runnable. */
+figure:has(> pre[data-language='rdbms'] .ec-line + .ec-line) .copy,
+figure:has(> pre[data-language='rdbms-syntax']) .copy {
+ display: none;
+}