Google Docs Introduces 14 Additional Programming Languages for Code Blocks

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Enhancements in Google Docs: New Programming Languages for Code Blocks

Google has recently announced an exciting update to code blocks within Google Docs, expanding its functionality to support an additional 14 programming languages. This enhancement is designed to improve code visualization and enhance readability, making it easier for users to collaborate on programming-related documents.

A Brief Overview of Smart Canvas

In 2022, Google introduced the Smart Canvas feature, allowing users to format and present code snippets seamlessly within their documents. This feature is particularly beneficial for developers documenting software projects, APIs, or educational coding tutorials, where clear code representation is crucial. The integration of code blocks significantly reduces the tedious process of pasting code and manually styling it, streamlining collaborative efforts.

Beyond Code: The Versatility of Smart Canvas

It’s important to note that Smart Canvas extends beyond mere code blocks. This feature empowers users to incorporate a variety of elements such as:

Calendar invite templates
Mentions of colleagues
Email drafts
AI-generated summaries
Various customizable templates
Pageless document formatting

These functionalities collectively enhance project management tasks, offering tools for review tracking, team directories, asset management, and launch timeline monitoring.

Supported Programming Languages in Google Docs

With this latest update, the following programming languages are now supported in Google Docs code blocks:

C#
Go
Kotlin
PHP
Rust
TypeScript
HTML
CSS
XML
JSON
Protobuf
Textproto
SQL
Bash/Shell

How to Use Code Blocks in Google Docs

To insert a code block into your document, navigate to Insert > Building Blocks > Code blocks. From there, you can select your desired programming language. Note that Workspace administrators do not have control over this feature.

A Gradual Rollout of Features

According to Google, the rollout of this feature is gradual, expected to take several weeks to complete. It will be available to various Workspace tiers, including Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Starter/Standard/Plus, Enterprise Essentials Plus, and Education Standard/Plus.

This update is part of a broader trend at Google, which has been enhancing Google Docs with innovative tools. Recent features include an AI automation tool that integrates across Workspace applications and a new text-generation utility called ‘Help Me Refine, ’ which aids users in creating polished documents more efficiently.

For more detailed information, you can check Google’s official announcement here.

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