Syntax hiliting is the ability to get code samples in your blog to look like they do in your editor… without having to add steps, or code, that brings you out of the “flow” of your article. Like this:
[sourcecode language=”python”] print "hello world" [/sourcecode]
which was accomplished by simply writing
[sourcecode language=”text”]
[sourcecode language="python"]print "hello world"
[/sourcecode]
Everyone seems to be using Alex Gorbatchev’s JavaScript code (http://alexgorbatchev.com/SyntaxHighlighter/) wrapping it in various ways. The WordPress team uses (created?) a plugin named SyntaxHighlighter Evolved, which is what I’m using here.