EditorConfig vs Prettier: What are the differences?

Introduction

When it comes to writing code, having consistent formatting is essential for readability and maintainability purposes. Two popular tools for enforcing code formatting standards are EditorConfig and Prettier. Although both aim to achieve the same goal, there are some key differences between them. In this article, we will outline six major differences between EditorConfig and Prettier.

1. Configuration Approach: EditorConfig uses a file-based approach where the formatting rules are defined in a separate file named ".editorconfig" placed at the root of the project. On the other hand, Prettier follows a more centralized approach where the formatting rules are specified directly in the project's configuration file, like "prettier.config.js" or ".prettierrc".

2. Supported Languages: EditorConfig can be used to configure various programming languages and file types. It is highly flexible and can be customized as per the needs of the project. Prettier, however, is primarily focused on formatting JavaScript code. Although it supports some other languages too, it may not offer the same level of customization for non-JavaScript files.

3. Formatting Style: EditorConfig allows developers to define their own formatting style by setting specific rules for indentation, line endings, tab width, etc. It provides more granular control over the formatting process. Prettier, on the other hand, has a pre-defined set of opinionated rules and doesn't offer much customization. It focuses on enforcing a consistent and opinionated code style out-of-the-box.

4. Formatting Scope: EditorConfig applies formatting rules only to the files explicitly mentioned in the ".editorconfig" file or the ones that inherit the rules from their parent directories. It allows developers to have different formatting styles within the same project for different file types. Prettier, in contrast, applies formatting rules to the entire project uniformly. It doesn't differentiate between file types and enforces the same formatting style project-wide.

5. Integration with Build Tools: EditorConfig is designed to be integrated with various IDEs and text editors, providing seamless collaboration among developers working on different platforms. It works well with multiple build tools like Visual Studio, Atom, and Sublime Text. Prettier, on the other hand, is typically used as a standalone command-line tool or as a plugin for code editors. It may require additional setup and configuration to integrate with certain build tools.

6. Code Formatting Engine: EditorConfig doesn't have its own code formatting engine. It relies on the default formatting capabilities of the code editors and IDEs it is integrated with. Different editors may use different engines, resulting in slight variations in the formatting output. Prettier, on the other hand, has its own built-in code formatting engine. It uses a parser to read the code and then applies the formatting rules consistently across different environments, ensuring a standardized output.

Summary

In summary, EditorConfig provides a more customizable and flexible approach to configuring code formatting rules, supporting various languages and allowing different formatting styles within a project. Prettier, on the other hand, focuses on enforcing a consistent and opinionated code style specifically for JavaScript, with a centralized configuration approach and its own code formatting engine.