ESLint vs Prettier: The Great Debate for Your Codebase

Let’s face it: JavaScript and TypeScript developers love to argue about tools.

Tabs or spaces? Semicolons or not? And now, the age-old (in JavaScript years) question: Should I use ESLint, Prettier, or both?

Here’s a friendly guide to help you make sense of the madness, with a sprinkle of humor and a whole lot of dev-friendly insight.

Meet the Contenders

ESLint: The Detective

ESLint is your overachieving teammate who not only spots bugs but also gives unsolicited advice about your code style.

It’s a static code analysis tool that ensures your code is functional and follows the rules (your rules, of course).

Prettier: The Beautician

Prettier is like that friend who’ll fix your messy hair without asking you how you like it.

It’s opinionated, ruthless, and all about formatting your code to look clean and consistent.

You might not agree with all its decisions, but at least it’s consistent!

What They Do

Feature

ESLint

Prettier

Feature	ESLint	Prettier
Report code errors	Yes	No
Automatically fix code errors	Yes	No
Add custom rules/options	Yes	No
Formatting	Yes	Yes
Opinionated configurations	Optional	Yes

Report code errors

Yes

No

Automatically fix code errors

Yes

No

Add custom rules/options

Yes

No

Formatting

Yes

Yes

Opinionated configurations

Optional

Yes

Key Difference:

• ESLint is Sherlock Holmes: it’ll catch that sneaky unused variable or accidental global scope declaration.
• Prettier is Marie Kondo: it’ll declutter your code but doesn’t care if there’s a bug.

Why Prettier Exists

Prettier was born because formatting debates were consuming valuable time and energy.

Should there be a space after the if keyword? Should line lengths be 80 or 100? Prettier says, “Shut up and let me handle it.”

It reprints your entire codebase in a consistent way, making bikeshedding over spaces and tabs a thing of the past.

The trade-off? Less configurability—you’re stuck with what Prettier thinks is best. (Spoiler: it’s usually fine.)

But ESLint Also Formats… Right?

Yes, but here’s the thing:

• ESLint’s formatting rules can clash with Prettier.
• Maintaining both code-quality rules and formatting rules in one tool is… messy.

ESLint devs themselves have admitted that combining linting and formatting isn’t ideal.

Enter Prettier: a dedicated formatter that takes the formatting burden off ESLint’s shoulders.

Should You Use Both?

The Golden Rule

Use Prettier for formatting. Use ESLint for code quality.

How to Make Them Play Nice

1. Install eslint-config-prettier. This disables ESLint’s formatting rules that might conflict with Prettier.
2. Add it to your .eslintrc config:

   {
     "extends": [
       "eslint:recommended",
       "plugin:prettier/recommended"
     ]
   }

1. Let Prettier format your code, and let ESLint catch the real bugs.

Do You Even Need Prettier?

If you:

• Hate long debates about formatting rules ✓
• Want consistent code across your team ✓
• Use a highly opinionated ESLint config (like Airbnb) and are happy with its formatting — Maybe not.

Prettier shines in larger teams where consistency is king. But if you’re working solo or already happy with ESLint’s formatting, you might get away without it.

Comparison Table: ESLint vs Prettier

Aspect	ESLint	Prettier
Nature	A static code analysis tool and linter for JavaScript, focused on identifying code issues	A code formatter designed to make code more readable and consistent
Primary Purpose	Ensures code quality and detects potential bugs	Focuses purely on consistent code formatting
Configuration	Highly customizable; rules are defined in a .eslintrc config file	Minimal customization; enforces standard formatting rules with optional tweaks in .prettierrc.json
Integration	Works with popular IDEs, offering real-time feedback and auto-fixing of linting issues	Easily integrates with IDEs to format files automatically on save

Final Thoughts

• ESLint is your code’s safety net. It catches bugs, enforces best practices, and ensures quality.
• Prettier is your peacekeeper. It stops arguments over formatting and keeps your code looking spick and span.

TL;DR

Use Prettier to format. Use ESLint to analyze. And if you’re ever in doubt, remember: tools are here to make your life easier, not harder.

Choose what works best for your team and your sanity.

Happy coding, and may your linting and formatting be ever in harmony!

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