JavaScript Code Quality Tools Comparison
eslint vs prettier vs standard vs xo vs semistandard
1 Year
eslintprettierstandardxosemistandardSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Code Quality Tools?

JavaScript code quality tools are essential for maintaining clean, consistent, and error-free code in web development. These tools help developers enforce coding standards, format code automatically, and identify potential issues before they become problematic. By integrating these tools into the development workflow, teams can enhance collaboration, reduce bugs, and improve overall code maintainability. Each tool has its unique features and philosophies, catering to different needs and preferences in the coding community.

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eslint41,242,39725,3513.37 MB10010 days agoMIT
prettier40,555,53949,6677.83 MB1,42319 days agoMIT
standard358,80429,182164 kB1223 months agoMIT
xo78,2047,71568 kB6117 days agoMIT
semistandard17,4151,41147.6 kB02 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: eslint vs prettier vs standard vs xo vs semistandard

Configuration Flexibility

  • eslint:

    ESLint offers extensive configuration options, allowing developers to define custom rules, environments, and plugins. This flexibility makes it suitable for various project types and coding styles, enabling teams to tailor the linter to their specific needs.

  • prettier:

    Prettier is designed with minimal configuration in mind, focusing solely on code formatting. It has a few options for customization, but the goal is to enforce a consistent style without extensive setup, making it easy to adopt.

  • standard:

    Standard is a no-configuration linter that enforces a strict set of rules. It prioritizes simplicity and consistency, which means developers have less flexibility but benefit from a straightforward approach to code quality.

  • xo:

    XO comes with sensible defaults and a focus on modern JavaScript features, offering some configuration options while promoting best practices. It strikes a balance between flexibility and ease of use, making it accessible for various projects.

  • semistandard:

    Semistandard provides a middle ground with a predefined set of rules based on Standard Style, while allowing some customization. It is less flexible than ESLint but more lenient than Standard, making it suitable for teams that want some control without complexity.

Integration with IDEs

  • eslint:

    ESLint integrates seamlessly with most IDEs and text editors, providing real-time feedback as developers write code. This integration enhances the development experience by catching errors and enforcing rules on-the-fly.

  • prettier:

    Prettier also integrates well with various IDEs, allowing developers to format their code automatically on save. This feature streamlines the workflow and ensures consistent formatting without manual intervention.

  • standard:

    Standard can be integrated with IDEs, but it may not offer the same level of real-time feedback as ESLint. Developers can still benefit from its linting capabilities, but the experience may vary depending on the setup.

  • xo:

    XO supports integration with popular IDEs, providing real-time linting and feedback. It is designed to work smoothly within modern development environments, enhancing the coding experience.

  • semistandard:

    Semistandard can be integrated with IDEs, but it may require additional setup compared to ESLint. It still provides feedback during development, but the integration may not be as robust as ESLint's.

Community and Ecosystem

  • eslint:

    ESLint has a large and active community, with numerous plugins and extensions available. This extensive ecosystem allows developers to enhance its functionality and adapt it to various frameworks and libraries.

  • prettier:

    Prettier has gained significant popularity and has a growing community. While its ecosystem is not as extensive as ESLint's, it is widely adopted and supported by many projects, ensuring compatibility with various tools.

  • standard:

    Standard has a dedicated community that values its simplicity and strictness. However, its ecosystem is not as rich as ESLint's, which may limit its extensibility for specific needs.

  • xo:

    XO has a smaller but passionate community, with a focus on modern JavaScript practices. Its ecosystem is growing, but it may not yet match the breadth of ESLint's offerings.

  • semistandard:

    Semistandard has a smaller community compared to ESLint and Prettier, but it is still supported by developers who appreciate its semi-strict approach. Its ecosystem is limited, focusing primarily on its predefined rules.

Learning Curve

  • eslint:

    ESLint has a moderate learning curve due to its extensive configuration options and rule sets. New users may need some time to understand how to customize it effectively, but the documentation is comprehensive and helpful.

  • prettier:

    Prettier has a low learning curve, as it is straightforward to use with minimal configuration. Developers can quickly adopt it without needing to understand complex rules or settings.

  • standard:

    Standard has a low learning curve due to its zero-configuration philosophy. Developers can start using it immediately without needing to configure rules, making it easy to adopt.

  • xo:

    XO has a moderate learning curve, as it introduces some modern JavaScript concepts. However, its sensible defaults and clear documentation help new users get up to speed quickly.

  • semistandard:

    Semistandard has a relatively easy learning curve, especially for those familiar with Standard Style. Its semi-strict approach makes it accessible while still enforcing some coding standards.

Performance

  • eslint:

    ESLint can be slower on larger codebases due to its extensive rule set and configuration options. However, performance can be improved by optimizing the configuration and using caching features.

  • prettier:

    Prettier is designed for performance and typically runs quickly, even on larger files. Its focus on formatting rather than linting allows it to operate efficiently without significant overhead.

  • standard:

    Standard performs well due to its strict rule set and zero-configuration approach. However, its performance can vary based on the complexity of the codebase and the rules being enforced.

  • xo:

    XO is optimized for performance, leveraging modern JavaScript features to provide fast linting and formatting. It aims to maintain efficiency while enforcing best practices.

  • semistandard:

    Semistandard's performance is generally good, but it may not be as fast as Prettier for formatting tasks. It balances linting and performance, making it suitable for most projects.

How to Choose: eslint vs prettier vs standard vs xo vs semistandard
  • eslint:

    Choose ESLint if you need a highly customizable linter that can enforce coding standards and catch potential errors in your JavaScript code. It is suitable for teams that want to define their own rules and integrate with various plugins for additional functionality.

  • prettier:

    Opt for Prettier if your primary goal is to maintain consistent code formatting across your project without worrying about stylistic choices. It is ideal for teams that want to automate formatting and reduce debates over code style.

  • standard:

    Choose Standard if you want a zero-configuration linter that enforces a strict style guide without the need for additional configuration. It is perfect for teams looking for simplicity and consistency without the overhead of customizing rules.

  • xo:

    Pick XO if you want a modern linter that comes with a set of sensible defaults and supports TypeScript out of the box. It is suitable for teams that want a straightforward setup with a focus on performance and modern JavaScript features.

  • semistandard:

    Select Semistandard if you prefer a linter that enforces a semi-strict style guide based on JavaScript Standard Style, while still allowing some flexibility. It’s a good choice for teams that want a balance between strictness and leniency in coding standards.

README for eslint

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ESLint

Website | Configure ESLint | Rules | Contribute to ESLint | Report Bugs | Code of Conduct | Twitter | Discord | Mastodon

ESLint is a tool for identifying and reporting on patterns found in ECMAScript/JavaScript code. In many ways, it is similar to JSLint and JSHint with a few exceptions:

  • ESLint uses Espree for JavaScript parsing.
  • ESLint uses an AST to evaluate patterns in code.
  • ESLint is completely pluggable, every single rule is a plugin and you can add more at runtime.

Table of Contents

  1. Installation and Usage
  2. Configuration
  3. Version Support
  4. Code of Conduct
  5. Filing Issues
  6. Frequently Asked Questions
  7. Releases
  8. Security Policy
  9. Semantic Versioning Policy
  10. Stylistic Rule Updates
  11. License
  12. Team
  13. Sponsors
  14. Technology Sponsors

Installation and Usage

Prerequisites: Node.js (^18.18.0, ^20.9.0, or >=21.1.0) built with SSL support. (If you are using an official Node.js distribution, SSL is always built in.)

You can install and configure ESLint using this command:

npm init @eslint/config@latest

After that, you can run ESLint on any file or directory like this:

npx eslint yourfile.js

Configuration

You can configure rules in your eslint.config.js files as in this example:

export default [
    {
        files: ["**/*.js", "**/*.cjs", "**/*.mjs"],
        rules: {
            "prefer-const": "warn",
            "no-constant-binary-expression": "error"
        }
    }
];

The names "prefer-const" and "no-constant-binary-expression" are the names of rules in ESLint. The first value is the error level of the rule and can be one of these values:

  • "off" or 0 - turn the rule off
  • "warn" or 1 - turn the rule on as a warning (doesn't affect exit code)
  • "error" or 2 - turn the rule on as an error (exit code will be 1)

The three error levels allow you fine-grained control over how ESLint applies rules (for more configuration options and details, see the configuration docs).

Version Support

The ESLint team provides ongoing support for the current version and six months of limited support for the previous version. Limited support includes critical bug fixes, security issues, and compatibility issues only.

ESLint offers commercial support for both current and previous versions through our partners, Tidelift and HeroDevs.

See Version Support for more details.

Code of Conduct

ESLint adheres to the OpenJS Foundation Code of Conduct.

Filing Issues

Before filing an issue, please be sure to read the guidelines for what you're reporting:

Frequently Asked Questions

Does ESLint support JSX?

Yes, ESLint natively supports parsing JSX syntax (this must be enabled in configuration). Please note that supporting JSX syntax is not the same as supporting React. React applies specific semantics to JSX syntax that ESLint doesn't recognize. We recommend using eslint-plugin-react if you are using React and want React semantics.

Does Prettier replace ESLint?

No, ESLint and Prettier have different jobs: ESLint is a linter (looking for problematic patterns) and Prettier is a code formatter. Using both tools is common, refer to Prettier's documentation to learn how to configure them to work well with each other.

What ECMAScript versions does ESLint support?

ESLint has full support for ECMAScript 3, 5, and every year from 2015 up until the most recent stage 4 specification (the default). You can set your desired ECMAScript syntax and other settings (like global variables) through configuration.

What about experimental features?

ESLint's parser only officially supports the latest final ECMAScript standard. We will make changes to core rules in order to avoid crashes on stage 3 ECMAScript syntax proposals (as long as they are implemented using the correct experimental ESTree syntax). We may make changes to core rules to better work with language extensions (such as JSX, Flow, and TypeScript) on a case-by-case basis.

In other cases (including if rules need to warn on more or fewer cases due to new syntax, rather than just not crashing), we recommend you use other parsers and/or rule plugins. If you are using Babel, you can use @babel/eslint-parser and @babel/eslint-plugin to use any option available in Babel.

Once a language feature has been adopted into the ECMAScript standard (stage 4 according to the TC39 process), we will accept issues and pull requests related to the new feature, subject to our contributing guidelines. Until then, please use the appropriate parser and plugin(s) for your experimental feature.

Which Node.js versions does ESLint support?

ESLint updates the supported Node.js versions with each major release of ESLint. At that time, ESLint's supported Node.js versions are updated to be:

  1. The most recent maintenance release of Node.js
  2. The lowest minor version of the Node.js LTS release that includes the features the ESLint team wants to use.
  3. The Node.js Current release

ESLint is also expected to work with Node.js versions released after the Node.js Current release.

Refer to the Quick Start Guide for the officially supported Node.js versions for a given ESLint release.

Where to ask for help?

Open a discussion or stop by our Discord server.

Why doesn't ESLint lock dependency versions?

Lock files like package-lock.json are helpful for deployed applications. They ensure that dependencies are consistent between environments and across deployments.

Packages like eslint that get published to the npm registry do not include lock files. npm install eslint as a user will respect version constraints in ESLint's package.json. ESLint and its dependencies will be included in the user's lock file if one exists, but ESLint's own lock file would not be used.

We intentionally don't lock dependency versions so that we have the latest compatible dependency versions in development and CI that our users get when installing ESLint in a project.

The Twilio blog has a deeper dive to learn more.

Releases

We have scheduled releases every two weeks on Friday or Saturday. You can follow a release issue for updates about the scheduling of any particular release.

Security Policy

ESLint takes security seriously. We work hard to ensure that ESLint is safe for everyone and that security issues are addressed quickly and responsibly. Read the full security policy.

Semantic Versioning Policy

ESLint follows semantic versioning. However, due to the nature of ESLint as a code quality tool, it's not always clear when a minor or major version bump occurs. To help clarify this for everyone, we've defined the following semantic versioning policy for ESLint:

  • Patch release (intended to not break your lint build)
    • A bug fix in a rule that results in ESLint reporting fewer linting errors.
    • A bug fix to the CLI or core (including formatters).
    • Improvements to documentation.
    • Non-user-facing changes such as refactoring code, adding, deleting, or modifying tests, and increasing test coverage.
    • Re-releasing after a failed release (i.e., publishing a release that doesn't work for anyone).
  • Minor release (might break your lint build)
    • A bug fix in a rule that results in ESLint reporting more linting errors.
    • A new rule is created.
    • A new option to an existing rule that does not result in ESLint reporting more linting errors by default.
    • A new addition to an existing rule to support a newly-added language feature (within the last 12 months) that will result in ESLint reporting more linting errors by default.
    • An existing rule is deprecated.
    • A new CLI capability is created.
    • New capabilities to the public API are added (new classes, new methods, new arguments to existing methods, etc.).
    • A new formatter is created.
    • eslint:recommended is updated and will result in strictly fewer linting errors (e.g., rule removals).
  • Major release (likely to break your lint build)
    • eslint:recommended is updated and may result in new linting errors (e.g., rule additions, most rule option updates).
    • A new option to an existing rule that results in ESLint reporting more linting errors by default.
    • An existing formatter is removed.
    • Part of the public API is removed or changed in an incompatible way. The public API includes:
      • Rule schemas
      • Configuration schema
      • Command-line options
      • Node.js API
      • Rule, formatter, parser, plugin APIs

According to our policy, any minor update may report more linting errors than the previous release (ex: from a bug fix). As such, we recommend using the tilde (~) in package.json e.g. "eslint": "~3.1.0" to guarantee the results of your builds.

Stylistic Rule Updates

Stylistic rules are frozen according to our policy on how we evaluate new rules and rule changes. This means:

  • Bug fixes: We will still fix bugs in stylistic rules.
  • New ECMAScript features: We will also make sure stylistic rules are compatible with new ECMAScript features.
  • New options: We will not add any new options to stylistic rules unless an option is the only way to fix a bug or support a newly-added ECMAScript feature.

License

FOSSA Status

Team

These folks keep the project moving and are resources for help.

Technical Steering Committee (TSC)

The people who manage releases, review feature requests, and meet regularly to ensure ESLint is properly maintained.

Nicholas C. Zakas's Avatar
Nicholas C. Zakas
Francesco Trotta's Avatar
Francesco Trotta
Milos Djermanovic's Avatar
Milos Djermanovic

Reviewers

The people who review and implement new features.

唯然's Avatar
唯然
Nitin Kumar's Avatar
Nitin Kumar

Committers

The people who review and fix bugs and help triage issues.

Josh Goldberg ✨'s Avatar
Josh Goldberg ✨
Tanuj Kanti's Avatar
Tanuj Kanti

Website Team

Team members who focus specifically on eslint.org

Amaresh  S M's Avatar
Amaresh S M
Strek's Avatar
Strek
Percy Ma's Avatar
Percy Ma

Sponsors

The following companies, organizations, and individuals support ESLint's ongoing maintenance and development. Become a Sponsor to get your logo on our READMEs and website.

Platinum Sponsors

Automattic Airbnb

Gold Sponsors

trunk.io

Silver Sponsors

SERP Triumph JetBrains Liftoff American Express Workleap

Bronze Sponsors

Cybozu Syntax WordHint Anagram Solver Icons8 Discord GitBook Nx Mercedes-Benz Group HeroCoders

Technology Sponsors

Technology sponsors allow us to use their products and services for free as part of a contribution to the open source ecosystem and our work.

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