Simplify Code Formatting with reformatter.el
Are you tired of spending valuable time manually formatting your code to adhere to consistent style guidelines? Look no further than reformatter.el, a powerful library for Emacs that simplifies code formatting and improves code quality. In this article, we’ll explore the key features and benefits of reformatter.el and provide real-world examples of its usage in popular programming language modes. Whether you’re an experienced Emacs user or new to the platform, reformatter.el will revolutionize your coding workflow and help you promote best practices in code formatting.
Key Features and Benefits
reformatter.el provides a simple yet effective solution for code formatting in Emacs. Here are some of its key features and benefits:
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Idiomatic Command Definition: With reformatter.el, defining an idiomatic command to reformat the current buffer using a command-line program is a breeze. The library handles stdin and stdout operations efficiently, ensuring seamless integration with various formatting programs.
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Automatic Formatting on Save: reformatter.el also offers an optional minor mode that automatically applies the defined reformatting command on save. This feature eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures consistent code formatting across your projects.
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Per-Directory and Per-File Customization: The library’s generated minor mode supports per-directory and per-file customization through Emacs’ file-local and directory-local variables mechanisms. This flexibility allows you to tailor formatting options based on your specific project requirements.
Real-World Examples
reformatter.el is widely adopted in the Emacs community and has found its way into many programming language modes. Here are some notable examples of its usage:
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dhall-mode.el: The dhall-mode, a major mode for editing Dhall configuration files, leverages reformatter.el to provide seamless formatting capabilities.
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elm-format.el: The elm-mode, a major mode for Elm programming in Emacs, integrates reformatter.el to simplify code formatting using Elm’s official formatting tool.
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sqlformat.el: sqlformat.el, a library for formatting SQL queries in Emacs, relies on reformatter.el to streamline code formatting for SQL files.
These examples demonstrate how reformatter.el improves the coding experience in various programming language modes and helps maintain consistent style guidelines.
Rationale behind reformatter.el
The development of reformatter.el stems from the need to standardize code formatting practices and simplify the implementation of code reformatters. The library’s author, Steve Purcell, realized the challenges in writing robust and correct code for applying reformatters, such as dealing with missing programs, unsaved buffers, error output, and file encodings. reformatter.el aims to address these challenges and provide a consistent and configurable solution for both tool authors and end-users.
How Is reformatter.el Different from format-all.el?
While some may compare reformatter.el to format-all.el, the two libraries embrace different approaches. format-all.el aims to provide a grand unified approach by offering a single minor mode that applies code formatting for multiple languages. In contrast, reformatter.el focuses on producing small, self-contained, and individual formatters and minor modes. This design choice allows for easy replacement of existing formatters and encourages users to define their own reformatter wrappers based on their needs.
Installation
To start benefiting from reformatter.el, follow these installation steps:
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Manual Installation: Download the reformatter.el file and place it in a directory on your Emacs load path. Then, add
(require 'reformatter)to your~/.emacsor~/.emacs.d/init.elfile. -
MELPA Installation: If you have Emacs 24 or a recent version of
package.el, you can install reformatter.el directly from the MELPA repository. Simply use your package manager to search for and install the reformatter package.
For detailed installation instructions and further documentation, visit the reformatter.el homepage.
Conclusion
reformatter.el is a valuable addition to any Emacs developer’s toolkit, streamlining code formatting and promoting consistent style guidelines. By simplifying the implementation of code reformatters, reformatter.el empowers developers to focus on writing clean and maintainable code. With its intuitive features, automatic formatting on save, and per-directory customization, reformatter.el enhances productivity and reduces code maintenance overhead. Start using reformatter.el today and experience the benefits of code formatting made easy.
About the Author
Steve Purcell, the mastermind behind reformatter.el, is a highly esteemed member of the Emacs community. With years of experience in Emacs programming language modes and tools, Steve’s contributions have left a lasting impact on the ecosystem. Connect with Steve on LinkedIn and check out his personal website for more amazing projects.
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