Manual Code Formatting vs Black

Developers should learn manual code formatting to build foundational skills in writing clean code, especially in environments where automated tools are unavailable or when working with legacy systems that lack formatting support meets developers should use black when working on python projects, especially in teams, to enforce consistent coding standards and reduce time spent on style discussions. Here's our take.

Manual Code Formatting

Nice Pick

Developers should learn manual code formatting to build foundational skills in writing clean code, especially in environments where automated tools are unavailable or when working with legacy systems that lack formatting support

Pros

• It is crucial for small teams or projects where consistency relies on human effort, and it helps in understanding the principles behind code style before adopting automated solutions
• Related to: code-style-guides, code-review

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Black

Developers should use Black when working on Python projects, especially in teams, to enforce consistent coding standards and reduce time spent on style discussions

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for large codebases, open-source projects, or CI/CD pipelines where automated formatting ensures code quality and reduces merge conflicts
• Related to: python, code-formatting

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Manual Code Formatting is a methodology while Black is a tool. We picked Manual Code Formatting based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Manual Code Formatting wins

Based on overall popularity. Manual Code Formatting is more widely used, but Black excels in its own space.