Manual Code Formatting vs Prettier

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 prettier to eliminate debates over code style, save time on manual formatting, and maintain a clean, readable codebase, especially in team environments. 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

Prettier

Developers should use Prettier to eliminate debates over code style, save time on manual formatting, and maintain a clean, readable codebase, especially in team environments

Pros

• It's ideal for projects where consistency is critical, such as large-scale applications or open-source collaborations, and it pairs well with linters like ESLint for comprehensive code quality
• Related to: eslint, code-editors

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Manual Code Formatting is a methodology while Prettier 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 Prettier excels in its own space.