Black

What it is

Black is an uncompromising Python code formatter that automatically reformats your code to adhere strictly to the PEP 8 style guide, making it more readable and consistent.

Black stands out as an uncompromising Python code formatter that strictly adheres to PEP 8, offering a no-frills approach to ensuring consistent and readable code.

When it fits — and when it doesn’t

Known weaknesses

Each one links to the public issue, changelog or docs page it came from, where we have one.

1. 01

   Limited customization options despite being highly configurable

   Black enforces a strict style that only allows limited configuration, such as line length and string quotes, which may not suit all coding preferences.

2. 02

   Potential conflicts with existing code styles or linters

   Adhering strictly to PEP 8 can cause issues if the team has pre-existing style guides or linters that conflict with Black's formatting rules.

3. 03

   Performance overhead for large codebases

   Black may introduce performance delays when processing very large Python projects, especially during continuous integration processes.

What it does well

• Automatically formats Python code to PEP 8 standards.

• Uncompromising style that enforces a single way of formatting.

• Highly configurable with options for line length and string quotes.

Pricing

Free tier

YesOpen source — free to use

Paid from

$0

Model

Flat rate

Enterprise plan

No

Pricing not independently confirmed — check the vendor’s page.