Configuring Prettier with VS Code for Automatic Code Formatting

Prettier is a popular code formatter that helps maintain consistent coding style across projects. When integrated with Visual Studio Code (VS Code), it can automatically format your code, making it more readable and easier to maintain. However, setting up Prettier with VS Code requires some configuration. In this tutorial, we will walk through the steps to configure Prettier with VS Code for automatic code formatting.

Installing Prettier

Before configuring Prettier with VS Code, you need to install the Prettier extension. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Open VS Code.
2. Click on the Extensions icon in the left sidebar or press Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac).
3. Search for "Prettier – Code formatter" in the search bar.
4. Click on the "Install" button to install the extension.

Configuring Prettier as the Default Formatter

To use Prettier as your default code formatter, you need to configure it in VS Code settings. Here’s how:

1. Open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac).
2. Type "Open Settings (JSON)" and select the option.
3. In the settings file, add the following line:

"editor.defaultFormatter": "esbenp.prettier-vscode",

Alternatively, you can configure the default formatter through the VS Code UI:

1. Open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac).
2. Type "Format Document With…" and select the option.
3. Select "Configure Default Formatter…" from the dropdown menu.
4. Choose "Prettier – Code formatter" as your default formatter.

Enabling Format on Save

To enable automatic code formatting when saving files, follow these steps:

1. Open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac).
2. Type "Open Settings (JSON)" and select the option.
3. In the settings file, add the following line:

"editor.formatOnSave": true,

Alternatively, you can enable format on save through the VS Code UI:

1. Open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (Mac).
2. Type "Open Settings (UI)" and select the option.
3. Search for "format on save" in the search bar.
4. Check the box next to "Format On Save" to enable it.

Troubleshooting

If Prettier is not formatting your code, check the following:

• Make sure you have installed the Prettier extension and configured it as your default formatter.
• Ensure that format on save is enabled.
• Check for any syntactic errors in your code, as Prettier may not work with invalid code.

By following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you can configure Prettier with VS Code to automatically format your code and maintain a consistent coding style across your projects.