Tech riderRev. 29 Sept 2026
- 1Runs onLinux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows
- 2CostsFree plan
- 3℗License modelopen source
- 4Supported languagesPython
- 5Supported platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, local HTTP API
- 6Editor integrationYes
- 7Ignore filesYes
- 8Changed-lines formattingYes
- 9Library APINo
9 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: black.readthedocs.io
Overview
Black is ranked #3 of 34 in code formatting tools on Specifiction. It runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows. There is a free plan.
Black plans and pricing
All plansCompared on code formatting tools
- Free plan
- Yesblack.readthedocs.io
- Supported languages
- Pythonblack.readthedocs.io
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux, local HTTP APIblack.readthedocs.io
- Editor integration
- Yesblack.readthedocs.io
- Ignore files
- Yesblack.readthedocs.io
- Changed-lines formatting
- Yesblack.readthedocs.io
- Library API
- Noblack.readthedocs.io
- License model
- open_sourceblack.readthedocs.io
Facts
- Purpose
- Black is an opinionated formatter for Python code that follows PEP 8.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Formatting
- Black reformats whole files in place and uses a default line length of 88 characters.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Consistent style
- Black limits style options and aims to make code look consistent across projects.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Safety check
- Black checks that reformatted code has an effectively equivalent abstract syntax tree and raises an error if the check fails.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Installation
- Black installs with pip and requires Python 3.10 or newer to run.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Notebook support
- Jupyter Notebook formatting is available by installing Black with the jupyter extra.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Editor integrations
- The documentation describes integrations for editors including PyCharm, Vim, Neovim, Visual Studio Code, and Sublime Text.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- CI integration
- Black provides a GitHub Actions integration that supports GitHub-hosted runner operating systems.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Local server
- Black includes blackd, an HTTP server that binds to localhost by default.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Docker
- Official Black Docker images are available, with tags for releases and prereleases.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- API limit
- Black is fundamentally a command-line tool and does not currently provide a Python interface.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- License
- Black is licensed under the MIT License.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- Style stability
- For stable releases, code formatted with a release remains unchanged under other releases in the same calendar year when using the same options.black.readthedocs.io · 28 Sept 2026
- What it does
- Black is an opinionated code formatter that formats Python code with consistent style.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Code review
- Black says it can make code review faster by producing the smallest diffs possible.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation lists editor and IDE, GitHub Actions, source version control, and doctest formatting integrations.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Editor support
- Documented editor integrations include Emacs, PyCharm and IntelliJ IDEA, Vim, Neovim, Visual Studio Code, SublimeText, and others.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Command line tool
- Black is fundamentally a command line tool and the documentation says it does not yet provide a Python interface.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Configuration limit
- Black provides no option to configure indentation style and says requests for that option will not be considered.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Notebook limits
- Black skips notebook cells containing automagics, non-Python or multiline magics, transformed magic code, or invalid syntax.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
- Python compatibility
- Black promises support for Python versions that have not reached end of life, for both running Black and formatting code.black.readthedocs.io · 29 Sept 2026
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Where it ranks on Specifiction
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Sources
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/the_black_code_style/index.ht· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage_and_configuration/the_b· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/faq.html· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/getting_started.html· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/integrations/editors.html· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/integrations/github_actions.h· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage_and_configuration/black· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/usage_and_configuration/black· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/· checked 28 Sept 2026
- black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/integrations/index.html· checked 29 Sept 2026