clang-format vs Spotless
clang-format
clang.llvm.orgSpotless
github.comSide by side
| Figure | clang-format | Spotless |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 2 |
| Spec score · Code formatters | 7.7 (#8) | 7.3 (#14) |
| Spec score · Code Formatting Tools | 7.6 (#20) | 7.3 (#28) |
| Editor integrations | The documentation describes integrations for Vim, Emacs, BBEdit, CLion, Visual Studio, and Visual Studio Code. | The README links Spotless integrations for VS Code and IntelliJ. |
| Languages | The standalone tool formats C, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protobuf, and C# code. | Spotless lists support for languages and formats including Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, Python, SQL, YAML, and Markdown. |
| License | LLVM releases are distributed under the Apache-2.0 license with LLVM exceptions, which the download page describes as OSI-approved. | The GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0. |
| Purpose | ClangFormat is a set of tools built on LibFormat for formatting source code, available as a standalone tool and through editor integrations. | Spotless formats source code and can check files for formatting violations or apply fixes. |
| Support | The Clang guide directs users who encounter problems to file bugs on the LLVM bug tracker. | DiffPlug directs questions to its forum and lists a technical support contact on its About page. |
Plans
In their own words
clang-format
clang-format has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Spotless
Spotless formats source code and can check files for formatting violations or apply fixes. It supports languages and formats including Java, Kotlin, JavaScript, Python, SQL, YAML, and Markdown, with formatter options such as Google Java Format, ktlint, Prettier, ESLint, Black, and ScalaFmt. The project integrates with Gradle and Maven and links to an external SBT integration. Its README links to VS Code and IntelliJ integrations. Spotless lists automatic idempotency and encoding safeguards for Gradle, Maven, and SBT. Git-based features include ratcheting from a Git reference for Gradle and Maven, and Git-defined line endings for all three build tools. Some capabilities, including ratcheting and fast incremental formatting, are unavailable in SBT. The repository identifies the license as Apache-2.0. Spotless is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. DiffPlug directs questions to its forum and lists a technical support contact; security disclosures can be sent to [email protected]. Its plan listing includes a free plan at free, billed free forever with no registration required, and also lists a free trial.