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VSCode: Setting line lengths in the Black Python code formatter

Adam Lombard on May 01, 2020

The docs for the Black Python code formatter say that the formatter "is not configurable". This is largely true, but if you have Black set up to wo...
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milkator profile image
milkator • • Edited

I'm setting the arguments via pyproject.toml and had the problem, that the line-length was not reformatted properly.
After a while, I found out that I have to restart the format server!

If you have the same problem...simply do this:

'Ctrl + Shift + P' -> '> Black Formatter: Restart Server'

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rrakso profile image
rrakso •

Thank you!!!

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mrx •

fyi, can also add this to your .vscode folder > settings.json

{
    "python.formatting.provider": "black",
    "python.formatting.blackArgs": ["--line-length", "120"],
    "python.linting.enabled": true
}
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Jordan Haines • • Edited

Definitely going to reference this very time I start a new project -- right after I re-learn that setting max line length in .pylintrc is not a substitute for the setting Adam's proposed here. Thanks Adam!

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Adam Lombard •

You're welcome, Jordan! 🙂

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Waylon Walker •

119 seems uncomfortable! Then again I have never done Django and might be missing some context here.

I generally stick to black defaults and change my flake8 config to match.

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Adam Lombard •

Yeah, 119 is a little wide. Apparently it's the max char width for GitHub code review, which is why the Django project uses it as a max line length.

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simkimsia •

Thank you this helps!

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Adam Lombard •

You're welcome!