Formatter (Prettier)

We are currently porting Prettier and Biome Formatter to Oxc to create a high-performance, Prettier-compatible formatter.

Architecture Overview

The Oxc formatter is built around the same core concepts as Prettier but with significant performance optimizations:

• Document Model: Uses Prettier and Biome's document IR (Intermediate Representation)
• Pretty Printing: Implements Wadler's pretty printing algorithm
• AST Integration: Leverages Oxc's fast parser for optimal performance

Performance Considerations

Optimization Strategies

• Memory Arena: AST allocated in bump allocator
• String Interning: Reuse common strings
• Lazy Evaluation: Defer expensive computations

Current Challenges

Technical Challenges

1. Comment Handling: Preserving comment placement and formatting
2. JavaScript Quirks: Handling edge cases in JavaScript syntax
3. Performance vs Compatibility: Balancing speed with exact Prettier output
4. Memory Management: Efficient handling of large files

Missing Features

• [ ] Plugin system compatibility
• [ ] Configuration file support
• [ ] Editor integrations
• [ ] CLI tool
• [ ] Language server protocol