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What is esre?

getify/esre — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-09 · repo last pushed 2013-08-23

21Audience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · moderate

In one sentence

A fully configurable JavaScript code formatter that automatically rewrites code to match shared style rules, eliminating style debates on development teams and open-source projects.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Formats JS code
      Shared config rules
      Runs before commit
    Tech stack
      JavaScript
      Node.js
    Use cases
      Team style consistency
      Open source projects
      Pre-commit formatting
    Audience
      Development teams
      Open source contributors
    Philosophy
      Fully configurable
      No strict defaults
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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Format JavaScript code before committing so your whole team shares one consistent style.

USE CASE 2

Set up a shared formatting config for an open-source project so contributors don't argue about style.

USE CASE 3

Run code through esre before linting to let the linter focus on real bugs instead of spacing.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptNode.js

How does it compare?

getify/esre0whitedev/detranspiler0xluk3/zk-resources
Stars212121
LanguagePython
Last pushed2013-08-23
MaintenanceDormant
Setup difficultymoderatehardeasy
Complexity2/54/51/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperresearcher

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

The README lacks installation steps and config details, so you'll need to explore the repository itself to figure out setup and integration.

No license information is provided in the README, so usage rights are unclear.

So what is it?

esre is a tool that automatically formats JavaScript code so that everyone on a team ends up with the same style. Instead of developers arguing about tabs versus spaces, where to put braces, or how to indent lines, they just run their code through this tool before saving or sharing it. The idea is to remove style debates from your team or open-source project entirely. The way it works is straightforward: you write your JavaScript however you want, and then you run it through esre before you commit your changes or before a linter checks your code. The tool rewrites the formatting to match a shared configuration file that everyone on the project agrees to use. The README describes it as "fully configurable," meaning you have control over the formatting rules rather than being locked into someone else's opinionated defaults. Beyond that high-level description, the README doesn't go into detail on how to set up or fine-tune those configurations. This tool is for development teams and open-source contributors who are tired of style-related friction. If you've ever had a code review derailed by someone asking you to move a curly brace to the next line, or had an automated linter complain about spacing instead of catching real bugs, this is the kind of tool that addresses that pain. A startup with several developers contributing to the same codebase, for example, could use it to keep everything visually consistent without forcing anyone to change how they naturally type out their code. What stands out about the project is its emphasis on being fully configurable, which suggests it takes a different philosophical approach than some popular formatters that enforce strict, built-in opinions. That said, the README is quite sparse, it doesn't list specific formatting options, installation steps, or integration details, so you'd need to explore the repository itself to understand the full scope of what it can do.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up esre to format my JavaScript project, walk me through creating a config file and running it on my source files.
Prompt 2
I want to integrate esre into my pre-commit hook so code is auto-formatted before anyone commits. Show me how to do that.
Prompt 3
Compare esre's fully-configurable approach to Prettier's opinionated defaults, and help me decide which fits my team better.
Prompt 4
Help me configure esre formatting rules to match my team's existing style guide for braces, indentation, and spacing.

Frequently asked questions

What is esre?

A fully configurable JavaScript code formatter that automatically rewrites code to match shared style rules, eliminating style debates on development teams and open-source projects.

Is esre actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2013-08-23).

What license does esre use?

No license information is provided in the README, so usage rights are unclear.

How hard is esre to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is esre for?

Mainly developer.

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