Code Quality

Unified guidance for linting and formatting across ESLint, Prettier, Biome, and oxc. Context-aware: uses your project’s existing tools.

When to Use

• Configuring linters or formatters
• Fixing linting errors or style issues
• Setting up code quality in CI/CD
• Enforcing consistent code style
• Integrating quality tools with editors

Don’t use when:

• TypeScript type checking only (use typescript skill)
• Build configuration (use vite or webpack skills)

Critical Patterns

✅ REQUIRED [CRITICAL]: Check Context First

Always check what tools the project uses before recommending:

// Step 1: Check AGENTS.md for installed skills
// Step 2: Check package.json for installed tools
// Step 3: Check config files (.eslintrc*, .prettierrc*, biome.json)
// Step 4: Use existing tools, DON'T force new ones

// ✅ CORRECT: Context-aware
// If project has ESLint → use ESLint patterns
// If project has Prettier → use Prettier patterns
// If project has Biome → use Biome patterns
// If project has ESLint + Prettier → use both (with eslint-config-prettier)

// ❌ WRONG: Force new tool
// "Let's switch to Biome" when project uses ESLint + Prettier
// "Add Prettier" when project uses Biome (already handles formatting)

✅ REQUIRED: Extend Recommended Configs

// ✅ CORRECT: Start from recommended (any tool)
// ESLint
extends: ["eslint:recommended", "plugin:@typescript-eslint/recommended"]

// Biome
{ "linter": { "rules": { "recommended": true } } }

// ❌ WRONG: Starting from scratch
rules: { /* manually defining hundreds of rules */ }

✅ REQUIRED: Essential Quality Rules

Regardless of tool, enforce these rules:

1. No any type (TypeScript)
2. No unused variables
3. No variable shadowing
4. Consistent type imports (import type)
5. No duplicate imports
6. Strict equality (===)
7. Prefer const over let/var
8. Import organization (external → internal → types)

✅ REQUIRED: Run in CI/CD

{
  "scripts": {
    "lint": "<tool-specific-command>",
    "format": "<tool-specific-command>",
    "check": "npm run lint && npm run format -- --check"
  }
}

✅ REQUIRED: Editor Integration

Configure format-on-save and lint-on-save for immediate feedback. See tool-specific references for editor setup.

Decision Tree

Project has quality tools configured?
  → Yes: Check package.json and config files
    → ESLint installed? → See references/eslint.md
    → Prettier installed? → See references/prettier.md
    → Biome installed? → See references/biome.md
    → oxc installed? → See references/oxc.md
    → ESLint + Prettier? → Use both with eslint-config-prettier
  → No: Recommend modern default

New project (no tools)?
  → Small/medium project: Biome (all-in-one, fast)
  → Large/enterprise: ESLint + Prettier (mature ecosystem, more plugins)
  → Performance-critical CI: Consider Biome or oxc

TypeScript project?
  → ESLint: Use @typescript-eslint/parser + @typescript-eslint/recommended
  → Biome: Built-in TypeScript support (no extra config)

React project?
  → ESLint: Add plugin:react/recommended + plugin:react-hooks/recommended
  → Biome: Built-in React support

Formatting only?
  → Prettier or Biome (both handle formatting)
  → DON'T use ESLint for formatting alone

Linting only?
  → ESLint or Biome (both handle linting)
  → DON'T use Prettier for linting (it only formats)

ESLint conflicts with Prettier?
  → Install eslint-config-prettier (disables conflicting rules)
  → Or migrate to Biome (single tool, no conflicts)

Example

Context-aware quality setup:

// Check package.json:
// "biome": "^2.0.0"
//
// → Use Biome patterns (single tool for linting + formatting)

// biome.json
{
  "$schema": "https://biomejs.dev/schemas/2.0.0/schema.json",
  "linter": {
    "enabled": true,
    "rules": { "recommended": true }
  },
  "formatter": {
    "enabled": true,
    "indentStyle": "space",
    "indentWidth": 2
  }
}

Edge Cases

Multiple tools: Some projects use ESLint for linting + Prettier for formatting. Use eslint-config-prettier to prevent conflicts.

Monorepo: Use root config with per-package overrides. Both ESLint and Biome support this.

Legacy to modern migration: Migrate one tool at a time. Biome has biome migrate for ESLint/Prettier migration.

Pre-commit hooks: Use husky + lint-staged (ESLint/Prettier) or Biome’s built-in staged files support.

Resources

See references/README.md for complete navigation.