Side by side
shfmt vs Uncrustify
Both stand on code formatting tools. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Choose shfmt for free shell formatting and syntax checking across its supported shell dialects, especially if you want directory processing or editor integration. Its key constraint is that formatting cannot be turned off for selected line ranges; the project also aims to keep its option set limited.
Visit shfmt Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Uncrustify offers extensive formatting controls and command-line processing across several languages. Its stated bugs and testing needs make output review important, especially before formatting a whole codebase.
Visit UncrustifyThe facts
| shfmt | Uncrustify | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | github.com |
| On code formatting tools | #18 of 34 | #22 of 34 |
shfmt: what it does well
- Free and open source, with no paid plan stated.
- Supports POSIX Shell, Bash, Zsh, mksh, and Bats.
- Formats files, standard input, and directories recursively.
- Can list, write, or diff files with formatting differences.
- Reads options from EditorConfig when flags are absent.
What to know first
- Cannot disable formatting for selected line ranges.
- Requires valid UTF-8 for static syntax parsing.
Uncrustify: what it does well
- Formats eight listed programming languages
- Version 0.83.0 has 901 configurable options
- Processes multiple files from the command line
- Provides Vim guidance and an IntelliJ plugin
- Free and GPL-2.0 licensed
What to know first
- The README warns that the application has bugs
- Java and Objective-C support need more testing
- Embedded SQL behavior needs more testing
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