Prettier vs dprint: Which Formatter for CI?
Prettier is the ubiquitous formatter; dprint is a fast, pluggable Rust/Wasm formatter that can use a Prettier-compatible plugin.
Prettier is the de facto opinionated formatter for JS/TS and many languages. dprint is a pluggable formatting platform written in Rust, running Wasm plugins (including a Prettier-compatible one) for speed and configurability.
| Prettier | dprint | |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation | JavaScript | Rust (Wasm plugins) |
| Speed | Slower | Faster |
| Plugin model | Prettier plugins | Wasm plugins (incl. Prettier-compatible) |
| Config | Opinionated, few options | More configurable, per-language |
| Adoption | Ubiquitous | Growing |
In CI
A format --check step runs on every push; dprint makes it faster and supports incremental formatting and caching. It can run a Prettier-compatible plugin, so output can match closely, while also offering more per-language configuration. Prettier remains the most widely adopted choice with near-universal editor and ecosystem support and the broadest language plugin coverage.
Migration effort
Run dprint across the repo in one commit to absorb any formatting diffs, then enforce it in CI. Use the Prettier-compatible plugin to minimize churn, and keep Prettier if you rely on plugins dprint does not offer.
The verdict
Want faster format checks with caching and more config (and near-Prettier output): dprint. Want maximum ubiquity and editor/plugin coverage: Prettier. Reformat in a single commit when switching.