ESLint "Unexpected tab character" when "indent" rule set to "tab"

Question

I'm using ESLint with the Airbnb plugin (eslint-config-airbnb) and Babel parser. I've just added the extra rule of using Tab characters for indentation instead of spaces.

Here is my .eslintrc:

{
    "parser": "babel-eslint",
    "extends": "airbnb",
    "plugins": [
        "react",
        "jsx-a11y",
        "import"
    ],
    "rules":{
        "indent": [2, "tab"]
    }
}

Now I get this error at every indentation:

Error: Unexpected tab character

Just in case it helps, I'm using Atom IDE with the autolinter plugins linter and linter-eslint.

Is there a stack trace that accompanies that error? It doesn't look to be a normal linter error, though it could be coming from the parser. — btmills, Nov 30 '16 at 21:49
The error was being showed by atom, yes, it said something about no-tabs rule ;) — R01010010, Dec 04 '16 at 21:09

score 111 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 04 '16 at 20:17

111

I answer myself, it was because Airbnb has set the rule no-tabs to 2 or error, I just disabled it.

{
    "parser": "babel-eslint",
    "extends": "airbnb",
    "plugins": [
        "react",
        "jsx-a11y",
        "import"
    ],
    "rules":{
        "indent": [2, "tab"],
        "no-tabs": 0
    }
}

answered Dec 04 '16 at 20:17

R01010010

5,670
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FYI, it happens for standard ones as well and not just airbnb and no-tab rule works. thanks – hafiz ali Mar 25 '18 at 17:03
thanks! I had my indent rule set to tab but didn't know that I had to specifically disable airbnb's "no-tabs". It works, thanks! – Carlos Zinato Feb 17 '20 at 22:06

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 23 '21 at 13:11

1

"no-tabs" rule looks for tabs anywhere inside a file: code, comments or anything else. It may be a another answer.

...
"rules": {
    ...
    "no-tabs": ["error", { "allowIndentationTabs": true }]
    ...
}
...

answered Dec 23 '21 at 13:11

F.E

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ESLint "Unexpected tab character" when "indent" rule set to "tab"

2 Answers2