How to setup Xcode for proper javascript formatting?

Question

Xcode3 (and newer ;) doesn't properly format Javascript when I type something like:

doSomething(somewhere, function(err, result) {

It inserts a huge indentation. I tried to change Xcode formatting rules but no luck. One way or another it breaks indentations.

Is there a proper way to use Xcode for javascript development?

I use stupid workaround: Editor->Syntax Coloring->swift, select all, re-indent, and back to Editor->Syntax Coloring->Default for file type. — Tzoiker, Jul 28 '15 at 14:00
10 years later .. Editor -> Syntax Coloring **it appears Xcode now supports javascript** — Fattie, Mar 02 '20 at 13:59
.. but, it does a horrific job. Change to "C" coloring as in the excellent suggestion below. — Fattie, Mar 06 '20 at 16:08

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 04 '13 at 17:52

6

What worked fairly well for me is to switch the .js files to use C syntax coloring.

In XCode 4: Editor -> Syntax Coloring -> C

It still highlights numbers and strings and comments, and it indents braces in a sane way.

answered Oct 04 '13 at 17:52

Claudiu

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score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 23 '14 at 11:58

With some tweaking it is possible to modify the way Xcode indents JavaScript by supplying a custom xclangspec file. Xcode for formatting and syntax uses language definitions in xclangspec files kept in directory SharedFrameworks/DVTFoundation.framework/Versions/A/Resources. Since the formatting for C language works actually better for JavaScript than the Xcode original JavaScript formatting, it is possible to use some parts of definition for C in JS definition. More details you can find at http://www.conhar.com/xcode-and-javascript/.

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 02 '13 at 10:02

2

A quick solution is to choose View -> Syntax Coloring -> Simple Coloring. If you are okay to edit Javascript without fancy syntax highlight, this is pretty useful.

This way only the numbers and strings are colored, and the indentation stops being so annoying.

answered Feb 02 '13 at 10:02

Scurrying Ratatosk

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In my version of xcode this option is under Editor >> Syntax Coloring but I can't find a Simple Coloring option... There is a None option which I tried but didn't solve my problem... – Nathan Prather Aug 01 '13 at 14:00

score 2 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

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Unfortunatelly XCode has very limited formatting options. But you can use uncrustify which is pretty good. You can find some information here:
Xcode source automatic formatting
Objective-C Tidy

These articles all talk about formatting objective-c code, however uncrustify can format the source code of various languages ;)

Hope this helps.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:10

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answered Jan 11 '11 at 13:58

Moszi

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score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

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Uncrustify requires a .cfg file to setup which can be somewhat overwhelming. There's an alternative here

edited Jun 20 '20 at 09:12

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answered Aug 25 '12 at 18:40

cube

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How to setup Xcode for proper javascript formatting?

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