From Manual Tools to Power Tools: The Frontend Revolution

Imagine you’re building a house. Using Prettier and ESLint was like moving bricks with a wheelbarrow - every code format took ages, and code quality checks crawled at a snail’s pace. Now Evan You has delivered a power tool set - OXC tools - upgrading your development efficiency from manual workshop to industrial assembly line.

On October 19th afternoon, Vue.js creator Evan You dropped a bombshell on Twitter that sent shockwaves through the frontend community:

“Formatting too slow? Linting stuck? No, we want it all.” — Evan You

Performance Showdown: Power Tools vs Manual Tools

oxfmt: The Electric Cutter of Code Formatting

  • 2-3x faster than Biome: If Biome is a regular chainsaw, oxfmt is an industrial-grade cutting machine
  • 45x faster than Prettier: A leap from wheelbarrow to electric forklift, formatting time drops from minutes to seconds
  • Closer to Prettier standards: Switch tools without changing habits, migration cost nearly zero

oxlint: The Smart Scanner of Code Quality

  • 50-100x faster than ESLint: A quantum leap from manual inspection to machine scanning
  • 2-3x faster than Biome: Clear speed advantage with equivalent functionality
  • Compatible with major frameworks: Vite, Vue, AntDesign, React, Next.js all supported

Installation Guide: Plug and Play

Quick Test Drive (Temporary Use)

Like borrowing a power drill for a quick job:

# Format single file
npx oxfmt@latest src/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}

# Check code quality
npx oxlint@latest src/**/*.{js,ts,jsx,tsx}

Full Integration (Long-term Use)

Add power tools to your toolbox for daily use:

# Install in project
npm install -D oxlint oxfmt

Then configure your workflow in package.json:

{
  "scripts": {
    "lint": "oxlint src/",
    "lint:fix": "oxlint --fix src/",
    "format": "oxfmt src/",
    "format:check": "oxfmt --check src/"
  }
}

Configuration Guide: Tune Your Tools

oxfmt Configuration (.oxfmtrc.json)

Like adjusting power tool speed and torque:

{
  "printWidth": 80,
  "tabWidth": 2,
  "useTabs": false,
  "semi": true,
  "singleQuote": true,
  "trailingComma": "es5"
}

oxlint Configuration (.oxlintrc.json)

Set inspection rules like defining construction standards:

{
  "plugins": ["oxlint"],
  "rules": {
    "no-console": "warn",
    "no-debugger": "error",
    "prefer-const": "error"
  }
}

Migration Guide: Smooth Transition

From Prettier Migration

Like switching from manual screwdriver to electric screwdriver, same operation:

  1. Remove old tool: npm uninstall prettier
  2. Install new tool: npm install -D oxfmt
  3. Update config: Rename .prettierrc to .oxfmtrc.json
  4. Update scripts: Replace prettier commands with oxfmt

From ESLint Migration

From manual quality inspector to automated scanner:

  1. Remove old tool: npm uninstall eslint
  2. Install new tool: npm install -D oxlint
  3. Migrate config: Copy .eslintrc.js rules to .oxlintrc.json
  4. Update scripts: Replace eslint commands with oxlint

Technical Foundation: Why So Fast?

Rust + WASM Dual Engine

OXC tools built with Rust and compiled to WebAssembly, like turbocharging power tools:

  • Memory safety: Rust’s memory management prevents leaks
  • Zero-cost abstractions: Compile-time optimization, minimal runtime overhead
  • Cross-platform compatibility: WASM ensures high-speed operation everywhere

Parallel Processing Architecture

Traditional tools work like single-threaded workers, OXC tools like construction crew working simultaneously:

  • File-level parallelism: Process multiple files concurrently, utilizing multi-core CPUs
  • Incremental processing: Only process changed files, avoid redundant work
  • Smart caching: Intelligent caching of parsing results, avoid repeated computation

Real-world Performance: From Waiting to Instant

Formatting Performance Comparison

In large projects, formatting time comparison:

  • Prettier: 45 seconds for 1000 files
  • oxfmt: 1 second for same files

Linting Performance Comparison

Code quality check time comparison:

  • ESLint: 50-100 seconds for 1000 files
  • oxlint: 1 second for same files

Use Cases: Who Benefits Most?

Large Enterprise Projects

  • Massive codebases: Formatting time drops from minutes to seconds for thousands of files
  • Team collaboration: Code inspection time in CI/CD pipelines dramatically reduced
  • Developer experience: Auto-formatting on save no longer causes lag

Individual Developers

  • Rapid prototyping: Tool configuration completes instantly for new projects
  • Learning curve: Configuration highly compatible with Prettier/ESLint, no relearning needed
  • Performance boost: Personal computers get enterprise-grade performance

Best Practices: Using New Tools Effectively

Gradual Migration

Like renovating one room at a time:

  1. Test first: Try oxfmt and oxlint on personal branch
  2. Compare results: Verify output consistency with existing tools
  3. Switch gradually: Replace team configuration after confirmation

Configuration Compatibility

  • Format standards: oxfmt output highly consistent with Prettier
  • Linting rules: oxlint supports most common ESLint rules
  • Editor integration: Supports VS Code, WebStorm, and other major editors

Conclusion: New Era for Frontend Development

OXC tools release marks a milestone breakthrough in frontend tool performance. Like upgrading from manual tools to power tools in construction industry, developer productivity will see quantum leap.

Next Steps Checklist:

  1. Try immediately: Run npx oxfmt@latest on personal project to experience speed
  2. Team evaluation: Compare output differences on test branch
  3. Plan migration: Create migration plan based on project situation
  4. Monitor performance: Record build time changes before and after migration

From today, say goodbye to long formatting waits, welcome the new era of instant development!