Biome vs ESLint: Choosing the Best Tool for JavaScript Development

This blog compares Biome and ESLint for JavaScript linting and formatting. It covers setup, performance, configuration, and when to use each tool. Ideal for developers seeking speed, simplicity, or customization.

Tired of juggling ESLint, Prettier, and endless plugins just to keep your JavaScript code clean? Meet Biome—a faster, simpler all-in-one alternative. This guide breaks down how Biome stacks up against ESLint and helps you pick the right tool for your project.

This blog compares Biome and ESLint, helping JavaScript developers decide which tool best suits their needs. You'll learn how formatting and linting, configuration simplicity, performance, and project requirements shape this decision. Expect code examples, config comparisons, and clear guidance for choosing the right setup—whether you're building a small side project or managing a large-scale production app.

Why JavaScript Projects Need Reliable Tooling

Modern JavaScript development demands high code quality, consistency, and fast feedback. Without proper formatting rules and static checks, teams risk running into error-prone code, unreadable files, and mismatched coding standards.

Historically, this has meant pairing tools like ESLint and Prettier. But now, many teams are asking: Can one tool handle everything?

Enter Biome, a blazing-fast alternative aiming to unify your JavaScript ecosystem under a single configuration file.

What Is Biome?

Biome is a command-line tool built to replace ESLint, Prettier, and more. Written in Rust, it emphasizes speed and simplicity while delivering high-performance formatting and linting.

✅ Biome Offers:

• Formatter and linter in one

• Built-in code formatting support (similar to Prettier)

• Fast static analysis for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, and other file types

• Native support for pre-commit hook setups

• Single binary with no external plugins required

Biome supports JSON-based configuration files, keeping everything simple and performant.

Biome vs ESLint: Core Differences

Here’s a direct comparison of Biome vs ESLint in the context of real-world usage:

Feature	Biome	ESLint
Formatting	Built-in Prettier-like	Requires Prettier integration
Linting	Built-in	Powerful, via rules and plugins
Configuration File	Single JSON file	Multiple: .eslintrc, .prettierrc
Performance	Rust-based; very fast	Slower (Node.js-based)
Extensibility	Limited (opinionated)	Highly extensible
Plugins	Not required	Heavily plugin-driven
Default Settings	Sensible defaults, less config	Requires more eslint configuration

Setting Up Biome in One Project

Here’s how you can get started by integrating Biome into your existing JavaScript project:

1. Install via npm:

1npm install --save-dev biome

2. Create the configuration file:

Biome uses a single configuration file called biome.json.

1{
2  "formatter": {
3    "enabled": true
4  },
5  "linter": {
6    "enabled": true
7  }
8}

This file contains formatting rules, lint settings, and paths for the files to process.

Using Biome: Formatting and Linting Commands

• To run Biome’s formatter:

1npx biome format .

• To run Biome lint:

1npx biome lint .

• To perform a combined biome check:

1npx biome check .

Biome uses fast static analysis to detect problematic patterns and applies fixes if needed.

Configuring ESLint + Prettier in a JavaScript Project

If you’re sticking with ESLint and Prettier :

1. Create .eslintrc.json:

1{
2  "extends": ["eslint:recommended", "plugin:prettier/recommended"]
3}

2. Add .prettierrc for prettier configuration:

1{
2  "semi": false,
3  "singleQuote": true
4}

You now need multiple configuration files, syncing rules between them, and managing updates across both tools.

Biome Check vs ESLint Rules: Performance and Simplicity

Biome’s Key Advantage

Biome focuses on performance. Since it’s written in Rust, running Biome is much faster than Node-based tools.

In contrast, ESLint remains more flexible, especially for large teams needing custom rules, third-party plugins, or deep framework integrations.

Formatting Code with Biome: An Example

Let’s format some JavaScript using Biome.

Input:

1function hello( ) {console.log("hello")}

Output after biome format:

1function hello() {
2  console.log("hello");
3}

Biome applies opinionated formatting rules—much like Prettier—but directly inside the same tool.

Biome CI and Pre-Commit Workflows

For automated checks, add Biome to your continuous integration pipeline:

1# .github/workflows/biome.yml
2jobs:
3  lint:
4    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
5    steps:
6      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
7      - run: npm install
8      - run: npx biome check .

To use a pre-commit hook with Biome:

1npx husky add .husky/pre-commit "npx biome check ."

Now every commit enforces consistent code formatting and style.

Biome Configuration Deep Dive

Biome’s configuration file (biome.json) supports several options:

1{
2  "files": {
3    "ignore": ["dist/", "node_modules/"]
4  },
5  "formatter": {
6    "enabled": true,
7    "indentStyle": "space",
8    "lineWidth": 80
9  },
10  "linter": {
11    "enabled": true,
12    "rules": {
13      "recommended": true
14    }
15  }
16}

This single JSON file replaces multiple layers of ESLint configuration and Prettier configuration.

Biome even handles JSON files, TypeScript files, and react native codebases out of the box.

When to Choose Biome Over ESLint

Choose Biome if:

• You want one tool to handle formatting + linting

• Speed and simplicity matter more than customization

• You prefer a single configuration file

• You work in smaller teams, side projects, or greenfield apps

Choose ESLint + Prettier if:

• You need advanced ESLint rules

• Your team relies on custom plugins

• You already have a mature ESLint and Prettier setup

• You maintain a legacy JavaScript ecosystem

Final Thoughts on Biome vs ESLint

If you value high-quality code and streamlined tooling, Biome deserves attention. It replaces the traditional ESLint + Prettier setup with one project, one tool, and one configuration file—offering clean, fast, and reliable results. While ESLint remains a powerhouse in the JavaScript ecosystem, Biome offers a simpler experience for developers focused on consistency and speed.

To get started, try the following command:

1npx biome init

Need a quick start? Head to https://biomejs.dev for docs, examples, and config guides. Whether you're working with react native, JSON, or plain JavaScript, Biome might just be your next favorite formatter.