isort

isort [OPTIONS] [FILES_OR_DIRECTORIES...]
isort [OPTIONS] - (for stdin)

--check-only, -c
    Check if files are correctly sorted without modifying them. Exits with non-zero if issues are found.

--diff, -d
    Shows a diff of the changes that would be made to files, without applying them.

--profile <name>
    Apply a pre-defined configuration profile, e.g., 'black', 'django', 'google'.

--atomic
    Ensures that modifications are written to a temporary file before being moved, providing safer in-place updates.

--line-length <length>
    Sets the maximum line length for wrapped imports. Defaults to 79.

--skip <file_or_dir>
    Skips specified files or directories from being sorted. Can be used multiple times.

--skip-glob <glob_pattern>
    Skips files matching a given glob pattern. Can be used multiple times.

--known-first-party <modules>
    Comma-separated list of modules to consider as first-party.

--settings-path <path>
    Specify a custom path to a configuration file (e.g., `pyproject.toml`).

--verbose, -v
    Increases output verbosity.

--version
    Displays the `isort` version number and exits.

--help, -h
    Shows a comprehensive help message and exits.

`isort` is a highly popular Python utility designed to automatically sort and organize import statements within Python codebases. It ensures that all imports are consistently ordered alphabetically, and intelligently grouped into distinct sections such as standard library, third-party libraries, first-party modules, and local imports. This automation helps maintain a clean, readable, and consistent code style across projects, significantly reducing the likelihood of merge conflicts related to import order. It is an invaluable tool for enforcing code standards, improving developer productivity, and simplifying code reviews. `isort` can be run directly from the command line, integrated into pre-commit hooks, or utilized within various build and continuous integration systems. Its extensive configuration options allow users to tailor its behavior to specific project needs, making it adaptable to diverse coding styles while promoting uniformity.

While `isort` is highly beneficial, users should be aware of potential issues:
- It modifies files in place, so using it with version control is crucial.
- Can sometimes conflict with other code formatters (like Black) if their configurations regarding line length or wrapping aren't synchronized. `isort`'s `--profile black` often resolves this.
- Overly complex configuration can lead to unexpected sorting behaviors; simpler configurations are generally more robust.

`isort` can be configured using various files in the project root, including `pyproject.toml` (recommended), `.isort.cfg`, `setup.cfg`, and `isort.ini`. These files allow for persistent and version-controlled configuration of sorting rules, sections, skips, and more.

Many development workflows integrate `isort` into Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines. By running `isort --check-only` as part of automated tests, teams can ensure that all committed code adheres to the defined import sorting standards, preventing improperly formatted code from reaching production.

`isort` was created by Timothy Crosley in 2013, driven by the need for a consistent and automated way to sort Python imports. Its initial development aimed to solve the common problem of inconsistent import ordering across different developers and projects, which often led to unnecessary merge conflicts and reduced readability. Over the years, `isort` has grown significantly, incorporating numerous features and improvements through active community contributions. It has become a standard tool in the Python ecosystem, widely adopted by individual developers, open-source projects, and large organizations to maintain high code quality and consistency. Its evolution reflects a strong commitment to being configurable yet opinionated, striking a balance between automation and user control.

black(1): The uncompromising Python code formatter., flake8(1): A popular linter for Python code, often used alongside `isort`., pylint(1): Another widely used static code analyzer for Python., git(1): A distributed version control system, essential for tracking changes made by `isort`., pre-commit(1): A framework for managing and maintaining multi-language pre-commit hooks, where `isort` is often integrated.