Check the isort configuration file

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 80 views

Introduction

As a developer, maintaining a consistent coding style and adhering to project-specific guidelines is crucial for ensuring the quality and readability of your codebase. In this article, we will explore how to configure isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order, a tool used to check the validity of import order in Python projects.

Understanding the Issue

The pre-commit of our project is using flake8-import-order to check the import order validity. However, when using isort to re-order imports, it produces an incompatible result specifically concerning the import order. This incompatibility can lead to conflicts and errors during the pre-commit process.

What is isort and flake8-import-order?

isort: isort is a Python utility that helps sort imports alphabetically and in a consistent order. It is widely used in the Python community to maintain a clean and organized codebase.
flake8-import-order: flake8-import-order is a plugin for flake8, a popular Python linter, that checks the import order of Python files. It ensures that imports are in a consistent order, making it easier to read and maintain code.

Configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order

To configure isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order, we need to make some adjustments to the isort configuration file. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Install isort and flake8-import-order

First, we need to install isort and flake8-import-order using pip:

pip install isort flake8-import-order

Step 2: Create an isort configuration file

Next, we need to create an isort configuration file. We can do this by running the following command:

isort --profile black --recursive .

This will create a configuration file named isort.cfg in the root directory of our project.

Step 3: Configure isort to use flake8-import-order's import order

To configure isort to use flake8-import-order's import order, we need to add the following lines to the isort.cfg file:

[isort]
multi_line_output = 3
line_length = 88
skip = .git, .idea, .vscode, .venv, build, dist, node_modules, venv
use_autoflake = True
use_black_compatible_settings = True
use_prettier = False
use_sort_keys = True
use_type_hints = True

However, we need to add the following lines to make it compatible with flake8-import-order:

[isort]
multi_line_output = 3
line_length = 88
skip = .git, .idea, .vscode, .venv, build, dist, node_modules, venv
use_autoflake = True
use_black_compatible_settings = True
use_prettier = False
use_sort_keys = True
use_type_hints = True
import_order = flake8

Step 4: Run isort with the updated configuration

Finally, we need to run isort with the updated configuration:

isort --profile isort.cfg --recursive .

This will re-order the imports in our codebase using the configuration specified in the isort.cfg file.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to configure isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order. By following the steps outlined above, we can ensure that our codebase adheres to the import order guidelines specified by flake8-import-order. This will help maintain a consistent coding style and ensure that our codebase is readable and maintainable.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the configuration process, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Check the isort configuration file: Make sure that the isort.cfg file is correctly configured and that the import_order setting is set to flake8.
Check the flake8-import-order configuration: Make sure that the flake8-import-order configuration is correctly set up and that the import order guidelines are specified.
Check the isort output: Make sure that the isort output is correct and that the imports are re-ordered according to the flake8-import-order guidelines.

Best Practices

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order:

Use a consistent coding style: Make sure that the coding style is consistent throughout the codebase.
Use a consistent import order: Make sure that the import order is consistent throughout the codebase.
Use a configuration file: Use a configuration file to specify the isort settings and ensure that the settings are consistent throughout the codebase.

Q: What is the main difference between isort and flake8-import-order?

A: isort is a Python utility that helps sort imports alphabetically and in a consistent order, while flake8-import-order is a plugin for flake8 that checks the import order of Python files.

Q: Why do I need to configure isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order?

A: You need to configure isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order because isort's default import order may not be compatible with flake8-import-order's import order guidelines. By configuring isort to use flake8-import-order's import order, you can ensure that your codebase adheres to the import order guidelines specified by flake8-import-order.

Q: How do I configure isort to use flake8-import-order's import order?

A: To configure isort to use flake8-import-order's import order, you need to add the following lines to the isort.cfg file:

[isort]
multi_line_output = 3
line_length = 88
skip = .git, .idea, .vscode, .venv, build, dist, node_modules, venv
use_autoflake = True
use_black_compatible_settings = True
use_prettier = False
use_sort_keys = True
use_type_hints = True
import_order = flake8

Q: What is the `import_order` setting in the `isort.cfg` file?

A: The import_order setting in the isort.cfg file specifies the import order that isort should use. By setting import_order to flake8, you are telling isort to use flake8-import-order's import order guidelines.

Q: How do I run isort with the updated configuration?

A: To run isort with the updated configuration, you need to use the following command:

isort --profile isort.cfg --recursive .

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter when configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter when configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order include:

Incorrect import order: Make sure that the import order is correct and that it adheres to the guidelines specified by flake8-import-order.
Missing configuration file: Make sure that the isort.cfg file is correctly configured and that the import_order setting is set to flake8.
Incorrect isort version: Make sure that you are using the latest version of isort and that it is compatible with flake8-import-order.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with isort and flake8-import-order?

A: To troubleshoot issues with isort and flake8-import-order, you can try the following:

Check the isort configuration file: Make sure that the isort.cfg file is correctly configured and that the import_order setting is set to flake8.
Check the flake8-import-order configuration: Make sure that the flake8-import-order configuration is correctly set up and that the import order guidelines are specified.
Check the isort output: Make sure that the isort output is correct and that the imports are re-ordered according to the flake8-import-order guidelines.

Q: What are some best practices for configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order?

A: Some best practices for configuring isort to be compatible with flake8-import-order include:

Use a consistent coding style: Make sure that the coding style is consistent throughout the codebase.
Use a consistent import order: Make sure that the import order is consistent throughout the codebase.
Use a configuration file: Use a configuration file to specify the isort settings and ensure that the settings are consistent throughout the codebase.

By following these best practices and troubleshooting tips, you can ensure that your codebase is readable, maintainable, and adheres to the import order guidelines specified by flake8-import-order.