development · Command reference

`qzx formatCode`

What it does

Formats source code files by auto-detecting language and invoking the right formatter

Command maturity: Alpha

Available for real use and feedback while its interface and behavior can still evolve. This is the current development-checkout assessment. Every future immutable release tag preserves the exact assessment shipped by that version. Available in PyPI 0.2.2.0.8. This page documents the 0.2.2.0.8 alpha development checkout.

Behavior and built-in protections

Live mode applies the changes you request

Preview mode available

Uses a native tool when needed

Works without network access

Uses your current permissions; results can vary

Dry-run only checks formatter output and needs no backup. Real formatting invokes installed native tools only after QZX creates a fail-closed backup of the selected file or directory.

QZX creates a recovery archive before live changes; use --dangerously-bypass-approvals-and-sandbox/--yolo only when you deliberately choose to skip it.

This safety classification was reviewed by OpenAI GPT-5.6 Pro against implementation digest sha256:8e1da26751942fe10264195b83fc29c5259e48eab9c7b2cf70717a0ed2ac665f on 2026-08-25.

Exact syntax

qzx formatCode <path> [language] [dry_run] --json

Parameters

Swipe or use the horizontal scrollbar to see every column.

Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
path	str	Yes	Not declared	File or directory to format
language	str	No	""	Force a specific language (python, javascript, typescript, rust, go, php, c, cpp). Auto-detected by default.
dry_run	bool	No	false	Check if files would be changed without writing (true/false)

Input examples

qzx formatCode src/

Format all supported source files in src/

qzx formatCode src/main.py

Format a single Python file with black

qzx formatCode src/ python

Format only Python files in src/

qzx formatCode src/ --dry-run

Dry-run format to see which files would change

For the complete structured payload, add --json: qzx formatCode <path> [language] [dry_run] --json

Representative output example

This illustrative JSON is derived from the current implementation-backed result contract. It shows what the command can return without claiming a recorded execution; values vary with inputs, host, permissions, and optional tools.

Example command: qzx formatCode src/ --json

{
    "success": true,
    "message": "Formats source code files by auto-detecting language and invoking the right formatter. In this illustrative example, the command completed successfully.",
    "meta": {
        "command": "formatCode",
        "command_maturity": {
            "stage": "alpha",
            "label": "Alpha",
            "sequence": 2,
            "public_executable": true,
            "stability": "interface_may_change",
            "summary": "Available for real use and feedback while its interface and behavior can still evolve.",
            "promotion_review_required": false,
            "assessment_scope": "development_checkout"
        },
        "duration_ms": 0,
        "schema_version": 1
    },
    "all_succeeded": true,
    "dry_run": true,
    "failed": [
        "Example value"
    ],
    "failed_count": 3,
    "formatted": [
        "Example value"
    ],
    "formatted_count": 3,
    "path": "C:\\project\\example.txt",
    "skipped": [
        "Example value"
    ],
    "skipped_count": 3,
    "total_files": 3,
    "unavailable_tools": []
}

View the JSON result contract

{
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "required": [
        "success",
        "message",
        "meta"
    ],
    "properties": {
        "success": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
        "message": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "meta": {
            "type": "object",
            "required": [
                "command",
                "command_maturity",
                "duration_ms",
                "schema_version"
            ],
            "properties": {
                "command": {
                    "type": "string"
                },
                "command_maturity": {
                    "type": "object",
                    "required": [
                        "stage",
                        "label",
                        "sequence",
                        "public_executable",
                        "stability",
                        "summary",
                        "promotion_review_required",
                        "assessment_scope"
                    ],
                    "properties": {
                        "stage": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "label": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "sequence": {
                            "type": "integer"
                        },
                        "public_executable": {
                            "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "stability": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "summary": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "promotion_review_required": {
                            "type": "boolean"
                        },
                        "assessment_scope": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "note": {
                            "type": "string"
                        },
                        "review": {
                            "type": "object",
                            "required": [
                                "reviewed_on",
                                "rationale",
                                "evidence"
                            ],
                            "properties": {
                                "reviewed_on": {
                                    "type": "string",
                                    "format": "date"
                                },
                                "rationale": {
                                    "type": "string"
                                },
                                "evidence": {
                                    "type": "array",
                                    "minItems": 1,
                                    "items": {
                                        "type": "string"
                                    }
                                },
                                "replacement": {
                                    "type": "string"
                                }
                            },
                            "additionalProperties": false
                        }
                    },
                    "additionalProperties": true
                },
                "duration_ms": {
                    "type": "number"
                },
                "schema_version": {
                    "type": "integer"
                }
            },
            "additionalProperties": true
        },
        "all_succeeded": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
        "dry_run": [],
        "error": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "failed": {
            "type": "array"
        },
        "failed_count": {
            "type": "integer"
        },
        "formatted": {
            "type": "array"
        },
        "formatted_count": {
            "type": "integer"
        },
        "path": [],
        "skipped": {
            "type": "array"
        },
        "skipped_count": {
            "type": "integer"
        },
        "total_files": {
            "type": "integer"
        },
        "unavailable_tools": {
            "type": "array"
        }
    },
    "additionalProperties": true
}

Errors and limits

The public contract requires success=false and a descriptive message on failure. This catalog does not yet declare a command-specific error taxonomy; inspect the result and do not invent error codes.

QZX is alpha software. Optional dependencies, permissions, and host capabilities can change the result.

Evidence workflow: requires a controlled privileged environment.

Evidence and provenance

Implementation: src/qzx/commands/development/format_code.py
Tests: tests/test_development_commands/test_format_code.py
Documentation channel: Development documentation 0.2.2.0.8 · main · sha256:9aa902dfb6b006017e52972bf7871fef49b03ec24ff80741231d743d0354bfc2
Availability: 0.2.2.0.8 or earlier

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