How do I set the maximum line length in PyCharm?

Question

I am using PyCharm on Windows and want to change the settings to limit the maximum line length to 79 characters, as opposed to the default limit of 120 characters.

Where can I change the maximum amount of characters per line in PyCharm?

Solution 1

Here is screenshot of my Pycharm. Required settings is in following path: File -> Settings -> Editor -> Code Style -> General: Right margin (columns)

Solution 2

For PyCharm 2018.1 on Mac:

Preferences (⌘+,), then Editor -> Code Style:

For PyCharm 2018.3 on Windows:

File -> Settings (Ctrl+Alt+S), then Editor -> Code Style:

To follow PEP-8 set Hard wrap at to 80.

Solution 3

For PyCharm 4

File >> Settings >> Editor >> Code Style: Right margin (columns)

suggestion: Take a look at other options in that tab, they're very helpful

Solution 4

You can even set a separate right margin for HTML. Under the specified path:

File >> Settings >> Editor >> Code Style >> HTML >> Other Tab >> Right margin (columns)

This is very useful because generally HTML and JS may be usually long in one line than Python. :)

Solution 5

For anyone, or myself if I reload my machine, who this is not working for when you do a code reformat there is an additional option to check under editor->code style->python : ensure right margin is not exceeded. Once this was selected the reformat would work.

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Comments

[Krøllebølle]

I am wondering why the default value is set to 120 characters. PEP 8 clearly states: Limit all lines to a maximum of 79 characters.

[Alex G.P.]

@Krøllebølle PEP 8 is just a recomentation, not a mandatory requirement.

[Krøllebølle]

Indeed, and in retrospect for the project where we followed PEP 8, we were way too strict. Following the 79 line limitation, the code quickly becomes unreadable and unmaintainable. Let's quote PEP-8: A style guide is about consistency. Consistency with this style guide is important. Consistency within a project is more important. Consistency within one module or function is most important. But most importantly: know when to be inconsistent -- sometimes the style guide just doesn't apply.

[Chris Cogdon]

@Krøllebølle. I believe (without any evidence) that the tight restriction in PEP8 was intended for the code Python code-base so that it's workable in the most restrictive environments: those doing coding with 80 column terminals. Those writing libraries and programs in more sophisticated environments would find 80 columns to do more damage than good.

[JChris]

PEP8 E501 — line too long (> 79 characters) — is way deprecated nowadays. Even big and well know projects like Django don't use it anymore (code.djangoproject.com/ticket/23395), as you can see here: One big exception to PEP 8 is our preference of longer line lengths. We’re well into the 21st Century, and we have high-resolution computer screens that can fit way more than 79 characters on a screen. Don’t limit lines of code to 79 characters if it means the code looks significantly uglier or is harder to read.

[joar]

@ChrisCogdon I have an argument to counter the "ancient terminals" strawman(?) from Django: On my 1920px wide screen I can fit 3 source files that has a max width ~79 columns horizontally. I believe that it provides me a better overview of what I'm working with as I can have the library module as well as the template file open right next to the view I'm working on.

[Caco]

I was looking for this. Thanks @andy, but even increasing right margin for HTML, the text continues wrapping in the 79th column. Is there some setting more?

[Admin]

+1 @joar and I have one further point; once you decide 120 characters is OK, suddenly people find that too restrictive too :P I myself have adopted a "soft 79" rule in some of my projects; I aim for 79, but don' worry if lines here and there go slightly over.

[Cito]

@joar is right - the reason for the limitation is not old monitors, but readability and being able to show files next to each other (think of diffs or three-way-merges). Having said this, 79 is probably really too small. The "black" formatter uses 88 as default with the explanation that this "... happens to be 10% over 80. This number was found to produce significantly shorter files than sticking with 80 (the most popular), or even 79 (used by the standard library). In general, 90-ish seems like the wise choice." In practice, I found that maximum line sizes around 90 also worked best for me.