diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 899ef2e..8309bc6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ debian/*-stamp
 debian/*.substvars
 debian/tmp
 .DS_Store
+node_modules
diff --git a/.prettierignore b/.prettierignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0442f2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.prettierignore
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+node_modules/
+macos/
+debian/
+build/
+package.nw/lib/ol.js
+package.nw/lib/moment-with-locales.js
+package.nw/lib/moment-timezone-with-data.js
+package.nw/lib/datepicker.js
+package.nw/lib/third-party.js
+
diff --git a/.prettierrc.json b/.prettierrc.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cbe686
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.prettierrc.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "printWidth": 80,
+  "overrides": [
+    {
+      "files": ["*.html"],
+      "options": {
+        "printWidth": 120
+      }
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6765ff8..2f6a2b5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,12 +2,29 @@
 
 # Developing GridTracker
 
-GridTracker runs using [NWJS](https://nwjs.io/), a tools that wraps both Chrome windows and node processes into a native application.
+GridTracker runs using [NWJS](https://nwjs.io/), a tools that wraps both Chrome windows and node processes into
+a native application.
 
 To work on GridTracker you need to clone this git repository and then invoke NWJS with the contents of `package.nw`.
 
-NWJS comes in two flavors, "normal" and "sdk". GridTracker is distributed with the normal flavor, but for development work
-we recommend the SDK flavor because it provides access to Chrome's Developer Tools, among other things.
+NWJS comes in two flavors, "normal" and "sdk". GridTracker is distributed with the normal flavor,
+but for development work we recommend the SDK flavor because it provides access to Chrome's Developer Tools,
+among other things.
+
+### Code Formatting
+We use `prettier` to enforce code formatting rules, and we follow
+the [JavaScript Standard Style](https://standardjs.com/)
+
+You can use all kinds of plugins and configurations in your text editor to verify these rules, and even reformat code
+automatically, but if you want to run on the command line, you can (after running `npm install`) run the
+`npm run prettier-check` command to verify the formatting of all files, or `npm run prettier-write` to reformat
+all files to match the standard.
+
+If you want to know more about why these tools are useful,
+[watch this talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuHfMw8j4xk)
+
+
+# Developer Environment Setup
 
 ## Developing on Windows
 
@@ -19,7 +36,7 @@ To access the Developer Tools, right-click on an unused area of a window, or pre
 
 ## Developing on Mac
 
-We suggest using the `macos/run.sh` script to launch GridTracker while developing. It will download the sdk flavor of NWJS if needed,
-and use it to run the app.
+We suggest using the `macos/run.sh` script to launch GridTracker while developing. It will download the sdk flavor
+of NWJS if needed, and use it to run the app.
 
 To access the Developer Tools, right-click on an unused area of a window, or press F12.
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35223c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+{
+  "name": "gridtracker-development",
+  "requires": true,
+  "lockfileVersion": 1,
+  "dependencies": {
+    "prettier": {
+      "version": "2.1.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/prettier/-/prettier-2.1.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-16c7K+x4qVlJg9rEbXl7HEGmQyZlG4R9AgP+oHKRMsMsuk8s+ATStlf1NpDqyBI1HpVyfjLOeMhH2LvuNvV5Vg==",
+      "dev": true
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f447aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+{
+  "name": "gridtracker-development",
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "prettier": "2.1.2"
+  },
+  "scripts": {
+    "test": "npm run prettier-check",
+    "prettier-check": "npx prettier --check package.nw",
+    "prettier-write": "npx prettier --write package.nw"
+  }
+}