Most Pants functionality is opt-in by adding the relevant _backend_ to the `[GLOBAL].backend_packages` option in `pants.toml`. For example:
## Available backends
| Backend | What it does | Docs |
`pants.backend.awslambda.python` | Enables generating an AWS Lambda zip file from Python code. | [AWS Lambda](🔗) |
`pants.backend.codegen.protobuf.python` | Enables generating Python from Protocol Buffers. Includes gRPC support. | [Protobuf and gRPC](🔗) |
`pants.backend.codegen.thrift.apache.python` | Enables generating Python from Apache Thrift. | [Thrift](🔗) |
`pants.backend.docker` | Enables building, running, and publishing Docker images. | [Docker overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.docker.lint.hadolint` | Enables Hadolint, a Docker linter: https://github.com/hadolint/hadolint | [Docker overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.go` | Enables Go support. | [Go overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.java` | Enables core Java support. | [Java & Scala overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.java.lint.google_java_format` | Enables Google Java Format. | [Java & Scala overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.scala` | Enables core Scala support. | [Java & Scala overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.scala.lint.scalafmt` | Enables the Scalafmt formatter. | [Java & Scala overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.python.lint.autoflake` | Enables Autoflake, which removes unused Python imports: https://pypi.org/project/autoflake/ | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.experimental.python.lint.pyupgrade` | Enables Pyupgrade, which upgrades to new Python syntax: https://pypi.org/project/pyupgrade/ | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.google_cloud_function.python` | Enables generating a Google Cloud Function from Python code. | [Google Cloud Function](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python` | Core Python support. | [Enabling Python support](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.mixed_interpreter_constraints` | Adds the `py-constraints` goal for insights on Python interpreter constraints. | [Interpreter compatibility](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.bandit` | Enables Bandit, the Python security linter: https://bandit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/. | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.black` | Enables Black, the Python autoformatter: https://black.readthedocs.io/en/stable/. | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.docformatter` | Enables Docformatter, the Python docstring autoformatter: https://github.com/myint/docformatter. | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.flake8` | Enables Flake8, the Python linter: https://flake8.pycqa.org/en/latest/. | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.isort` | Enables isort, the Python import autoformatter: https://timothycrosley.github.io/isort/. | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.pylint` | Enables Pylint, the Python linter: https://www.pylint.org | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.lint.yapf` | Enables Yapf, the Python formatter: https://pypi.org/project/yapf/ | [Linters and formatters](🔗) |
`pants.backend.python.typecheck.mypy` | Enables MyPy, the Python type checker: https://mypy.readthedocs.io/en/stable/. | [typecheck](🔗) |
`pants.backend.shell` | Core Shell support, including shUnit2 test runner. | [Shell overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.shell.lint.shfmt` | Enables shfmt, a Shell autoformatter: https://github.com/mvdan/sh. | [Shell overview](🔗) |
`pants.backend.shell.lint.shellcheck` | Enables Shellcheck, a Shell linter: https://www.shellcheck.net/. | [Shell overview](🔗) |