diff --git a/layers/+lang/python/README.org b/layers/+lang/python/README.org
index 8d072d487..a3c148da9 100644
--- a/layers/+lang/python/README.org
+++ b/layers/+lang/python/README.org
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ This layer adds support for the Python language.
 
 ** Features:
 - Support for the following backends:
-  - [[https://github.com/proofit404/anaconda-mode][anaconda]] (default),
-  - [[https://github.com/emacs-lsp/lsp-python][Language Server Protocol]] (experimental - 2 implementations),
-    - python-language-server
+  - [[https://github.com/proofit404/anaconda-mode][anaconda]],
+  - [[https://github.com/emacs-lsp/lsp-python][Language Server Protocol]]
+    - python-language-server (default)
     - Microsoft python language server
 - Auto-completion
 - Code Navigation
@@ -81,10 +81,7 @@ To choose a default backend set the layer variable =python-backend=:
   (python :variables python-backend 'anaconda)
 #+END_SRC
 
-Alternatively the =lsp= backend will be automatically chosen if the layer =lsp=
-is used and you did not specify any value for =python-backend=.
-
-Backend can be chosen on a per project basis using directory local variables
+A Backend can be chosen on a per project basis using directory local variables
 (files named =.dir-locals.el= at the root of a project), an example to use the
 =lsp= backend:
 
@@ -148,7 +145,7 @@ layer variable as follows:
 You just have to install python language server package:
 
 #+BEGIN_SRC sh
-  pip install python-language-server
+  pip install python-language-server[all]
 #+END_SRC
 
 Additionally you can install the following other packages:
@@ -158,6 +155,7 @@ Additionally you can install the following other packages:
   pip install pyls-isort
   # for mypy checking (python 3.4+ is needed)
   pip install pyls-mypy
+  pip install pyls-black
 #+END_SRC
 
 If you've installed the language server and related packages as development
@@ -228,17 +226,15 @@ directory local variable in your project root. ~SPC f v d~ in Spacemacs. See
 The root of the project is detected with a =.git= directory or a =setup.cfg= file.
 
 ** Buffer formatting
-One of [[https://github.com/google/yapf][YAPF]] (the default), [[https://github.com/ambv/black][black]] or =lsp= may be selected as the formatter, via
-=python-formatter=, as ='yapf=, ='black= or =lsp= respectively.
+One of [[https://github.com/google/yapf][YAPF]], [[https://github.com/ambv/black][black]] or =lsp= may be selected as the formatter, via
+=python-formatter=, as =yapf=, =black= or =lsp= respectively. If non is selected
+either =yapf= or =lsp= is used depending on the selected backend.
 
 #+BEGIN_SRC emacs-lisp
   (setq-default dotspacemacs-configuration-layers '(
     (python :variables python-formatter 'yapf)))
 #+END_SRC
 
-Alternatively the =lsp= formatter will be automatically chosen if the layer =lsp=
-is used and you did not specify any value for =python-formatter=.
-
 The key binding ~SPC m =~ invokes the selected formatter on the current buffer
 when in non LSP python mode otherwise ~SPC m ==~ is used.
 
diff --git a/layers/+lang/python/config.el b/layers/+lang/python/config.el
index 4b5ac8204..b2e0d89c4 100644
--- a/layers/+lang/python/config.el
+++ b/layers/+lang/python/config.el
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; config.el --- Python Layer Configuration File for Spacemacs
 ;;
-;; Copyright (c) 2012-2018 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
+;; Copyright (c) 2012-2019 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
 ;;
 ;; Author: Sylvain Benner <sylvain.benner@gmail.com>
 ;; URL: https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@
 (spacemacs|define-jump-handlers python-mode)
 (spacemacs|define-jump-handlers cython-mode anaconda-mode-goto)
 
-(defvar python-backend 'nil
+(defvar python-backend 'lsp
   "The backend to use for IDE features.
-Possible values are `anaconda'and `lsp'.
-If `nil' then `anaconda' is the default backend unless `lsp' layer is used.")
+Possible values are `anaconda' and `lsp'.")
 
 (defvar python-lsp-server 'pyls
   "Language server to use for lsp backend. Possible values are `pyls'
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ and `mspyls'")
 
 (defvar python-formatter nil
   "The formatter to use. Possible values are `yapf',
-  `black' and 'lsp'.")
+  `black' and `lsp'. If left empty a default will be selected based on the backend.")
 
 (defvar python-format-on-save nil
   "If non-nil, automatically format code with formatter selected
diff --git a/layers/+lang/python/funcs.el b/layers/+lang/python/funcs.el
index 6c6270a0a..ee5bceafb 100644
--- a/layers/+lang/python/funcs.el
+++ b/layers/+lang/python/funcs.el
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; funcs.el --- Python Layer functions File for Spacemacs
 ;;
-;; Copyright (c) 2012-2018 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
+;; Copyright (c) 2012-2019 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
 ;;
 ;; Author: Sylvain Benner <sylvain.benner@gmail.com>
 ;; URL: https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
@@ -9,44 +9,34 @@
 ;;
 ;;; License: GPLv3
 
-(defun spacemacs//python-backend ()
-  "Returns selected backend."
-  (if python-backend
-      python-backend
-    (cond
-     ((configuration-layer/layer-used-p 'lsp) 'lsp)
-     (t 'anaconda))))
-
 (defun spacemacs//python-formatter ()
-  "Returns selected backend."
-  (if python-formatter
-      python-formatter
-    (cond
-     ((configuration-layer/layer-used-p 'lsp) 'lsp)
-     (t 'yapf))))
+  "Returns selected python-formatter."
+  (or python-formatter (pcase python-backend
+                         ('lsp 'lsp)
+                         ('anaconda 'yapf))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//python-setup-backend ()
   "Conditionally setup python backend."
   (when python-pipenv-activate (pipenv-activate))
-  (pcase (spacemacs//python-backend)
+  (pcase python-backend
     (`anaconda (spacemacs//python-setup-anaconda))
     (`lsp (spacemacs//python-setup-lsp))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//python-setup-company ()
   "Conditionally setup company based on backend."
-  (pcase (spacemacs//python-backend)
+  (pcase python-backend
     (`anaconda (spacemacs//python-setup-anaconda-company))
     (`lsp (spacemacs//python-setup-lsp-company))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//python-setup-dap ()
   "Conditionally setup elixir DAP integration."
   ;; currently DAP is only available using LSP
-  (pcase (spacemacs//python-backend)
+  (pcase python-backend
     (`lsp (spacemacs//python-setup-lsp-dap))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//python-setup-eldoc ()
   "Conditionally setup eldoc based on backend."
-  (pcase (spacemacs//python-backend)
+  (pcase python-backend
     ;; lsp setup eldoc on its own
     (`anaconda (spacemacs//python-setup-anaconda-eldoc))))
 
@@ -111,8 +101,8 @@
 (defun spacemacs//python-default ()
   "Defaut settings for python buffers"
   (setq mode-name "Python"
-    tab-width python-tab-width
-    fill-column python-fill-column)
+        tab-width python-tab-width
+        fill-column python-fill-column)
 
   ;; since we changed the tab-width we need to manually call python-indent-guess-indent-offset here
   (when python-spacemacs-indent-guess
@@ -209,10 +199,10 @@ as the pyenv version then also return nil. This works around https://github.com/
   "autoflake --remove-all-unused-imports -i unused_imports.py"
   (interactive)
   (if (executable-find "autoflake")
-    (progn
-      (shell-command (format "autoflake --remove-all-unused-imports -i %s"
-                       (shell-quote-argument (buffer-file-name))))
-      (revert-buffer t t t))
+      (progn
+        (shell-command (format "autoflake --remove-all-unused-imports -i %s"
+                               (shell-quote-argument (buffer-file-name))))
+        (revert-buffer t t t))
     (message "Error: Cannot find autoflake executable.")))
 
 (defun spacemacs//pyenv-mode-set-local-version ()
@@ -226,8 +216,8 @@ as the pyenv version then also return nil. This works around https://github.com/
               (with-temp-buffer
                 (insert-file-contents-literally file-path)
                 (nth 0 (split-string (buffer-substring-no-properties
-                                       (line-beginning-position)
-                                       (line-end-position)))))))
+                                      (line-beginning-position)
+                                      (line-end-position)))))))
         (if (member version (pyenv-mode-versions))
             (progn
               (setenv "VIRTUAL_ENV" version)
@@ -281,7 +271,7 @@ location of \".venv\" file, then relative to pyvenv-workon-home()."
 (defun spacemacs//python-get-secondary-testrunner ()
   "Get the secondary test runner"
   (cdr (assoc (spacemacs//python-get-main-testrunner) '((pytest . nose)
-                                             (nose . pytest)))))
+                                                        (nose . pytest)))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function (arg funcalist)
   "Call a test function based on the chosen test framework.
@@ -289,7 +279,7 @@ ARG is the universal-argument which chooses between the main and
 the secondary test runner. FUNCALIST is an alist of the function
 to be called for each testrunner. "
   (when python-save-before-test
-      (save-buffer))
+    (save-buffer))
   (let* ((test-runner (if arg
                           (spacemacs//python-get-secondary-testrunner)
                         (spacemacs//python-get-main-testrunner)))
@@ -308,19 +298,19 @@ to be called for each testrunner. "
   "Run all tests."
   (interactive "P")
   (spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function arg '((pytest . pytest-all)
-                                           (nose . nosetests-all))))
+                                                      (nose . nosetests-all))))
 
 (defun spacemacs/python-test-pdb-all (arg)
   "Run all tests in debug mode."
   (interactive "P")
   (spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function arg '((pytest . pytest-pdb-all)
-                                           (nose . nosetests-pdb-all))))
+                                                      (nose . nosetests-pdb-all))))
 
 (defun spacemacs/python-test-module (arg)
   "Run all tests in the current module."
   (interactive "P")
   (spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function arg '((pytest . pytest-module)
-                                           (nose . nosetests-module))))
+                                                      (nose . nosetests-module))))
 
 (defun spacemacs/python-test-pdb-module (arg)
   "Run all tests in the current module in debug mode."
@@ -344,13 +334,13 @@ to be called for each testrunner. "
   "Run current test."
   (interactive "P")
   (spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function arg '((pytest . pytest-one)
-                                           (nose . nosetests-one))))
+                                                      (nose . nosetests-one))))
 
 (defun spacemacs/python-test-pdb-one (arg)
   "Run current test in debug mode."
   (interactive "P")
   (spacemacs//python-call-correct-test-function arg '((pytest . pytest-pdb-one)
-                                           (nose . nosetests-pdb-one))))
+                                                      (nose . nosetests-pdb-one))))
 
 (defun spacemacs//bind-python-testing-keys ()
   "Bind the keys for testing in Python."
@@ -382,7 +372,7 @@ to be called for each testrunner. "
   "Bind the python formatter keys.
 Bind formatter to '==' for LSP and '='for all other backends."
   (spacemacs/set-leader-keys-for-major-mode 'python-mode
-    (if (eq (spacemacs//python-backend) 'lsp)
+    (if (eq python-backend 'lsp)
         "=="
       "=") 'spacemacs/python-format-buffer))
 
diff --git a/layers/+lang/python/layers.el b/layers/+lang/python/layers.el
index 732d28661..6a9b52f19 100644
--- a/layers/+lang/python/layers.el
+++ b/layers/+lang/python/layers.el
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@
 
 (when (and (boundp 'python-backend)
            (eq python-backend 'lsp))
-  (configuration-layer/declare-layer-dependencies '(lsp)))
+  (configuration-layer/declare-layer-dependencies '(lsp dap)))
diff --git a/layers/+lang/python/packages.el b/layers/+lang/python/packages.el
index 0b7b71628..94e2fed5a 100644
--- a/layers/+lang/python/packages.el
+++ b/layers/+lang/python/packages.el
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ;;; packages.el --- Python Layer packages File for Spacemacs
 ;;
-;; Copyright (c) 2012-2018 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
+;; Copyright (c) 2012-2019 Sylvain Benner & Contributors
 ;;
 ;; Author: Sylvain Benner <sylvain.benner@gmail.com>
 ;; URL: https://github.com/syl20bnr/spacemacs
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@
 
 (defun python/init-anaconda-mode ()
   (use-package anaconda-mode
-    :if (eq (spacemacs//python-backend) 'anaconda)
+    :if (eq python-backend 'anaconda)
     :defer t
     :init
     (setq anaconda-mode-installation-directory
-      (concat spacemacs-cache-directory "anaconda-mode"))
+          (concat spacemacs-cache-directory "anaconda-mode"))
     :config
     (progn
       (spacemacs/set-leader-keys-for-major-mode 'python-mode
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
       (defadvice anaconda-mode-goto (before python/anaconda-mode-goto activate)
         (evil--jumps-push))
       (add-to-list 'spacemacs-jump-handlers-python-mode
-        '(anaconda-mode-find-definitions :async t)))))
+                   '(anaconda-mode-find-definitions :async t)))))
 
 (defun python/post-init-company ()
   ;; backend specific
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 
 (defun python/init-company-anaconda ()
   (use-package company-anaconda
-    :if (eq (spacemacs//python-backend) 'anaconda)
+    :if (eq python-backend 'anaconda)
     :defer t
     ;; see `spacemacs//python-setup-anaconda-company'
     ))
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
   (use-package cython-mode
     :defer t
     :config
-    (when (eq (spacemacs//python-backend) 'anaconda)
+    (when (eq python-backend 'anaconda)
       (spacemacs/set-leader-keys-for-major-mode 'cython-mode
         "hh" 'anaconda-mode-show-doc
         "gu" 'anaconda-mode-find-references))))
@@ -243,13 +243,13 @@
     :init
     (progn
       (pcase python-auto-set-local-pyenv-version
-       (`on-visit
-        (dolist (m spacemacs--python-pyenv-modes)
-          (add-hook (intern (format "%s-hook" m))
-                    'spacemacs//pyenv-mode-set-local-version)))
-       (`on-project-switch
-        (add-hook 'projectile-after-switch-project-hook
-                  'spacemacs//pyenv-mode-set-local-version)))
+        (`on-visit
+         (dolist (m spacemacs--python-pyenv-modes)
+           (add-hook (intern (format "%s-hook" m))
+                     'spacemacs//pyenv-mode-set-local-version)))
+        (`on-project-switch
+         (add-hook 'projectile-after-switch-project-hook
+                   'spacemacs//pyenv-mode-set-local-version)))
       ;; setup shell correctly on environment switch
       (dolist (func '(pyenv-mode-set pyenv-mode-unset))
         (advice-add func :after 'spacemacs/python-setup-everything))
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
         (setq pylookup-dir (concat dir "pylookup/")
               pylookup-program (concat pylookup-dir "pylookup.py")
               pylookup-db-file (concat pylookup-dir "pylookup.db")))
-        (setq pylookup-completing-read 'completing-read))))
+      (setq pylookup-completing-read 'completing-read))))
 
 (defun python/init-pytest ()
   (use-package pytest
@@ -381,8 +381,8 @@
 
 (defun python/post-init-semantic ()
   (when (configuration-layer/package-used-p 'anaconda-mode)
-      (add-hook 'python-mode-hook
-                'spacemacs//disable-semantic-idle-summary-mode t))
+    (add-hook 'python-mode-hook
+              'spacemacs//disable-semantic-idle-summary-mode t))
   (spacemacs/add-to-hook 'python-mode-hook
                          '(semantic-mode
                            spacemacs//python-imenu-create-index-use-semantic-maybe))