Coding style

The following are guidelines for the code formatting to use in Code::Blocks (C::B) source code. Anyone writing code or a patch for C::B, is required to follow these.

Coding style

The general coding style is the ANSI one:

Example:

namespace FooSpace
{
    int Foo()
    {
        if (isBar)
        {
            Bar();
            return 1;
        }
        else
            return 0;
    }
}

Variables naming

Class names do not start with 'C' (as in CObject, CWindow, etc). Only abstract base classes (interfaces) should start with 'I'. But they all have to start with a capital letter.

Class member variables should start with m_. If the variable is a pointer, use m_p as a prefix. Following the prefix is the variable's name. Use descriptive names and use capital letters at the start of each word (the first too). So a fictious variable holding a value for position would be named as m_ValueForPosition.

Non-class member variables should not start with a capital letter.

Function names should always start with a capital letter.

Examples:

// Good
int aLocalVar;
int m_SomeInt;
void* m_pSomePointer;
bool SomeFunc();

// Bad
int SomeInt; // either no m_ prefix if it's a class variable, or capital first letter if it's a local variable
int m_someInt; // no capital letter 'S'
void* m_SomePointer; // no m_p prefix
bool someFunc(); // function with non-capital first letter

Variables declaration

One variable declared each time on a different line. For pointer/reference variables, the '*' or '&' is part of the type.

Examples:

// Good
int& someInt;
void* pPtr;

// Bad
int &someInt; // & not after type
void* pPtr, pSomeOther; // multiple declarations in one line

Spacing

Prefer spaces over tabs. If you want to use tabs you won't be prosecuted (!) but please use a tab size of 4 spaces.
Code indentation should be 4 spaces.
In class declarations, the keywords public:, protected:, and private: should be indented. The same goes for all the class members.

Examples:

// Good
class AClass
{
    public:
        AClass(){ ... }
    protected:
        int m_Member;
};

// Bad
class AClass
{
public:
    AClass(){ ... }
protected:
    int m_Member;
};

Commenting

All three types of comments are used in Code::Blocks. C++ style ('//'), C style ('/* */'), and the Doxygen style ('/** */').

The C++ style is used for just about everything. Use this style to describe what your code does.

The C style is used only for very long comments (paragraphs), or for a license or description at the top of a C++ file.

The Doxygen style is used for documenting functions only. These functions would be public, and protected class functions, and global helper functions.

Comments should clearly describe what the code does. Comments should be concise, but coherent.