Project specific coding conventions
1. Brackets
All brackets (class, method, if, try, etc) must begin and end on a new line. Example :
public class SomeClass { public void someMethod() { if (xxx) { } } }
Brackets are mandatory, even for single line statements !
// Incorrect if (expression) // some code // Correct if (expression) { // some code }
2. Blank Spaces
keywords followed by a parenthesis should be separated by a space. Example :
while (true) { // some code }
Blank space should appear after commas in argument lists. Binary operators should be separated from their operands by spaces :
a += c + d; a = (a + b) / (c * d); while (d++ = s++) { n++; } printSize("size is " + foo + "/n");
3. Indentations
4 spaces. NO tabs . Period. We understand that a lot of you like to use tabs, but the fact of the matter is that in a distributed development environment, when the cvs commit messages get sent to a mailing list, they are almost impossible to read if you use tabs.
4. Comments
Javadoc SHOULD exist on all your class members (methods + class variables), including the private ones. Also, if you are working on existing code and there currently isn't a javadoc for that method/class/variable or whatever, then you should contribute and add it. This will improve the project as a whole.
Also add code comments when you think it's necessary (like assumptions), especially when the code is not obvious.
5. Author references
If you contribute to a file (code or documentation), add yourself to the top of the file (below the existing authors). For java files the preferred Javadoc format is:
@author devnickname
7. Class variables
Class variables should not have any prefix and must be referenced using the this
object. Example :
public class SomeClass { private String someString; [...] public void someMethod() { logger.debug("Value = " + this.someString); } }
8. Parameter names
Method parameters should not have any prefix. For example :
public void someMethod(String className) { }