Code Formatting

Correctly Formatting the Source Code

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Learning & Development
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 Table of Contents
1. Why Do We Need Code Formatting?
2. Formatting Methods
3. Formatting Types
4. Common Mistakes
5. Alignments
6. Automated Tools

2
Code Formatting
Why Do We Need It?
 Why Code Needs Formatting?
public const string FILE_NAME
="example.bin" ; static void Main ( ){
FileStream fs= new FileStream(FILE_NAME,FileMode
. CreateNew) // Create the writer for data .
;BinaryWriter w=new BinaryWriter ( fs );//
Write data to Test.data.
for( int i=0;i<11;i++){w.Write((int)i);}w .Close();
fs . Close ( ) // Create the reader for data.
;fs=new FileStream(FILE_NAME,FileMode. Open
, FileAccess.Read) ;BinaryReader r
= new BinaryReader(fs); // Read data from Test.data.
for (int i = 0; i < 11; i++){ Console .WriteLine
(r.ReadInt32 ())
;}r . Close ( ); fs . Close ( ) ; }

4
 Code Formatting Fundamentals
Good formatting goals

To improve code readability

To improve code maintainability
Fundamental principle of code formatting:
The formating of the source code should
disclose its logical structure.
Any formatting style that follows the above
principle is good
Any other formatting is not good
5
 Formatting Blocks in C#
Put {and } alone on a line under the
corresponding parent block
Indent the block contents by a single [Tab]
Visual Studio will replace the [Tab] with 4 spaces
Example:

if (some condition)
{
// Block contents indented by a single [Tab]
// VS will replace the [Tab] with 4 spaces
}

6
 Formatting Blocks in JavaScript

Put {at the end of the block and } alone on a

line under the corresponding parent block
Indent the block contents by a single [Tab]
Don't indent with spaces
Example:

if (some condition) {
// Block contents indented by a single [Tab]
// Don't use spaces for indentation
}

7
 Empty Lines between Methods
Use empty line for separation between methods:
public class Factorial
{
private static ulong CalcFactorial(uint num)
{
if (num == 0) Always use { and } after if
return 1; (there is no space to do it here)
else
return num * CalcFactorial(num - 1);
}
Leave empty line
static void Main() between methods
{
ulong factorial = CalcFactorial(5);
Console.WriteLine(factorial);
}
}
8
 Methods Indentation
Methods should be indented with a single
[Tab] from the class body
Methods body should be indented with a
single [Tab] as well

public class IndentationExample

{
private int Zero() The entire method is
{ indented with a single [Tab]
return 0;
}
}

Method body is also indented

9
 Brackets in Methods Declaration
Brackets in the method declaration should be
formatted as follows:
private static ulong CalcFactorial(uint num)

Don't use spaces between the brackets:

private static ulong CalcFactorial ( uint num )

private static ulong CalcFactorial (uint num)

The same applies for if-conditions and for-

loops:
if (condition) { }

10
 Separating Parameters
Separate method parameters by comma
followed by a space
Don't put space before the comma
Examples:
private void RegisterUser(string username, string password)

RegisterUser("nakov", "s3cr3t!p@ssw0rd");

Incorrect examples:
private void RegisterUser(string username,string password)

private void RegisterUser(string username ,string password)

private void RegisterUser(string username , string password)

11
 Empty Lines in Method Body
Use an empty line to separate logically related
sequences of lines:
private List<Report> PrepareReports()
{
List<Report> reports = new List<Report>();
Empty line
// Create incomes reports
Report incomesSalesReport = PrepareIncomesSalesReport();
reports.Add(incomesSalesReport);
Report incomesSupportReport = PrepareIncomesSupportReport();
reports.Add(incomesSupportReport);
Empty line
// Create expenses reports
Report expensesPayrollReport = PrepareExpensesPayrollReport();
reports.Add(expensesPayrollReport);
Report expensesMarketingReport = PrepareExpensesMarketingReport();
reports.Add(expensesMarketingReport);

return reports; Empty line

}
12
 Formatting Types
Formatting classes / structures / interfaces /
enumerations
Indent the class body with a single [Tab]
Use the following order of definitions:
Constants, delegates, inner types, fields,
constructors, properties, methods
Static members, public members, protected
members, internal members, private members
The above order of definitions is not the only
possible correct one
13
 Formatting Types
Example in C#
public class Dog
{
// Static variables
public const string SPECIES =
"Canis Lupus Familiaris";
// Instance variables
private int age;
// Constructors
public Dog(string name, int age)
{
this.Name = name;
this.age = age;
}
(continues on the next slide)
14
 Formatting Types
Example in C# (2)
// Properties
public string Name { get; set; }
// Methods
public void Breath()
{
// TODO: breathing process
}
public void Bark()
{
Console.WriteLine("wow-wow");
}
}

15
 Formatting Conditional
Statements and Loops
Formatting conditional statements and loops

Always use { } block after if / for / while,

even when a single operator follows
Indent the block body after if / for / while
Always put a new line after a if / for / while
block!
Always put the { on the next line (in C#)
Always put the { on the same line (in JavaScript)
Never indent with more than one [Tab]
16
 Conditional Statements and
Loops Formatting C# Examples
Example:
for (int i=0; i<10; i++)
{
Console.WriteLine("i={0}", i);
} The { and }
are missing
Incorrect examples:
Never put multiple
for (int i=0; i<10; i++) stetements on the
Console.WriteLine("i={0}", i);
same line!
for (int i=0; i<10; i++) Console.WriteLine("i={0}", i);

for (int i=0; i<10; i++) {

Console.WriteLine("i={0}", i); In C# the { should
} be on the next line
17
 Using Empty Lines
Empty lines are used to separate logically
unrelated parts of the source code
public static void PrintList(List<int> ints)
{
Console.Write("{ "); An empty line
foreach (int item in ints)
{ after the foreach block
Console.Write(item);
Console.Write(" ");
}

Console.WriteLine("}"); An empty line

} separates the
static void Main()
methods
{
//

Don't put empty lines when not needed!

18
 Misplaced Empty Lines Example
public static void PrintList(List<int> ints)
{
Console.Write("{ ");
foreach (int item in ints)
{
Console.Write(item);

Console.Write(" "); What do these empty

lines serve for?
}
Console.WriteLine("}");
}
static void Main()
{
// ...
}
19
 Breaking Long Lines
Break long lines after punctuation
Indent the second line by single [Tab]
Do not additionally indent the third line
Examples:
if (matrix[x, y] == 0 || matrix[x-1, y] == 0 ||
matrix[x+1, y] == 0 || matrix[x, y-1] == 0 ||
matrix[x, y+1] == 0)
{

DictionaryEntry<K, V> newEntry =

new DictionaryEntry<K, V>(oldEntry.Key,
oldEntry.Value);
20
 Incorrect Ways To
Break Long Lines (in C#)
if (matrix[x, y] == 0 || matrix[x-1, y] ==
0 || matrix[x+1, y] == 0 || matrix[x,
y-1] == 0 || matrix[x, y+1] == 0)
{

if (matrix[x, y] == 0 || matrix[x-1, y] == 0 ||
matrix[x+1, y] == 0 || matrix[x, y-1] == 0 ||
matrix[x, y+1] == 0)
{

DictionaryEntry<K, V> newEntry

= new DictionaryEntry<K, V>(oldEntry
.Key, oldEntry.Value);

21
 Breaking Long Lines
in C# and JavaScript
In C# use single [Tab] after breaking a long line:
if (matrix[x, y] == 0 || matrix[x-1, y] == 0 ||
matrix[x+1, y] == 0 || matrix[x, y-1] == 0 ||
matrix[x, y+1] == 0)
{
matrix[x, y] == 1;
}

In JavaScript use double [Tab] in the carried long

lines:
if (matrix[x, y] == 0 || matrix[x-1, y] == 0 ||
matrix[x+1, y] == 0 || matrix[x, y-1] == 0 ||
matrix[x, y+1] == 0) {
matrix[x, y] == 1;
}
22
 Alignments
All types of alignments are considered harmful

Alignments are hard-to-maintain!

Incorrect examples:

int count = 0;
DateTime date = DateTine.Now.Date;
Student student = new Student();
List<Student> students = new List<Student>();

matrix[x, y] = 0; Think about

matrix[x + 1, y + 1] = 0; renaming Student
matrix[2 * x + y, 2 * y + x] = 0; to SchoolStudent
matrix[x * y, x * y] = 0;
23
 Automated Tools
Take advantage of your IDE to help formatting
the code [Ctrl+K+D]
Automatic alignment
Indentation
Style Code analysis
Visual Studio StyleCop
http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/sourceanalysis
Eclipse CheckStyle
http://sourceforge.net/projects/eclipse-cs/
JSHint, JSLint JavaScript code analysis (all IDEs)
http://www.jshint.com/, http://www.jslint.com/
24
 Code Formatting

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 Homework
1. Format correctly the following source code (given in
Code-Formatting-Homework.zip):
C# code given in the file events.cs.
JavaScript code given in the file code.js.
Use the official code conventions for C# / JavaScript /
Java / PHP:
Official C# Coding Conventions (MSDN)
Google JavaScript Style Guide
Official Java Code Conventions (by Oracle)
Zend code convention for PHP
26
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