================================================================================ Indentation ================================================================================ We use 4 spaces instead of tabs everywhere. static void foo() { if(bar()) // <-- 4 spaces baz() // <-- 8 spaces } ================================================================================ Braces ================================================================================ Opening braces should always be on their own line. class Foo { // stuff }; if (foo == bar) { // stuff } while (foo == bar && baz == quux && flop == pop) { // stuff } static void foo() { // stuff } Exceptions include inline functions that are just returning or setting a value. However multiple statements should not ever be combined onto one line: class Foo { public: String value() const { return m_value; } }; Also conditionals / loops that only contain one line in their body (but where the conditional statement fits onto one line) should omit braces: if (foo == bar) baz(); But: if (baz == quux && ralf == spot) { bar(); } ================================================================================ Spaces ================================================================================ Spaces should be used between the conditional / loop type and the conditional statement. They should not be used after parenthesis. However the should be to mark of mathematical or comparative operators. if ( foo == bar ) ^ ^ The marked spaces should be ommitted to produce: if (foo == bar) ================================================================================ Header Organization ================================================================================ Member variables should always be private or protected and prefixed with "m_". Accessors may be inline in the headers. The organization of the members in a class should be roughly as follows: public typedefs: public ctors: public methods: public Q_SLOTS: Q_SIGNALS: protected methods: protected Q_SLOTS: protected fields: private methods: private Q_SLOTS: private fields: private ctors: // if you define ctors/dtor as private, put them at end If there are no private Q_SLOTS there is no need for two private sections, however private functions and private variables should be clearly separated. The implementations files -- .cpp files -- should follow (when possible) the same order of function declarations as the header files. Virtual functions should always be marked as such even in derived classes where it is not strictly necessary. ================================================================================ Whitespace ================================================================================ Whitespace should be used liberally. When blocks of code are logically distinct I tend to put a blank line between them. This is difficult to explain systematically but after looking a bit at the current code organization this ideally will be somewhat clear. Also I tend to separate comments by blank lines on both sides. ================================================================================ Pointer and Reference Operators ================================================================================ This one is pretty simple. Use "Foo *f" and "Foo &f" in function signatures and declarations. And also in signal/slot names. ================================================================================ Pointer and Reference Operators ================================================================================ An example object here: test.h: #ifndef AKREGATOR_TEST_H #define AKREGATOR_TEST_H #include "localinclude.h" #include "anotherlocalinclude.h" #include #include #include #include class QSomething; namespace Akregator { class Test : public QObject { Q_OBJECT public: typedef QValueList list; Test(); Test(QString someString); explicit Test(int i = 0); virtual ~Test(); void someFunc(); void someFunc2(QSomething *foo); static Test *instance() { return m_instance; } public Q_SLOTS: void receive(QSomething &); Q_SIGNALS: void send(QSomething &); protected: void someProtectedFunc(); static void someProtectedStaticFunc(); protected Q_SLOTS: void protectedSlot(); protected: int m_protectedVar; private: int privateMethod(); static int staticPrivateMethod(); private Q_SLOTS: void privateSlotIndeed(int youWonder); private: int m_privateVar; QSomething *m_tastyThing; static Test *m_instance; }; } // no ; after namespace (borks on gcc 3.4+) #endif test.cpp: #include "test.h" #include "localinclude.h" #include "anotherlocalinclude.h" #include #include #include #include #include namespace Akregator { Test::Test() : QObject() , m_protectedVar(0) , m_privateVar(0) , m_tastyThing(0) , m_instance(0) { } Test::Test(QString someString) : QObject() , m_protectedVar(0) , m_privateVar(0) , m_tastyThing(someString) , m_instance(0) { } Test::Test(int i); : QObject() , m_protectedVar(0) , m_privateVar(0) , m_tastyThing(i) , m_instance(0) { if(i == 0) kdDebug() << "Zero initializer" << endl; } } // no ; after namespace (borks on gcc 3.4+) ================================================================================ Original document by Scott Wheeler Amendments for Akregator needs by Stanislav Karchebny