Symbol names and scope

Naming conventions

  • Local variables are lower case, with words (if any) separated by underscores.
  • Class instance variables begin with a single underscore.
  • Formal parameters (arguments passed to functions) begin with an Upper case letter, and are otherwise lower case.
  • Do not use “using”. Instead, explicitly specify the scope with every use.
  • Constants are ALL_CAPS.
  • Members of an enum set begin with a lower case letter, but are otherwise ALL CAPS. That lower case prefix is the same for all members of the same enum set.
  • Class names may be either ALL_CAPS or may be Mixed_Case_With_Words_Capitalized, with Words_Separated_By_Underscore, but be consistent. ALL_CAPS are preferred for base classes, Mixed_Case is preferred for “final” and application classes.
  • Do not use CamelCase.
  • Avoid single letter names.
  • Occasionally, it is ok to insert an un_derscore in a funny place to make it easier to “grep”.
  • Flag symbols (both variables and methods) begin with “is_”, for example “is_empty”.

Scope guidelines

  • In general, please restrict all names to the narrowest useful scope.
  • Avoid globals. If you really must make something global, put it in a namespace so its origin is clear.
  • Class instance variables should be private or protected.
gnucap/manual/tech/symbol_names_and_scope.txt · Last modified: 2015/12/11 15:39 (external edit)
 
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