SparkFun Code Style Guidelines

All code, examples and interfaces that are indented for a specific environment or platform (for example Arduino), will follow the guidelines for that specific platform. But for code implemented for use by SparkFun (internals of a library, a specific application, ...etc), the following coding style guidelines are used.

Format and Layout

For all code layout and formatting, SparkFun uses the auto-formatter clang-format, with the format style set to Microsoft. Using clang-format with this style setting delivers code that is consistent, easy to follow and familiar.

Additionally, clang-format is widely available as a command line command, as well as integrated in a majority of popular text editors.

Setting the Style in Visual Studio Code

In Visual Studio Code, clang-format is integrated in the standard C/C++ extension. To change the code style, enter Microsoft as the value in of Settings > Extensions > C/C++ > Clang_format_style.

Example of this setting:

Setting the Style in Sublime Text

Clang-format is available as a package via Package Control - specifically the .

Normally the style used by the clang-format package is set using the command pallet, but the Microsoft option is fairly new and not available via this method. To set the style to Microsoft, the value is set in the the package settings file.

The package settings is available from the menu Package Settings > CLang Format > Settings - User. In this settings file, add the "style": "Microsoft" line.

{
	"binary": "/usr/local/bin/clang-format",
	"style": "Microsoft",
}

Note: This example also sets the location of the clang-format binary.

SparkFun Style Specifics

Class Names, Type Names

For class names and type names, upper camel case is used. Underscores or dashes are not used. Types do not end it _t.

This

class MyClassName

typedef int MyTypeName

Not This

class My_Class_Name
class MyClassName_isAwesome

typedef int My_TypeName
typedef int MyTypeName_t

Method and Variable Names

Use lower camel case for methods and variables.

This

void getName()
void startProcessingLoop()

int deviceCount;
double convergenceRange;

Not This

void GetName()
void get_Name()

void start_processing_loop()

int DeviceCount;
int device_count;
double CONVERGENCE_RANGE;

Instance Variables

All instance variables begin with an underscore "_".

This

int _currentValue;
MyLayout *_parentContainer;

Variable Names - Naming Pattern

Use full words, except in the rare case where an abbreviation would be more canonical and easier to understand.

This

size_t characterSize;
size_t length;
short tabIndex; // more canonical

Not This

size_t charSize;
size_t len;
short tabulationIndex; // bizarre

Note: For simple loop counters, the use the standard convention of i, j, k, l, m, n ...

Method Names - Naming Pattern

Method names should following the pattern [verb][Noun]

Examples

processEvents()
validateChecksum()
setOperatingMode()

Property Getter and Setter Pattern

For a getter method, the name should follow the pattern get[Noun]. For a setter method, the name should follow the pattern set[Noun]

Examples

getColor()
setColor()

getVoltage()
setVoltage()

Constants

Follow the kConstant methodology - the letter "k" followed by an upper camel case name.

This

#define kErrorMessage  (0x01 << 1)
#define kWarningMessage (0x01 << 2)
#define kInfoMessage (0x01 << 3)

Not This

#define ERROR_MESSAGE  (0x01 << 1)
#define WARNING_MESSAGE (0x01 << 2)
#define INFO_MESSAGE (0x01 << 3)