785 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
785 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
GTK Coding Style
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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This document is intended to be a short description of the preferred
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coding style to be used for the GTK source code. It was strongly
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inspired by Clutter's `CODING_STYLE`.
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Coding style is a matter of consistency, readability and maintenance;
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coding style is also completely arbitrary and a matter of taste. This
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document will use examples at the very least to provide authoritative
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and consistent answers to common questions regarding the coding style,
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and will also try to identify the allowed exceptions.
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The examples will show the preferred coding style; the negative examples
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will be clearly identified. Please, don't submit code to GTK that
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looks like any of these.
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Part of the rationales for these coding style rules are available either
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in the kernel CodingStyle document or in Cairo's `CODING_STYLE` one.
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When in doubt, check the surrounding code and try to imitate it.
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### Line width
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The maximum line width for source files is 80 characters, whenever possible.
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Longer lines are usually an indication that you either need a function
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or a pre-processor macro.
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### Indentation
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Each new level is indented 2 or more spaces than the previous level:
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```c
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if (condition)
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single_statement ();
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```
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This can only be achieved using space characters. It may not be achieved
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using tab characters alone, or using a combination of spaces and tabs.
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Do not change the editor's configuration to change the meaning of a
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tab character (see below); code using tabs to indent will not be accepted
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into GTK.
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Even if two spaces for each indentation level allows deeper nesting than
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8 spaces, GTK favours self-documenting function names that can take
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quite some space. For this reason you should avoid deeply nested code.
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### Tab characters
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The tab character must always be expanded to spaces. If a literal
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tab must be used inside the source, the tab must always be interpreted
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according to its traditional meaning:
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```
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Advance to the next column which is a multiple of 8.
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[ these two lines should be aligned ]
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```
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### Braces
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Curly braces should not be used for single statement blocks:
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```c
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if (condition)
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single_statement ();
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else
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another_single_statement (arg1);
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```
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In case of multiple statements, curly braces should be put on another
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indentation level:
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```c
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if (condition)
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{
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statement_1 ();
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statement_2 ();
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statement_3 ();
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}
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```
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The "no block for single statements" rule has only four exceptions:
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1. if the single statement covers multiple lines, e.g. for functions with
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many arguments, and it is followed by else or else if:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (condition)
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{
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a_single_statement_with_many_arguments (some_lengthy_argument,
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another_lengthy_argument,
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and_another_one,
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plus_one);
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}
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else
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another_single_statement (arg1, arg2);
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```
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2. if the condition is composed of many lines:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (condition1 ||
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(condition2 && condition3) ||
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condition4 ||
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(condition5 && (condition6 || condition7)))
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{
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a_single_statement ();
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}
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```
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3. Nested if's, in which case the block should be placed on the
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outermost if:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (condition)
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{
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if (another_condition)
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single_statement ();
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else
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another_single_statement ();
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}
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/* invalid */
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if (condition)
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if (another_condition)
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single_statement ();
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else if (yet_another_condition)
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another_single_statement ();
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```
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4. If either side of an if-else statement has braces, both sides
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should, to match up indentation:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (condition)
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{
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foo ();
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bar ();
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}
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else
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{
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baz ();
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}
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/* invalid */
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if (condition)
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{
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foo ();
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bar ();
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}
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else
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baz ();
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```
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In general, new blocks should be placed on a new indentation level,
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like:
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```c
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int retval = 0;
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statement_1 ();
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statement_2 ();
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{
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int var1 = 42;
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gboolean res = FALSE;
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res = statement_3 (var1);
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retval = res ? -1 : 1;
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}
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```
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While curly braces for function definitions should rest on a new line
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they should not add an indentation level:
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```c
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/* valid */
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static void
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my_function (int argument)
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{
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do_my_things ();
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}
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/* invalid */
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static void
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my_function (int argument) {
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do_my_things ();
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}
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/* invalid */
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static void
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my_function (int argument)
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{
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do_my_things ();
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}
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```
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Curly braces must not be placed on the same line as a condition:
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```c
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/* invalid */
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if (condition) {
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statement_1 ();
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statement_2 ();
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}
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```
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### Conditions
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Do not check boolean values for equality:
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```c
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/* invalid */
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if (condition == TRUE)
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do_foo ();
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/* valid */
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if (another_condition)
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do_bar ();
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```
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Even if C handles NULL equality like a boolean, be explicit:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (some_pointer == NULL)
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do_blah ();
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/* invalid */
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if (some_other_pointer)
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do_blurp ();
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```
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In case of conditions split over multiple lines, the logical operators should
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always go at the end of the line:
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```c
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/* invalid */
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if (condition1
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|| condition2
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|| condition3)
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{
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do_foo ();
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}
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/* valid */
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if (condition1 &&
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condition2 &&
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(condition3 || (condition4 && condition5)))
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{
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do_blah ();
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}
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```
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### Functions
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Functions should be declared by placing the returned value on a separate
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line from the function name:
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```c
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void
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my_function (void)
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{
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}
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```
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The arguments list must be broken into a new line for each argument,
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with the argument names right aligned, taking into account pointers:
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```c
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void
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my_function (some_type_t type,
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another_type_t *a_pointer,
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final_type_t another_type)
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{
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}
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```
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The alignment also holds when invoking a function without breaking the
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80 characters limit:
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```c
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align_function_arguments (first_argument,
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second_argument,
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third_argument);
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```
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To respect the 80 characters limit do not break the function name from
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the arguments:
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```c
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/* invalid */
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a_very_long_function_name_with_long_parameters
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(argument_the_first, argument_the_second);
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/* valid */
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first_a = argument_the_first;
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second_a = argument_the_second;
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a_very_long_function_name_with_long_parameters (first_a, second_a);
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```
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### Whitespace
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Always put a space before a parenthesis but never after:
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```c
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/* valid */
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if (condition)
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do_my_things ();
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/* valid */
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switch (condition)
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{
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}
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/* invalid */
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if(condition)
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do_my_things();
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/* invalid */
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if ( condition )
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do_my_things ( );
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```
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A `switch()` should open a block on a new indentation level, and each case
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should start on the same indentation level as the curly braces, with the
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case block on a new indentation level:
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```c
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/* valid */
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switch (condition)
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{
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case FOO:
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do_foo ();
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break;
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case BAR:
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do_bar ();
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break;
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}
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/* invalid */
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switch (condition) {
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case FOO: do_foo (); break;
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case BAR: do_bar (); break;
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}
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/* invalid */
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switch (condition)
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{
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case FOO: do_foo ();
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break;
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case BAR: do_bar ();
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break;
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}
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/* invalid */
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switch (condition)
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{
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case FOO:
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do_foo ();
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break;
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case BAR:
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do_bar ();
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break;
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}
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```
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It is preferable, though not mandatory, to separate the various cases with
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a newline:
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```c
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switch (condition)
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{
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case FOO:
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do_foo ();
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break;
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case BAR:
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do_bar ();
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break;
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default:
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do_default ();
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}
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```
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The `break` statement for the `default:` case is not mandatory.
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If a case block needs to declare new variables, the same rules as the
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inner blocks (see above) apply; the break statement should be placed
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outside of the inner block:
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```c
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switch (condition)
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{
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case FOO:
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{
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int foo;
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foo = do_foo ();
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}
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break;
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...
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}
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```
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When declaring a structure type use newlines to separate logical sections
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of the structure:
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```c
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struct _GtkWrapBoxPrivate
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{
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GtkOrientation orientation;
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GtkWrapAllocationMode mode;
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GtkWrapBoxSpreading horizontal_spreading;
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GtkWrapBoxSpreading vertical_spreading;
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guint16 vertical_spacing;
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guint16 horizontal_spacing;
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guint16 minimum_line_children;
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guint16 natural_line_children;
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GList *children;
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};
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```
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Do not eliminate whitespace and newlines just because something would
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fit on 80 characters:
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```c
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/* invalid */
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if (condition) foo (); else bar ();
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```
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Do eliminate trailing whitespace on any line, preferably as a separate
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patch or commit. Never use empty lines at the beginning or at the end of
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a file.
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Do enable the default git pre-commit hook that detect trailing
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whitespace for you and help you to avoid corrupting GTK's tree with
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it. Do that as follows:
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```
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chmod a+x .git/hooks/pre-commit
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```
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You might also find the git-stripspace utility helpful which acts as a
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filter to remove trailing whitespace as well as initial, final, and
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duplicate blank lines.
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### Headers
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Headers are special, for GTK, in that they don't have to obey the
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80 characters limit. The only major rule for headers is that the function
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definitions should be vertically aligned in three columns:
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```c
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return value function_name (type argument,
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type argument,
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type argument);
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```
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The maximum width of each column is given by the longest element in the
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column:
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```c
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void gtk_type_set_property (GtkType *type,
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const char *value,
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GError **error);
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const char *gtk_type_get_property (GtkType *type);
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```
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It is also possible to align the columns to the next tab:
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```c
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void gtk_type_set_prop (GtkType *type,
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float value);
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float gtk_type_get_prop (GtkType *type);
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int gtk_type_update_foobar (GtkType *type);
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```
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Public headers should never be included directly:
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```c
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#if !defined (__GTK_H_INSIDE__) && !defined (GTK_COMPILATION)
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#error "Only <gtk/gtk.h> can be included directly."
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#endif
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```
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Private headers should include the public header first, if one exists:
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```c
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#pragma once
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/* gtkfooprivate.h */
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#include "gtkfoo.h"
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...
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#endif /* __GTK_FOO_PRIVATE_H__ */
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```
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All headers should use the `once` pragma to prevent multiple inclusion,
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instead of the classic pre-processor guards:
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```c
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#pragma once
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```
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Additionally, public headers should use C++ guards around their declarations:
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```c
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G_BEGIN_DECLS
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GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
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GType gtk_foo_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
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GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_ALL
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GtkWidget * gtk_foo_new (void);
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...
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G_END_DECLS
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```
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### Includes
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GTK source files must never include the global gtk.h header; instead, it
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should include the individual headers that are needed.
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Every source file must include config.h first, followed by the header matching
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the source file, either the public installed header, or the private header, if
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it exists.
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```c
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/* gtkfoo.c */
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#include "config.h"
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#include "gtkfoo.h"
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```
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Source files should then include project headers, in alphabetical order,
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starting from headers in the current directory; then headers in
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sub-directories; and, finally, in paths relative to the top-level
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directory:
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```c
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#include "config.h"
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#include "gtkfooprivate.h"
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#include "gtkbutton.h"
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#include "gtkwidget.h"
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#include "a11y/gtkwidgetaccessible.h"
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#include "gdk/gdkwindowprivate.h"
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```
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Finally, source files should include the system headers last:
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```c
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#include "config.h"
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#include "gtkbarprivate.h"
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#include "gtkcontainerprivate.h"
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#include "a11y/gtkcontaineraccessible.h"
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#include "a11y/gtkwidgetaccessible.h"
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#include "gdk/gdkwindowprivate.h"
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#include <graphene.h>
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#include <string.h>
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```
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Cyclic dependencies should be avoided if at all possible;
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for instance, you could use additional headers to break cycles.
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### GObject
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GObject classes definition and implementation require some additional
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coding style notices.
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Typedef declarations should be placed at the beginning of the file:
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```c
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typedef struct _GtkFoo GtkFoo;
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typedef struct _GtkFooClass GtkFooClass;
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```
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This includes enumeration types:
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```c
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typedef enum
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{
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GTK_SIZE_REQUEST_WIDTH_FOR_HEIGHT,
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GTK_SIZE_REQUEST_HEIGHT_FOR_WIDTH
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} GtkSizeRequestMode;
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```
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And callback types:
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```c
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typedef void (* GtkCallback) (GtkWidget *widget,
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gpointer user_data);
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```
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Instance structures should only contain the parent type:
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```c
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struct _GtkFoo
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{
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GtkWidget parent_instance;
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};
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```
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You should use the `G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE()` and `G_DECLARE_FINAL_TYPE()`
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macros in newly written headers. There is also a `GDK_DECLARE_INTERNAL_TYPE()`
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for declaring types that can be derived inside GTK, but not in 3rd party code.
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Inside your source file, always use the `G_DEFINE_TYPE()`,
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`G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE()`, and `G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_CODE()` macros, or their
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`abstract variants G_DEFINE_ABSTRACT_TYPE()`,
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`G_DEFINE_ABSTRACT_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE()`, and `G_DEFINE_ABSTRACT_TYPE_WITH_CODE()`;
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also, use the similar macros for defining interfaces, quarks, and boxed types.
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All the properties should be stored inside the private data structure, which
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is defined inside the source file - or, if needed, inside a private header
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file; the private header filename must end with "private.h" and must not be
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installed.
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The private data structure should only be accessed internally either using the
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pointer inside the instance structure, for legacy code, or the generated
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instance private data getter function for your type. You should never use the
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`G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_PRIVATE()` macro or the `g_type_instance_get_private()`
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function.
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Interface types should always have the dummy typedef for cast purposes:
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```c
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typedef struct _GtkFoo GtkFoo;
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```
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The interface structure should have "Interface" postfixed to the dummy typedef:
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```c
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typedef struct _GtkFooInterface GtkFooInterface;
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
Interfaces must have the following macros:
|
|
|
|
| Macro | Expands to |
|
|
|------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|
|
| `GTK_TYPE_<iface_name>` | `<iface_name>_get_type` |
|
|
| `GTK_<iface_name>` | `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST` |
|
|
| `GTK_IS_<iface_name>` | `G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE` |
|
|
| `GTK_<iface_name>_GET_IFACE` | `G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_INTERFACE` |
|
|
|
|
The `G_DECLARE` macros define these as static inline functions instead.
|
|
|
|
### Memory allocation
|
|
|
|
When dynamically allocating data on the heap use `g_new()`.
|
|
|
|
Public structure types should always be returned after being zero-ed,
|
|
either explicitly for each member, or by using `g_new0()`. Do not use
|
|
`g_slice` in new code.
|
|
|
|
Memory that is only needed within the scope of a function can be
|
|
stack-allocated using `g_newa()` or `g_alloca()`. But limit the amount
|
|
of stack memory that you consume this way, in particular in recursive
|
|
functions.
|
|
|
|
On Windows, the default stack size we have to work with is 1M.
|
|
|
|
### Macros
|
|
|
|
Try to avoid private macros unless strictly necessary. Remember to #undef
|
|
them at the end of a block or a series of functions needing them.
|
|
|
|
Inline functions are usually preferable to private macros.
|
|
|
|
Public macros should not be used unless they evaluate to a constant.
|
|
|
|
### Symbol visibility
|
|
|
|
Any symbol that is not explicitly annotated using a `GDK_AVAILABLE_IN_*`
|
|
or `GDK_DEPRECATED_IN_*` macro is considered internal, and not exported
|
|
in the shared library.
|
|
|
|
Never export variables as public API, since this is cumbersome on some
|
|
platforms. It is always preferable to add getters and setters instead.
|
|
|
|
Non-exported functions that are needed in more than one source file
|
|
should be declared in a private header file with a name that ends in
|
|
`private.h`.
|
|
|
|
Non-exported functions that are only needed in one source file
|
|
should be declared static.
|
|
|
|
### Documentation
|
|
|
|
All public APIs must have doc comments. For functions, these should
|
|
be placed in the source file, directly above the function.
|
|
|
|
```c
|
|
/* valid */
|
|
/**
|
|
* gtk_get_flow:
|
|
* @widget: a `GtkWidget`
|
|
*
|
|
* Gets the flow of a widget.
|
|
*
|
|
* Note that flows may be laminar or turbulent...
|
|
*
|
|
* Returns: (transfer none): the flow of @widget
|
|
*/
|
|
GtkFlow *
|
|
gtk_get_flow (GtkWidget *widget)
|
|
{
|
|
|
|
...
|
|
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
Doc comments for macros, function types, class structs, etc should be
|
|
placed next to the definitions, typically in headers.
|
|
|
|
The main content of the doc comments uses markdown, which can include
|
|
inline formatting, sections, tables, images, links. For links to
|
|
symbols/classes/etc, we use a markdown extension syntax like this:
|
|
|
|
[class@Gtk.Widget], [method@Gtk.ListView.get_factory],...
|
|
|
|
Every doc comment should start with a single-sentence paragraph that
|
|
can serve as a summary of sorts (it will often be placed next to a
|
|
link pointing to the full documentation for the symbol/class/etc).
|
|
The summary should not include links.
|
|
|
|
Long-form documentation for classes should be included in the doc
|
|
comment for the struct, typically at the top of the source file,
|
|
after the license header and includes:
|
|
|
|
```c
|
|
/**
|
|
* GtkSizeRequest:
|
|
*
|
|
* The GtkSizeRequest interface is GTK's height-for-width geometry
|
|
* geometry management system.
|
|
*
|
|
* # Geometry management
|
|
*
|
|
* ...
|
|
*/
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
For more information on the documentation style and contribution guidelines,
|
|
please [follow the corresponding contribution guide](./reference/README.md).
|
|
|
|
### Old code
|
|
|
|
New code that is being added to GTK should adhere to the style
|
|
explained above. Existing GTK code does largely follow these
|
|
conventions, but there are some differences, e.g. occurrences
|
|
of tabs, etc.
|
|
|
|
It is ok to update the style of a code block or function when you
|
|
are touching it anyway, but sweeping whitespace changes obscure the
|
|
source revision history, and should be avoided.
|