\input texinfo   @c -*-texinfo-*-

@c %**start of header

@c
@c AWS Coding Style Guide
@c
@c Note that this document is derived from the GNAT Style Guide from
@c Ada Core Technologies, Inc. Some modifications have been made to
@c meet AWS developement requirement.
@c
@c The "cut&past" from the GNAT Coding Style has been made with ACT
@c permission.
@c

@setfilename style-guide.info
@settitle AWS Coding Style
@setchapternewpage off
@c %**end of header

@ifinfo
     @center AWS Coding Style

     @center A guide for AWS developers
@end ifinfo

@titlepage
@sp 10
@title AWS Coding Style
@subtitle A guide for AWS developers
@subtitle Document revision level $Revision: 9435 $
@subtitle Date: @today{}
@author Pascal Obry.
@end titlepage

@ifinfo
@node Top
@top AWS Coding Style

@menu
* General::
* Ada 2005::
* Lexical Elements::
* Declarations and Types::
* Expressions and Names::
* Statements::
* Subprograms::
* Packages and Visibility Rules::
* Program Structure and Compilation Issues::
@end menu
@end ifinfo

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node General
@chapter General
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@noindent
This document described the style rules for the development of the AWS
project. The goal is to have a consistent style used for all AWS
codes.

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Ada 2005
@chapter Ada 2005
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@noindent
As the Ada 2005 support on GNAT is maturing, it is possible to use
some Ada 2005 constructs for AWS development. We list here the
features that can be used:

@itemize @bullet
@item Ada.Containers
@item raise .. with "";
@item object.method notation
@item limited with
@item anonymous access fields/parameters
@item use of overriding keyword
@end itemize

Constructs that are not ready for use:

@itemize @bullet
@item interfaces
@item extended return statement
@end itemize

In addition, all constructs should be compatible with GNAT 5.04a1 and
GPL 2006.

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Lexical Elements
@chapter Lexical Elements
@c
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

@menu
* Character Set and Separators::
* Identifiers::
* Numeric Literals::
* Reserved Words::
* Comments::
@end menu

@node Character Set and Separators
@section Character Set and Separators
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet
@item
The character set used should be plain 7-bit ASCII.
The only separators allowed are space and the end-of-line sequence. 
No other control character or format effector (such as HT, VT, FF) 
should be used.

The end-of-line sequence used must be the standard UNIX end-of-line
character, a single LF (16#0A#).

@item
A line should never be longer than 79 characters, not counting the line
separator.

@item
Lines must not have trailing blanks.

@item
Indentation is 3 characters per level for if-statements, loops, case
statements.

@end itemize

@node Identifiers
@section Identifiers
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet
@item
Identifiers will start with an upper case letter, and each letter following
an underscore will be upper case.  Short acronyms may be all upper case. 
All other letters are lower case.  
An exception is for identifiers matching a foreign language. In particular,
we use all lower case where appropriate for C.

@item
Use underscores to separate words in an identifier.  

@item Try to limit your use of abbreviations in identifiers. 
It is ok to make a few abbreviations, explain what they mean, and then
use them frequently, but don't use lots of obscure abbreviations.

@item
Don't use the variable I, use J instead, I is too easily mixed up with
1 in some fonts. Similarly don't use the variable O, which is too easily
mixed up with zero.
@end itemize

@node Numeric Literals
@section Numeric Literals
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet
@item
Numeric literals should include underscores where helpful for
readability.

@smallexample
      1_000_000
      16#8000_000#
      3.14159_26535_89793_23846
@end smallexample
@end itemize

@node Reserved Words
@section Reserved Words
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet
@item
Reserved words use all lower case.

@smallexample
       return else procedure
@end smallexample

@item
The words "@b{Access}", "@b{Delta}" and "@b{Digits}" are capitalized
when used as attribute_designator.
@end itemize

@node Comments
@section Comments
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet
@item
Comment start with @code{--  } (ie @code{--} followed by two spaces).
The only exception to this rule (i.e. one space is tolerated) is when the
comment ends with @code{--}.
It also accepted to have only one space between @code{--} and the start 
of the comment when the comment is at the end of a line, 
after an Ada statement.

@item
Every sentence in a comment should start with an upper-case letter (including
the first letter of the comment).

@item
When declarations are commented with "hanging" comments, i.e. comments
after the declaration, there is no blank line before the comment, and
if it is absolutely necessary to have blank lines within the comments
these blank lines *do* have a -- (unlike the normal rule, which is to
use entirely blank lines for separating comment paragraphs).
The comment start at same level of indentation as code they are commenting.

@smallexample
       Z : Integer;
       --  @i{Integer value for storing value of Z}
       --
       --  @i{The previous line was a blank line}
@end smallexample

@item
Comments that are dubious or incomplete or comment on possibly
wrong or incomplete code should be preceded or followed by ???

@item
Comments in a subprogram body must generally be surrounded by blank lines,
except after a "@b{begin}":

@smallexample
       @b{begin}
          --  @i{Comment for the next statement}

          A := 5;

          --  @i{Comment for the B statement}

          B := 6;
@end smallexample

@item
In sequences of statements, comments at the end of the lines should be
aligned.

@smallexample
        My_Identifier := 5;      --  @i{First comment}
        Other_Id := 6;           --  @i{Second comment}
@end smallexample

@item
Short comments that fit on a single line are NOT ended with a period.
Comments taking more than a line are punctuated in the normal manner.

@item
Comments should focus on why instead of what.
Descriptions of what subprograms do go with the specification.

@item
Comments describing a subprogram spec should specifically mention the
formal argument names. General rule: write a comment that does not
depend on the names of things. The names are supplementary, not
sufficient, as comments.

@item
Do NOT put two spaces after periods in comments.
@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Declarations and Types
@chapter Declarations and Types
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet
@item
In entity declarations, colons must be surrounded by spaces. Colons
should be aligned.

@smallexample
        Entity1   : Integer;
        My_Entity : Integer;
@end smallexample

@item
Declarations should be grouped in a logical order. 
Related groups of declarations may be preceded by a header comment.

@item
All local subprograms in a subprogram or package body should be declared
before the first local subprogram body. 

@item
Avoid declaring discriminated record types where the discriminant is used
for constraining an unconstrained array type. (Discriminated
records for a variant part are allowed.)

@item
Avoid declaring local entities that hide global entities.

@item
Don't declare multiple variables in one declaration that spans lines. 
Start a new declaration on each line, instead

@item
The defining_identifiers of global declarations serve as comments of a sort. 
So don't choose terse names, but look for names that give useful information 
instead.

@item
Local names can be shorter, because they are used only within 
one context, where comments explain their purpose.

@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Expressions and Names
@chapter Expressions and Names
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet

@item
Every operator must be surrounded by spaces, except for the 
exponentiation operator.

@smallexample
       E := A * B**2 + 3 * (C - D);
@end smallexample

@item
When folding a long line, fold before an operator, not after.

@item
Use parentheses where they clarify the intended association of
operands with operators:
@smallexample
       (A / B) * C
@end smallexample
@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Statements
@chapter Statements
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@menu
* Simple and Compound Statements::
* If Statements::
* Case statements::
* Loop statements::
* Block Statements::
@end menu

@node Simple and Compound Statements
@section Simple and Compound Statements
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet
@item
Use only one statement or label per line.
@item
A longer sequence_of_statements may be divided in logical groups
or separated from surrounding code using a blank line.

@item Prefer using "/=" to "not =" except in complex expression if it
makes the expression easier to read or in "well-known" expressions for
whose the reverse must be checked.
@end itemize

@node If Statements
@section If Statements
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet
@item
When the "@b{if}", "@b{elsif}" or "@b{else}" keywords fit on the same
line with the condition and the "@b{then}" keyword, then the statement is
formatted as follows:

@smallexample
        @b{if} <condition> @b{then}
           ...
        @b{elsif} <condition> @b{then}
           ...
        @b{else}
           ...
        @b{end if};
@end smallexample

@noindent
When the above layout is not possible, "@b{then}" should be aligned
with "@b{if}", and conditions should preferably be split before an
"@b{and}" or "@b{or}" keyword a follows:

@smallexample
        @b{if} <long_condition_that_has_to_be_split>
          @b{and then} <continued_on_the_next_line>
        @b{then}
           ...
        @b{end if};
@end smallexample

@noindent
The "@b{elsif}", "@b{else}" and "@b{end if}" always line up with the
"@b{if}" keyword. The preferred location for splitting the line is
before "@b{and}" or "@b{or}". The continuation of a condition is
indented with two spaces or as many as needed to make nesting clear.

@smallexample
     @b{if} x = lakdsjfhlkashfdlkflkdsalkhfsalkdhflkjdsahf
          @b{or else}
        x = asldkjhalkdsjfhhfd
          @b{or else}
        x = asdfadsfadsf
     @b{then}
@end smallexample

@item
Conditions should use short-circuit forms ("@b{and then}", "@b{or else}").

@item
Complex conditions in if-statements are indented two characters:

@smallexample
      @b{if} this_complex_condition
        @b{and then} that_other_one
        @b{and then} one_last_one
      @b{then}
         ...
@end smallexample

@item
Every "@b{if}" block is preceded and followed by a blank line, except
where it begins or ends a sequence_of_statements.

@smallexample
        A := 5;

        @b{if} A = 5 @b{then}
           null;
        @b{end if};

        A := 6;
@end smallexample
@end itemize

@node Case statements
@section Case statements
@itemize @bullet

@item
Layout is as below.

@smallexample
       @b{case} <expression> @b{is}
          @b{when} <condition> @b{=>}
             ...
          @b{when} <condition> @b{=>}
             ...
       @b{end case};
@end smallexample

@noindent
If the condition and the code for the case section is small, it is
possible to put the code for each when section right after the
condition without a new-line.

@smallexample
       @b{case} <expression> @b{is}
          @b{when} <condition> @b{=>} ...
          @b{when} <condition> @b{=>} ...
       @b{end case};
@end smallexample

@end itemize

@node Loop statements
@section Loop statements
@itemize @bullet

@noindent
When possible, have "@b{for}" or "@b{while}" on one line with the condition
and the "@b{loop}" keyword.

@smallexample
       @b{for} J @b{in} S'@b{Range} @b{loop}
          ...
       @b{end loop};
@end smallexample

@noindent
If the condition is too long, split the condition (see if_statement)
and align "@b{loop}" with the "@b{for}" or "@b{while}" keyword.

@smallexample
      @b{while} <long_condition_that_has_to_be_split>
        @b{and then} <continued_on_the_next_line>
      @b{loop}
         ...
      @b{end loop};
@end smallexample

@noindent
If the loop_statement has an identifier, it is layout as follows:

@smallexample
      Outer : @b{while not} <condition> @b{loop}
         ...
      @b{end} Outer;
@end smallexample
@end itemize

@node Block Statements
@section Block Statements
@itemize @bullet

@item
The (optional) "@b{declare}", "@b{begin}" and "@b{end}" statements are aligned,
except when the block_statement is named:

@smallexample
      Some_Block : @b{declare}
         ...
      @b{begin}
         ...
      @b{end} Some_Block;
@end smallexample

@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Subprograms
@chapter Subprograms
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@menu
* Subprogram Declarations::
* Subprogram Bodies::
@end menu

@node Subprogram Declarations
@section Subprogram Declarations
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet

@item
Always write the "@b{in}" for parameters, even in functions:

@smallexample
      @b{function} Length (S : @b{in} String) @b{return} Integer;
@end smallexample

@item The mode should be indented as follow

@smallexample
      @b{procedure} My_Proc
        (First  : @b{in}     Integer;
         Second :    @b{out} Character;
         Third  : @b{access} String;
         Fourth : @b{in out} Float);
@end smallexample

@item
When the declaration line for a procedure or a function is too long, fold it

@smallexample
      @b{function} Head
        (Source : @b{in} String;
         Count  : @b{in} Natural;
         Pad    : @b{in} Character := Space)
         @b{return} String;
@end smallexample

@item For function an alternate style is to put the @b{return} at the end of
the last declaration line

@smallexample
      @b{function} Head
        (Source : @b{in} String;
         Count  : @b{in} Natural;
         Pad    : @b{in} Character := Space) @b{return} String;
@end smallexample

@item
The parameter list for a subprogram is preceded by a space

@smallexample
        @b{procedure} Func (A : @b{in out} Integer);
@end smallexample

@end itemize

@node Subprogram Bodies
@section Subprogram Bodies
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@itemize @bullet

@item
The functions and procedures should always be sorted alphabetically in
a compilation unit.

@item
All subprograms have a header giving the function name, with the following
format:

@smallexample
      -----------------
      -- My_Function --
      -----------------

      @b{procedure} My_Function @b{is}
      @b{begin}
@end smallexample

Note that the name in the header is preceded by a single space, 
not two spaces as for other comments.

@item If the subprogram parameters are on multiple lines and there is
some declaration the "@b{is}" must be on a separate line.

@smallexample
      @b{procedure} My_Function (X : @b{in} Integer) @b{is}
         X : Float;
      @b{begin}

      @b{procedure} My_Function 
        (X : @b{in} Integer;
         Y : @b{in} Float)
      @b{is}
         A : Character;
      @b{begin}
@end smallexample

@item
Every subprogram body must have a preceding subprogram_declaration.

@item
If declarations of a subprogram contain at least one nested subprogram
body, then just before the begin is a line:

@smallexample
        --  @i{Start of processing for bla bla}

	@b{begin}
@end smallexample

@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Packages and Visibility Rules
@chapter Packages and Visibility Rules
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet

@item
All program units and subprograms have their name at the end:

@smallexample
      @b{package} P @b{is}
         ...
      @b{end} P;
@end smallexample

@item
Avoid "use-ing" the with-ed packages except when it has been designed
for. A common example is Ada.Strings.Unbounded where the type is
named Unbounded_String. This unit is clearly designed to be use-ed. To
ease readability a use clause may be used in a small scope. Another
solution is to use renaming. Do not with two times the same unit,
always use the deepest child unit to with. For example do not write:

@smallexample
      @b{with} Ada.Strings;
      @b{with} Ada.Strings.Unbounded;
@end smallexample

but the equivalent form:

@smallexample
      @b{with} Ada.Strings.Unbounded;
@end smallexample

@item
Names declared in the visible part of packages should be
unique, to prevent name clashes when the packages are "use"d.

@smallexample
      @b{package} Entity @b{is}
         @b{type} Entity_Kind @b{is} ...;
	 ...
      @b{end} Entity;
@end smallexample

@item
After the file header comment, the context clause and unit specification
should be the first thing in a program_unit.

@item try grouping the context clauses

It is good to group the context clauses in 3 parts. The Ada standard
clauses, the components from other projects and then the project's
clauses. In each group it is required to sort the clauses by
alphabetical order.

@smallexample
      @b{with} Ada.Exceptions;
      @b{with} Ada.Strings;

      @b{with} Lists;
      @b{with} Ordered_Set;

      @b{with} AWS.Server;
      @b{with} AWS.URL;
@end smallexample

@end itemize

@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
@node Program Structure and Compilation Issues
@chapter Program Structure and Compilation Issues
@c  -------------------------------------------------------------------------

@itemize @bullet
@item
Every AWS source file must be compiled with the 
"@b{-gnatwcfijmpruv -gnatwe -gnaty3abcefhiklmnoprst}" switches to
check the coding style.

@item
Each source file should contain only one compilation unit.

@item
Body filename should end with ".adb" and spec with ".ads".

@end itemize

@bye
