C++ Coding Style

Kakoune is written in C++20, here are the main coding style points:

  • Avoid external dependencies besides posix/stdc++

  • 4 spaces for indentation, no tabs

  • public interface before private methods/data when defining a class

  • use override keyword for overridden virtual methods

  • opening brackets on their own lines by default, except when declaring an object where the opening bracket follows the equal sign.

  • use alternative logical operator names (and, or, not instead of &&, ||, !)

int func()
{
    if (condition)
    {
        ...
    }
    else
        statement;
}

int array[] = {
...
};

  • End lines with an operator when continuing on the next line

if (condition1 or
    condition2)

  • Try to keep under 80 columns, even though this is not a strict limit.

  • CamelCase for types, snake_case for variables/function names

  • prefix fields with m_, static ones with ms_ except for dumb structs (struct with every field public) where these prefixes can be dropped.

  • use const and constexpr liberally