Httpd C Coding Practices

Apache httpd C Coding Practices

Application skill for Apache httpd C style (archived awesome-guidelines capsules). For non-httpd portable C, load c-coding-practices. Kernel/GNU tab-based trees follow their own docs.

Core Principle

httpd C quality is reviewer-readable layout plus generic C safety, ANSI signatures, httpd brace/spacing rhythm, 80-column wraps, comments for non-obvious rationale.

When to Use / NOT

• Apache httpd core patches, httpd modules, APR-adjacent C matching httpd style.
• Reviewing layout before submitting to httpd dev list or ASF repo.

NOT when:

• Generic C libraries with no httpd contribution path, c-coding-practices.
• C++, cpp-coding-practices.

Workflow

1. Format, indent, 80 cols, braces (httpd-style-formatting-indent.md).
2. Functions/flow, ANSI, if/switch (httpd-style-functions-flow.md).
3. Expressions, operators, casts, wraps (httpd-style-expressions-casts.md).
4. Comments/verify, rationale, build (httpd-style-comments-verify.md).
5. Safety pass, also apply c-coding-practices capsules for headers/errors/macros.

Red Flags

• Tab characters
• Lines >80 without httpd-style wrap
• Old-style non-ANSI function definitions
• Space between function name and (
• Missing space after comma in calls
• Wrong switch/case indentation
• Space after cast (int) j
• Pointer cast (char*)i without space before *
• Comments that restate code instead of rationale
• Overlong functions without split plan
• Unchecked error returns (generic C safety)
• Data definitions in headers
• Layout-only fix mixed with logic in one commit

Verification

• GNU indent with httpd flags on changed C (optional project step)
• grep $'\t' clean on touched files
• httpd/module build + relevant tests
• -Wall/project warning flags on changed translation units
• Capsule checklist on cast/flow samples

References

• awesome-guidelines/references/httpd-style-learning-note.md
• awesome-guidelines/references/httpd-style-formatting-indent.md
• awesome-guidelines/references/httpd-style-functions-flow.md
• awesome-guidelines/references/httpd-style-expressions-casts.md
• awesome-guidelines/references/httpd-style-comments-verify.md

Related skills

• c-coding-practices, portable C safety and headers