Write Coding Standards From File

Write Coding Standards From File

Use the existing syntax of the file(s) to establish the standards and style guides for the project. If more than one file or a folder is passed, loop through each file or files in the folder, appending the file's data to temporary memory or a file, then when complete use temporary data as a single instance; as if it were the file name to base the standards and style guideline on.

Rules and Configuration

Below is a set of quasi-configuration boolean and string[] variables. Conditions for handling true, or other values for each variable are under the level two heading ## Variable and Parameter Configuration Conditions.

Parameters for the prompt have a text definition. There is one required parameter ${fileName}, and several optional parameters ${folderName}, ${instructions}, and any [configVariableAsParameter].

Configuration Variables

• addStandardsTest = false;
• addToREADME = false;
• addToREADMEInsertions = ["atBegin", "middle", "beforeEnd", "bestFitUsingContext"];
  • Default to beforeEnd.
• createNewFile = true;
• fetchStyleURL = true;
• findInconsistencies = true;
• fixInconsistencies = true;
• newFileName = ["CONTRIBUTING.md", "STYLE.md", "CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md", "CODING_STANDARDS.md", "DEVELOPING.md", "CONTRIBUTION_GUIDE.md", "GUIDELINES.md", "PROJECT_STANDARDS.md", "BEST_PRACTICES.md", "HACKING.md"];
  • For each file in ${newFileName}, if file does not exist, use that file name and break, else continue to next file name of ${newFileName}.
• outputSpecToPrompt = false;
• useTemplate = "verbose"; // or "v"
  • Possible values are [["v", "verbose"], ["m", "minimal"], ["b", "best fit"], ["custom"]].
  • Selects one of the two example templates at the bottom of prompt file under the level two heading ## Coding Standards Templates, or use another composition that is a better fit.
  • If custom, then apply per request.

Configuration Variables as Prompt Parameters

If any of the variable names are passed to prompt as-is, or as a similar but clearly related text value, then override the default variable value with the value passed to prompt.

Prompt Parameters

• fileName = The name of the file that will be analyzed in terms of: indentation, variable naming, commenting, conditional procedures, functional procedures, and other syntax related data for the coding language of the file.
• folderName = The name of the folder that will be used to extract data from multiple files into one aggregated dataset that will be analyzed in terms of: indentation, variable naming, commenting, conditional procedures, functional procedures, and other syntax related data for the coding language of the files.
• instructions = Additional instructions, rules, and procedures that will be provided for unique cases.
• [configVariableAsParameter] = If passed will override the default state of the configuration variable. Example:
  • useTemplate = If passed will override the configuration ${useTemplate} default. Values are [["v", "verbose"], ["m", "minimal"], ["b", "best fit"]].

Required and Optional Parameters

• fileName - required
• folderName - optional
• instructions - optional
• [configVariableAsParameter] - optional

Variable and Parameter Configuration Conditions

${fileName}.length > 1 || ${folderName} != undefined

• If true, toggle ${fixInconsistencies} to false.

${addToREADME} == true

• Insert the coding standards into the README.md instead of outputting to the prompt or creating a new file.
• If true, toggle both ${createNewFile} and ${outputSpecToPrompt} to false.

${addToREADMEInsertions} == "atBegin"

• If ${addToREADME} is true, then insert the coding standards data at the beginning of the README.md file after the title.

${addToREADMEInsertions} == "middle"

• If ${addToREADME} is true, then insert the coding standards data at the middle of the README.md file, changing the standards title heading to match that of the README.md composition.

${addToREADMEInsertions} == "beforeEnd"

• If ${addToREADME} is true, then insert the coding standards data at the end of the README.md file, inserting a new line after the last character, then inserting the data on a new line.

${addToREADMEInsertions} == "bestFitUsingContext"

• If ${addToREADME} is true, then insert the coding standards data at the best fitting line of the README.md file in regards to the context of the README.md composition and flow of data.

${addStandardsTest} == true

• Once the coding standards file is complete, write a test file to ensure the file or files passed to it adhere to the coding standards.

${createNewFile} == true

• Create a new file using the value, or one of the possible values, from ${newFileName}.
• If true, toggle both ${outputSpecToPrompt} and ${addToREADME} to false.

${fetchStyleURL} == true

• Additionally use the data fetched from the links nested under level three heading ### Fetch Links as context for creating standards, specifications, and styling data for the new file, prompt, or README.md.
• For each relevant item in ### Fetch Links, run #fetch ${item}.

${findInconsistencies} == true

• Evaluate syntax related to indentations, line-breaks, comments, conditional and function nesting, quotation wrappers i.e. ' or " for strings, etc., and categorize.
• For each category, make a count, and if one item does not match the majority of the count, then commit to temporary memory.
• Depending on the status of ${fixInconsistencies}, either edit and fix the low count categories to match the majority, or output to prompt inconsistencies stored in temporary memory.

${fixInconsistencies} == true

• Edit and fix the low count categories of syntax data to match the majority of corresponding syntax data using inconsistencies stored in temporary memory.

typeof ${newFileName} == "string"

• If specifically defined as a string, create a new file using the value from ${newFileName}.

typeof ${newFileName} != "string"

• If NOT specifically defined as a string, but instead an object or an array, create a new file using a value from ${newFileName} by applying this rule:
  • For each file name in ${newFileName}, if file does not exist, use that file name and break, else continue to the next.

${outputSpecToPrompt} == true

• Output the coding standards to the prompt instead of creating a file or adding to README.
• If true, toggle both ${createNewFile} and ${addToREADME} to false.

${useTemplate} == "v" || ${useTemplate} == "verbose"

• Use data under the level three heading ### "v", "verbose" as guiding template when composing the data for coding standards.

${useTemplate} == "m" || ${useTemplate} == "minimal"

• Use data under the level three heading ### "m", "minimal" as guiding template when composing the data for coding standards.

${useTemplate} == "b" || ${useTemplate} == "best"

• Use either the data under the level three heading ### "v", "verbose" or ### "m", "minimal", depending on the data extracted from ${fileName}, and use the best fit as guiding template when composing the data for coding standards.

${useTemplate} == "custom" || ${useTemplate} == "<ANY_NAME>"

• Use the custom prompt, instructions, template, or other data passed as guiding template when composing the data for coding standards.

if ${fetchStyleURL} == true

Depending on the programming language, for each link in list below, run #fetch (URL), if programming language is ${fileName} == [<Language> Style Guide].

Fetch Links

• C Style Guide
• C# Style Guide
• C++ Style Guide
• Go Style Guide
• Java Style Guide
• AngularJS App Style Guide
• jQuery Style Guide
• JavaScript Style Guide
• JSON Style Guide
• Kotlin Style Guide
• Markdown Style Guide
• Perl Style Guide
• PHP Style Guide
• Python Style Guide
• Ruby Style Guide
• Rust Style Guide
• Swift Style Guide
• TypeScript Style Guide
• Visual Basic Style Guide
• Shell Script Style Guide
• Git Usage Style Guide
• PowerShell Style Guide
• CSS
• Sass Style Guide
• HTML Style Guide
• Linux kernel Style Guide
• Node.js Style Guide
• SQL Style Guide
• Angular Style Guide
• Vue Style Guide
• Django Style Guide
• SystemVerilog Style Guide

Coding Standards Templates

"m", "minimal"

    ```markdown
    ## 1. Introduction
    *   **Purpose:** Briefly explain why the coding standards are being established (e.g., to improve code quality, maintainability, and team collaboration).
    *   **Scope:** Define which languages, projects, or modules this specification applies to.

    ## 2. Naming Conventions
    *   **Variables:** `camelCase`
    *   **Functions/Methods:** `PascalCase` or `camelCase`.
    *   **Classes/Structs:** `PascalCase`.
    *   **Constants:** `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`.

    ## 3. Formatting and Style
    *   **Indentation:** Use 4 spaces per indent (or tabs).
    *   **Line Length:** Limit lines to a maximum of 80 or 120 characters.
    *   **Braces:** Use the "K&R" style (opening brace on the same line) or the "Allman" style (opening brace on a new line).
    *   **Blank Lines:** Specify how many blank lines to use for separating logical blocks of code.

    ## 4. Commenting
    *   **Docstrings/Function Comments:** Describe the function's purpose, parameters, and return values.
    *   **Inline Comments:** Explain complex or non-obvious logic.
    *   **File Headers:** Specify what information should be included in a file header, such as author, date, and file description.

    ## 5. Error Handling
    *   **General:** How to handle and log errors.
    *   **Specifics:** Which exception types to use, and what information to include in error messages.

    ## 6. Best Practices and Anti-Patterns
    *   **General:** List common anti-patterns to avoid (e.g., global variables, magic numbers).
    *   **Language-specific:** Specific recommendations based on the project's programming language.

    ## 7. Examples
    *   Provide a small code example demonstrating the correct application of the rules.
    *   Provide a small code example of an incorrect implementation and how to fix it.

    ## 8. Contribution and Enforcement
    *   Explain how the standards are to be enforced (e.g., via code reviews).
    *   Provide a guide for contributing to the standards document itself.
    ```

"v", verbose"

    ```markdown

    # Style Guide

    This document defines the style and conventions used in this project.
    All contributions should follow these rules unless otherwise noted.

    ## 1. General Code Style

    - Favor clarity over brevity.
    - Keep functions and methods small and focused.
    - Avoid repeating logic; prefer shared helpers/utilities.
    - Remove unused variables, imports, code paths, and files.

    ## 2. Naming Conventions

    Use descriptive names. Avoid abbreviations unless well-known.

    | Item            | Convention           | Example            |
    |-----------------|----------------------|--------------------|
    | Variables       | `lower_snake_case`   | `buffer_size`      |
    | Functions       | `lower_snake_case()` | `read_file()`      |
    | Constants       | `UPPER_SNAKE_CASE`   | `MAX_RETRIES`      |
    | Types/Structs   | `PascalCase`         | `FileHeader`       |
    | File Names      | `lower_snake_case`   | `file_reader.c`    |

    ## 3. Formatting Rules

    - Indentation: **4 spaces**
    - Line length: **max 100 characters**
    - Encoding: **UTF-8**, no BOM
    - End files with a newline

    ### Braces (example in C, adjust for your language)

        ```c
        if (condition) {
            do_something();
        } else {
            do_something_else();
        }
        ```

    ### Spacing

    - One space after keywords: `if (x)`, not `if(x)`
    - One blank line between top-level functions

    ## 4. Comments & Documentation

    - Explain *why*, not *what*, unless intent is unclear.
    - Keep comments up-to-date as code changes.
    - Public functions should include a short description of purpose and parameters.

    Recommended tags:

        ```text
        TODO: follow-up work
        FIXME: known incorrect behavior
        NOTE: non-obvious design decision
        ```

    ## 5. Error Handling

    - Handle error conditions explicitly.
    - Avoid silent failures; either return errors or log them appropriately.
    - Clean up resources (files, memory, handles) before returning on failure.

    ## 6. Commit & Review Practices

    ### Commits
    - One logical change per commit.
    - Write clear commit messages:

        ```text
        Short summary (max ~50 chars)
        Optional longer explanation of context and rationale.
        ```

    ### Reviews
    - Keep pull requests reasonably small.
    - Be respectful and constructive in review discussions.
    - Address requested changes or explain if you disagree.

    ## 7. Tests

    - Write tests for new functionality.
    - Tests should be deterministic (no randomness without seeding).
    - Prefer readable test cases over complex test abstraction.

    ## 8. Changes to This Guide

    Style evolves.
    Propose improvements by opening an issue or sending a patch updating this document.
    ```

Source: github/awesome-copilot → skills/write-coding-standards-from-file/SKILL.md