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 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

• addToREADME = false;
• addToREADMEInsertions = ["atBegin", "middle", "beforeEnd", "bestFitUsingContext"];
  • Default to beforeEnd.
• createNewFile = true;
• findInconsistencies = true;
• newFileName = ["CONTRIBUTING.md", "STYLE.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.

Configuration Variables as Prompt Parameters

If any of the variable names are passed to prompt as-is, 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

${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.

${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.

${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.
• output to prompt inconsistencies stored in temporary memory.

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.

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.
    ```