Re: [dpdk-dev] tools brainstorming

[Thomas Monjalon <thomas.monjalon@6wind.com>]

2015-04-14 10:38, Neil Horman:
> On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 03:21:53PM +0100, Bruce Richardson wrote:
> > On Wed, Apr 08, 2015 at 07:54:40PM +0000, Butler, Siobhan A wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Thomas Monjalon [mailto:thomas.monjalon@6wind.com]
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 5:16 PM
> > > > To: Wiles, Keith; Butler, Siobhan A
> > > > Cc: dev@dpdk.org
> > > > Subject: Re: [dpdk-dev] tools brainstorming
> > > > 
> > > > 2015-04-08 15:53, Wiles, Keith:
> > > > > One of the biggest problems with any style is helping the developer
> > > > > maintain the style. Using some tool does help and I have used astyle
> > > > > before, not bad code formatter. Here is a few that seem to be reasonable.
> > > > >
> > > > > http://astyle.sourceforge.net/
> > > > >
> > > > > http://uncrustify.sourceforge.net/
> > > > >
> > > > > http://sourceforge.net/projects/gcgreatcode/
> > > > 
> > > > I'm not sure it's a good idea to convert the codebase automatically.
> > > > The coding style must be a reference for new patches and they must be
> > > > automatically checked with a dedicated checkpatch tool.
> > > > By forbidding patches which don't comply, the codebase will be naturally
> > > > converted over time.
> > > > 
> > > > I didn't review this proposal yet.
> > > > My first comment is that it's too long to read :) When a consensus is done, it
> > > > must be added with a patch with custom checkpatch addition.
> > > Thanks Thomas, agreed it is a bit of a novel :)- I will refactor with the comments supplied so far and post a fresh version tomorrow.
> > > Siobhan 
> > > 
> > 
> > Just wondering here, are we looking to codify what the current predominant coding
> > style in DPDK *is* or what it *should be*? 
> > 
> > There has been some good discussion on a variety of areas, but if we focus on
> > initially codifying what's there now, some issues become easier to resolve  -
> > e.g. discussion of commenting style, since only C89 comments are allowed right now.
> > 
> 
> This is an excellent question.  I think the answer is we should make the style
> what we want it to be. That said, when there is a significant discrepancy behind
> what is wanted and what is, we need to stop and ask ourselves why that exists,
> and what our reasoning is for wanting the change.

Yes the question must be asked.
I think the main goal is to have a consistent style.
As there is already a lot of code with implicit guidelines,
it's simpler to make them official.