Re: [Chicken-hackers] [PATH] Add an Emacs dir-locals file to enforce project style

[John Cowan]

Peter Bex scripsit:

> Since the majority of us are using Emacs, here's a .dir-locals.el file
> to enforce our project's settings.

For those who are not, it would be helpful to have a shell or Chicken
script that runs over specified files with `emacs -batch` and Chickenifies
their format.

> For example, what C base indentation style should we pick?  I'm using
> (setq c-default-style "bsd") in my own .emacs file, but I'm not sure
> about all the settings that implies, exactly, and whether it matches
> the CHICKEN conventions.

The Eighth Commandment for C programmers says:

Thou shalt make thy program's purpose and structure clear to thy fellow man
by using the One True Brace Style, even if thou likest it not, for thy
creativity is better used in solving problems than in creating beautiful new
impediments to understanding.

Henry Spencer's commentary (in part):

   These words, alas, have caused some uncertainty among the novices and
   the converts, who know not the ancient wisdoms. The One True Brace
   Style referred to is that demonstrated in the writings of the First
   Prophets, Kernighan and Ritchie. Often and again it is criticized by
   the ignorant as hard to use, when in truth it is merely somewhat
   difficult to learn, and thereafter is wonderfully clear and obvious,
   if perhaps a bit sensitive to mistakes.

   While thou might think that thine own ideas of brace style lead to
   clearer programs, thy successors will not thank thee for it, but
   rather shall revile thy works and curse thy name, and word of this
   might get to thy next employer. Many customs in this life persist
   because they ease friction and promote productivity as a result of
   universal agreement, and whether they are precisely the optimal
   choices is much less important. So it is with brace style.

-- 
If you have ever wondered if you are in hell,       John Cowan
it has been said, then you are on a well-traveled   http://www.ccil.org/~cowan
road of spiritual inquiry.  If you are absolutely   address@hidden
sure you are in hell, however, then you must be
on the Cross Bronx Expressway.          --Alan Feuer, NYTimes, 2002-09-20