engineering-guidelines

name	engineering-guidelines
description	Use when: writing or reviewing C++/CMake/Markdown code, applying project engineering conventions, checking cpplint, clang-format, cmake-format, cmake-lint, markdownlint, clang-tidy, protobuf, RPC, generated-code, service/component CMake rules.

Engineering guidelines

Use this skill before writing or reviewing code in this repository. This file is a compact router. Load only the sibling section you need so unrelated rules do not bloat your context.

Sections

File	Load when
cpp-style.md	Writing or reviewing C++ or protobuf code under src/**
cmake-and-generated.md	Editing CMake, .proto, templates, or generated code
service-functions-cmake.md	Service/component/protocol/SDK CMake helpers
code-generation.md	.proto, Mako templates, generated task/RPC code
rpc-protobuf-arena.md	Task/RPC temporary protobuf allocation
review-and-validation.md	Reviewing a change or running format/lint before reporting

Scope and source of truth

• Root project (src/**): use repository configs .clang-format, .clang-tidy, .editorconfig, CPPLINT.cfg, .cmake-format.yaml. Prefer small, focused changes; avoid unrelated cleanup or broad reformatting.
• Vendored subprojects (atframework/**): read the nearest subproject AGENTS.md first and use its own configs when they differ from the root.
• Protobuf definitions, Mako templates, and CMake generation rules are sources of truth; regenerate rather than hand-edit derived outputs.

Related standalone skills

These cover environment, domain, or workflow knowledge rather than coding norms; load only when the task area is active.

Skill	Load when
../build/SKILL.md	Configuring/building or fixing build failures
../testing/SKILL.md	Unit tests, test filters, Windows DLL/PATH startup
../atgateway-protocol/SKILL.md	atgateway v2 protocol, crypto, compression, reconnection, gateway tests
../deployment-config/SKILL.md	Deployment configs, generated scripts, Helm values
../configure-expression/SKILL.md	Env-expression-enabled config fields
../orbit/SKILL.md	Orbit protocol notes, SDK/session routing pseudocode, flow design