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axom-cpp-style

C++ coding style and naming conventions for Axom (primarily src/axom), including formatting via the CMake `style` target.

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llnl/axom
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July 20, 2026 at 22:03
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name
axom-cpp-style
description
C++ coding style and naming conventions for Axom (primarily src/axom), including formatting via the CMake `style` target.
# Axom C++ Style & Naming Use this skill when adding or editing C++ in `src/axom/`, `src/tools/`, and `src/examples/`. ## Formatting (clang-format) - Axom's CMake source root is `src/`, and the formatter config is `src/.clang-format`. - The config is Google-derived, currently requires clang-format 19 from the build system, uses `ColumnLimit: 100`, and does not auto-sort includes. - Prefer letting formatting be enforced by the build-system target instead of hand-formatting. Run auto-format from an existing build directory configured from `src/`: ```bash cmake --build <build_dir> --target style # example: cmake --build build-debug --target style ``` Useful narrower targets include `clangformat_style`, `clangformat_check`, and component variants such as `core_clangformat_style`. ## File structure - **License header**: Keep the existing copyright + SPDX block at the top of C++ files. - **Header guards**: Use `#pragma once` for headers. - **Doxygen file header**: Use a Doxygen file prologue with `\file` and `\brief`. - **Namespaces**: Prefer C++17 nested namespace syntax, e.g. `namespace axom::slam { ... }`. - **Namespace closing comment**: Close with `} // namespace axom::slam` (match the opened namespace). - **Trailing newline**: Ensure each file ends with a newline. ## Includes `src/.clang-format` has `SortIncludes: false`, so keep the project’s existing conventions: - In a `.cpp`, include the corresponding header first (e.g., `#include "axom/foo.hpp"`). - Include `axom/config.hpp` before any Axom headers when a source file needs build configuration macros. - Group includes with blank lines in this order: same Axom component, other Axom/project headers, TPL headers, C/C++ standard library, then system headers. - Don’t churn includes solely to “sort” them; keep diffs minimal and consistent. - Use `// clang-format off` / `// clang-format on` only for tightly controlled formatting blocks (e.g., initializer tables). ## Naming conventions (as used in `src/axom`) - When editing existing files, follow the naming conventions already used in that file for consistency. - When creating new files under `src/axom/<component>/`, follow the naming style already used in that component directory. - **Namespaces**: `axom` at the root; submodules use lowercase names such as `axom::slam`. - **Types** (`class`, `struct`, `enum class`, `using` aliases): mixed/Pascal case (e.g., `GeometryOperator`). - **Functions/methods**: `camelCase` (e.g., `defineAndParse`, `findMeshFilePath`). - **Local variables / parameters**: `snake_case`/pot-hole (e.g., `input_file_path`, `restart_cycle`). - **Non-static data members**: `m_` plus snake_case (e.g., `m_foo`, `m_use_warm_start`). - **Static data members / file-scope statics**: `s_` plus snake_case (e.g., `s_default_allocator`). - **Macros / compile options**: `SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE` (e.g., `AXOM_ENABLE_MPI`, `AXOM_DEBUG_PARAM`). - **Enumeration values**: Initial capital, with underscores between words when needed (e.g., `Num_Orange_Types`). - **Constants**: `SCREAMING_SNAKE_CASE` for API constants; `snake_case` for local `constexpr` values. ## Comments & documentation - Prefer Doxygen-style docstrings for public APIs: - `\brief` for summary - `\param[in]` / `\param[in,out]` for parameters - `\tparam` for template parameters - Use `///` for short Doxygen comments on declarations when a full block is overkill.
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