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+++ b/doc/coding_style.md	Thu Mar 14 16:13:14 2019 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,805 @@
+
+# Prosody Coding Style Guide
+
+This style guides lists the coding conventions used in the
+[Prosody](https://prosody.im/) project. It is based heavily on the [style guide used by the LuaRocks project](https://github.com/luarocks/lua-style-guide).
+
+## Indentation and formatting
+
+* Prosody code is indented with tabs at the start of the line, a single
+  tab per logical indent level:
+
+```lua
+for i, pkg in ipairs(packages) do
+    for name, version in pairs(pkg) do
+        if name == searched then
+            print(version)
+        end
+    end
+end
+```
+
+Tab width is configurable in editors, so never assume a particular width.
+Specically this means you should not mix tabs and spaces, or use tabs for
+alignment of items at different indentation levels.
+
+* Use LF (Unix) line endings.
+
+## Comments
+
+* Comments are encouraged where necessary to explain non-obvious code.
+
+* In general comments should be used to explain 'why', not 'how'
+
+### Comment tags
+
+A comment may be prefixed with one of the following tags:
+
+* **FIXME**: Indicates a serious problem with the code that should be addressed
+* **TODO**: Indicates an open task, feature request or code restructuring that
+  is primarily of interest to developers (otherwise it should be in the
+  issue tracker).
+* **COMPAT**: Must be used on all code that is present only for backwards-compatibility,
+  and may be removed one day. For example code that is added to support old
+  or buggy third-party software or dependencies.
+
+**Example:**
+
+```lua
+-- TODO: implement method
+local function something()
+   -- FIXME: check conditions
+end
+
+```
+
+## Variable names
+
+* Variable names with larger scope should be more descriptive than those with
+smaller scope. One-letter variable names should be avoided except for very
+small scopes (less than ten lines) or for iterators.
+
+* `i` should be used only as a counter variable in for loops (either numeric for
+or `ipairs`).
+
+* Prefer more descriptive names than `k` and `v` when iterating with `pairs`,
+unless you are writing a function that operates on generic tables.
+
+* Use `_` for ignored variables (e.g. in for loops:)
+
+```lua
+for _, item in ipairs(items) do
+   do_something_with_item(item)
+end
+```
+
+* Generally all identifiers (variables and function names) should use `snake_case`,
+  i.e. lowercase words joined by `_`.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local OBJEcttsssss = {}
+local thisIsMyObject = {}
+local c = function()
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+
+-- good
+local this_is_my_object = {}
+
+local function do_that_thing()
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** The standard library uses lowercase APIs, with `joinedlowercase`
+names, but this does not scale too well for more complex APIs. `snake_case`
+tends to look good enough and not too out-of-place along side the standard
+APIs.
+
+```lua
+for _, name in pairs(names) do
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+```
+
+* Prefer using `is_` when naming boolean functions:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local function evil(alignment)
+   return alignment < 100
+end
+
+-- good
+local function is_evil(alignment)
+   return alignment < 100
+end
+```
+
+* `UPPER_CASE` is to be used sparingly, with "constants" only.
+
+> **Rationale:** "Sparingly", since Lua does not have real constants. This
+notation is most useful in libraries that bind C libraries, when bringing over
+constants from C.
+
+* Do not use uppercase names starting with `_`, they are reserved by Lua.
+
+## Tables
+
+* When creating a table, prefer populating its fields all at once, if possible:
+
+```lua
+local player = { name = "Jack", class = "Rogue" }
+}
+```
+
+* Items should be separated by commas. If there are many items, put each
+  key/value on a separate line and use a semi-colon after each item (including
+  the last one):
+
+```lua
+local player = {
+   name = "Jack";
+   class = "Rogue";
+}
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** This makes the structure of your tables more evident at a glance.
+Trailing commas make it quicker to add new fields and produces shorter diffs.
+
+* Use plain `key` syntax whenever possible, use `["key"]` syntax when using names
+that can't be represented as identifiers and avoid mixing representations in
+a declaration:
+
+```lua
+local mytable = {
+   ["1394-E"] = val1,
+   ["UTF-8"] = val2,
+   ["and"] = val2,
+}
+```
+
+## Strings
+
+* Use `"double quotes"` for strings; use `'single quotes'` when writing strings
+that contain double quotes.
+
+```lua
+local name = "Prosody"
+local sentence = 'The name of the program is "Prosody"'
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Double quotes are used as string delimiters in a larger number of
+programming languages. Single quotes are useful for avoiding escaping when
+using double quotes in literals.
+
+## Line lengths
+
+* There are no hard or soft limits on line lengths. Line lengths are naturally
+limited by using one statement per line. If that still produces lines that are
+too long (e.g. an expression that produces a line over 256-characters long,
+for example), this means the expression is too complex and would do better
+split into subexpressions with reasonable names.
+
+> **Rationale:** No one works on VT100 terminals anymore. If line lengths are a proxy
+for code complexity, we should address code complexity instead of using line
+breaks to fit mind-bending statements over multiple lines.
+
+## Function declaration syntax
+
+* Prefer function syntax over variable syntax. This helps differentiate between
+named and anonymous functions.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local nope = function(name, options)
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+
+-- good
+local function yup(name, options)
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+```
+
+* Perform validation early and return as early as possible.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local function is_good_name(name, options, arg)
+   local is_good = #name > 3
+   is_good = is_good and #name < 30
+
+   -- ...stuff...
+
+   return is_good
+end
+
+-- good
+local function is_good_name(name, options, args)
+   if #name < 3 or #name > 30 then
+      return false
+   end
+
+   -- ...stuff...
+
+   return true
+end
+```
+
+## Function calls
+
+* Even though Lua allows it, generally you should not omit parentheses
+  for functions that take a unique string literal argument.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local data = get_data"KRP"..tostring(area_number)
+-- good
+local data = get_data("KRP"..tostring(area_number))
+local data = get_data("KRP")..tostring(area_number)
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** It is not obvious at a glace what the precedence rules are
+when omitting the parentheses in a function call. Can you quickly tell which
+of the two "good" examples in equivalent to the "bad" one? (It's the second
+one).
+
+* You should not omit parenthesis for functions that take a unique table
+argument on a single line. You may do so for table arguments that span several
+lines.
+
+```lua
+local an_instance = a_module.new {
+   a_parameter = 42,
+   another_parameter = "yay",
+}
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** The use as in `a_module.new` above occurs alone in a statement,
+so there are no precedence issues.
+
+## Table attributes
+
+* Use dot notation when accessing known properties.
+
+```lua
+local luke = {
+   jedi = true,
+   age = 28,
+}
+
+-- bad
+local is_jedi = luke["jedi"]
+
+-- good
+local is_jedi = luke.jedi
+```
+
+* Use subscript notation `[]` when accessing properties with a variable or if using a table as a list.
+
+```lua
+local vehicles = load_vehicles_from_disk("vehicles.dat")
+
+if vehicles["Porsche"] then
+   porsche_handler(vehicles["Porsche"])
+   vehicles["Porsche"] = nil
+end
+for name, cars in pairs(vehicles) do
+   regular_handler(cars)
+end
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Using dot notation makes it clearer that the given key is meant
+to be used as a record/object field.
+
+## Functions in tables
+
+* When declaring modules and classes, declare functions external to the table definition:
+
+```lua
+local my_module = {}
+
+function my_module.a_function(x)
+   -- code
+end
+```
+
+* When declaring metatables, declare function internal to the table definition.
+
+```lua
+local version_mt = {
+   __eq = function(a, b)
+      -- code
+   end;
+   __lt = function(a, b)
+      -- code
+   end;
+}
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Metatables contain special behavior that affect the tables
+they're assigned (and are used implicitly at the call site), so it's good to
+be able to get a view of the complete behavior of the metatable at a glance.
+
+This is not as important for objects and modules, which usually have way more
+code, and which don't fit in a single screen anyway, so nesting them inside
+the table does not gain much: when scrolling a longer file, it is more evident
+that `check_version` is a method of `Api` if it says `function Api:check_version()`
+than if it says `check_version = function()` under some indentation level.
+
+## Variable declaration
+
+* Always use `local` to declare variables. 
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+superpower = get_superpower()
+
+-- good
+local superpower = get_superpower()
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Not doing so will result in global variables to avoid polluting
+the global namespace.
+
+## Variable scope
+
+* Assign variables with the smallest possible scope.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local function good()
+   local name = get_name()
+
+   test()
+   print("doing stuff..")
+
+   --...other stuff...
+
+   if name == "test" then
+      return false
+   end
+
+   return name
+end
+
+-- good
+local bad = function()
+   test()
+   print("doing stuff..")
+
+   --...other stuff...
+
+   local name = get_name()
+
+   if name == "test" then
+      return false
+   end
+
+   return name
+end
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Lua has proper lexical scoping. Declaring the function later means that its
+scope is smaller, so this makes it easier to check for the effects of a variable.
+
+## Conditional expressions
+
+* False and nil are falsy in conditional expressions. Use shortcuts when you
+can, unless you need to know the difference between false and nil.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+if name ~= nil then
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+
+-- good
+if name then
+   -- ...stuff...
+end
+```
+
+* Avoid designing APIs which depend on the difference between `nil` and `false`.
+
+* Use the `and`/`or` idiom for the pseudo-ternary operator when it results in
+more straightforward code. When nesting expressions, use parentheses to make it
+easier to scan visually:
+
+```lua
+local function default_name(name)
+   -- return the default "Waldo" if name is nil
+   return name or "Waldo"
+end
+
+local function brew_coffee(machine)
+   return (machine and machine.is_loaded) and "coffee brewing" or "fill your water"
+end
+```
+
+Note that the `x and y or z` as a substitute for `x ? y : z` does not work if
+`y` may be `nil` or `false` so avoid it altogether for returning booleans or
+values which may be nil.
+
+## Blocks
+
+* Use single-line blocks only for `then return`, `then break` and `function return` (a.k.a "lambda") constructs:
+
+```lua
+-- good
+if test then break end
+
+-- good
+if not ok then return nil, "this failed for this reason: " .. reason end
+
+-- good
+use_callback(x, function(k) return k.last end)
+
+-- good
+if test then
+  return false
+end
+
+-- bad
+if test < 1 and do_complicated_function(test) == false or seven == 8 and nine == 10 then do_other_complicated_function() end
+
+-- good
+if test < 1 and do_complicated_function(test) == false or seven == 8 and nine == 10 then
+   do_other_complicated_function() 
+   return false 
+end
+```
+
+* Separate statements onto multiple lines. Do not use semicolons as statement terminators.
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local whatever = "sure";
+a = 1; b = 2
+
+-- good
+local whatever = "sure"
+a = 1
+b = 2
+```
+
+## Spacing
+
+* Use a space after `--`. 
+
+```lua
+--bad
+-- good
+```
+
+* Always put a space after commas and between operators and assignment signs:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local x = y*9
+local numbers={1,2,3}
+numbers={1 , 2 , 3}
+numbers={1 ,2 ,3}
+local strings = { "hello"
+                , "Lua"
+                , "world"
+                }
+dog.set( "attr",{
+  age="1 year",
+  breed="Bernese Mountain Dog"
+})
+
+-- good
+local x = y * 9
+local numbers = {1, 2, 3}
+local strings = {
+    "hello";
+    "Lua";
+    "world";
+}
+dog.set("attr", {
+   age = "1 year",
+   breed = "Bernese Mountain Dog",
+})
+```
+
+* Indent tables and functions according to the start of the line, not the construct:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local my_table = {
+                    "hello",
+                    "world",
+                 }
+using_a_callback(x, function(...)
+                       print("hello")
+                    end)
+
+-- good
+local my_table = {
+    "hello";
+    "world";
+}
+using_a_callback(x, function(...)
+   print("hello")
+end)
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** This keep indentation levels aligned at predictable places. You don't
+need to realign the entire block if something in the first line changes (such as
+replacing `x` with `xy` in the `using_a_callback` example above).
+
+* The concatenation operator gets a pass for avoiding spaces:
+
+```lua
+-- okay
+local message = "Hello, "..user.."! This is your day # "..day.." in our platform!"
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Being at the baseline, the dots already provide some visual spacing.
+
+* No spaces after the name of a function in a declaration or in its arguments:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local function hello ( name, language )
+   -- code
+end
+
+-- good
+local function hello(name, language)
+   -- code
+end
+```
+
+* Add blank lines between functions:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local function foo()
+   -- code
+end
+local function bar()
+   -- code
+end
+
+-- good
+local function foo()
+   -- code
+end
+
+local function bar()
+   -- code
+end
+```
+
+* Avoid aligning variable declarations:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local a               = 1
+local long_identifier = 2
+
+-- good
+local a = 1
+local long_identifier = 2
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** This produces extra diffs which add noise to `git blame`.
+
+* Alignment is occasionally useful when logical correspondence is to be highlighted:
+
+```lua
+-- okay
+sys_command(form, UI_FORM_UPDATE_NODE, "a",      FORM_NODE_HIDDEN,  false)
+sys_command(form, UI_FORM_UPDATE_NODE, "sample", FORM_NODE_VISIBLE, false)
+```
+
+## Typing
+
+* In non-performance critical code, it can be useful to add type-checking assertions
+for function arguments:
+
+```lua
+function manif.load_manifest(repo_url, lua_version)
+   assert(type(repo_url) == "string")
+   assert(type(lua_version) == "string" or not lua_version)
+
+   -- ...
+end
+```
+
+* Use the standard functions for type conversion, avoid relying on coercion:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local total_score = review_score .. ""
+
+-- good
+local total_score = tostring(review_score)
+```
+
+## Errors
+
+* Functions that can fail for reasons that are expected (e.g. I/O) should
+return `nil` and a (string) error message on error, possibly followed by other
+return values such as an error code.
+
+* On errors such as API misuse, an error should be thrown, either with `error()`
+or `assert()`.
+
+## Modules
+
+Follow [these guidelines](http://hisham.hm/2014/01/02/how-to-write-lua-modules-in-a-post-module-world/) for writing modules. In short:
+
+* Always require a module into a local variable named after the last component of the module’s full name.
+
+```lua
+local bar = require("foo.bar") -- requiring the module
+
+bar.say("hello") -- using the module
+```
+
+* Don’t rename modules arbitrarily:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local skt = require("socket")
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Code is much harder to read if we have to keep going back to the top
+to check how you chose to call a module.
+
+* Start a module by declaring its table using the same all-lowercase local
+name that will be used to require it. You may use an LDoc comment to identify
+the whole module path.
+
+```lua
+--- @module foo.bar
+local bar = {}
+```
+
+* Try to use names that won't clash with your local variables. For instance, don't
+name your module something like “size”.
+
+* Use `local function` to declare _local_ functions only: that is, functions
+that won’t be accessible from outside the module.
+
+That is, `local function helper_foo()` means that `helper_foo` is really local.
+
+* Public functions are declared in the module table, with dot syntax:
+
+```lua
+function bar.say(greeting)
+   print(greeting)
+end
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** Visibility rules are made explicit through syntax.
+
+* Do not set any globals in your module and always return a table in the end.
+
+* If you would like your module to be used as a function, you may set the
+`__call` metamethod on the module table instead.
+
+> **Rationale:** Modules should return tables in order to be amenable to have their
+contents inspected via the Lua interactive interpreter or other tools.
+
+* Requiring a module should cause no side-effect other than loading other
+modules and returning the module table.
+
+* A module should not have state. If a module needs configuration, turn
+  it into a factory. For example, do not make something like this:
+
+```lua
+-- bad
+local mp = require "MessagePack"
+mp.set_integer("unsigned")
+```
+
+and do something like this instead:
+
+```lua
+-- good
+local messagepack = require("messagepack")
+local mpack = messagepack.new({integer = "unsigned"})
+```
+
+* The invocation of require may omit parentheses around the module name:
+
+```lua
+local bla = require "bla"
+```
+
+## Metatables, classes and objects
+
+If creating a new type of object that has a metatable and methods, the
+metatable and methods table should be separate, and the metatable name
+should end with `_mt`.
+
+```lua
+local mytype_methods = {};
+local mytype_mt = { __index = mytype_methods };
+
+function mytype_methods:add_new_thing(thing)
+end
+
+local function new()
+    return setmetatable({}, mytype_mt);
+end
+
+return { new = new };
+```
+
+* Use the method notation when invoking methods:
+
+```
+-- bad
+my_object.my_method(my_object)
+
+-- good
+my_object:my_method()
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** This makes it explicit that the intent is to use the function as a method.
+
+* Do not rely on the `__gc` metamethod to release resources other than memory.
+If your object manage resources such as files, add a `close` method to their
+APIs and do not auto-close via `__gc`. Auto-closing via `__gc` would entice
+users of your module to not close resources as soon as possible. (Note that
+the standard `io` library does not follow this recommendation, and users often
+forget that not closing files immediately can lead to "too many open files"
+errors when the program runs for a while.)
+
+> **Rationale:** The garbage collector performs automatic *memory* management,
+dealing with memory only. There is no guarantees as to when the garbage
+collector will be invoked, and memory pressure does not correlate to pressure
+on other resources.
+
+## File structure
+
+* Lua files should be named in all lowercase.
+
+* Tests should be in a top-level `spec` directory. Prosody uses
+[Busted](http://olivinelabs.com/busted/) for testing.
+
+## Static checking
+
+All code should pass [luacheck](https://github.com/mpeterv/luacheck) using
+the `.luacheckrc` provided in the Prosody repository, and using miminal
+inline exceptions.
+
+* luacheck warnings of class 211, 212, 213 (unused variable, argument or loop
+variable) may be ignored, if the unused variable was added explicitly: for
+example, sometimes it is useful, for code understandability, to spell out what
+the keys and values in a table are, even if you're only using one of them.
+Another example is a function that needs to follow a given signature for API
+reasons (e.g. a callback that follows a given format) but doesn't use some of
+its arguments; it's better to spell out in the argument what the API the
+function implements is, instead of adding `_` variables.
+
+```
+local foo, bar = some_function() --luacheck: ignore 212/foo
+print(bar)
+```
+
+* luacheck warning 542 (empty if branch) can also be ignored, when a sequence
+of `if`/`elseif`/`else` blocks implements a "switch/case"-style list of cases,
+and one of the cases is meant to mean "pass". For example:
+
+```lua
+if warning >= 600 and warning <= 699 then
+   print("no whitespace warnings")
+elseif warning == 542 then --luacheck: ignore 542
+   -- pass
+else
+   print("got a warning: "..warning)
+end
+```
+
+> **Rationale:** This avoids writing negated conditions in the final fallback
+case, and it's easy to add another case to the construct without having to
+edit the fallback.
+