File name 19770705_Final_Draft_of_Programming_Conventions.pdfliller-Office Memorandum
To Wendell Shultz. David Liddl.e Date July 5. 1977
From Charles Irby location Palo Alto
Subject Final Draft of Programming Conventions Organization SDD/Sd
(hopefully)
XIROX SDD AROHIVES
XEROX I have read and understood
Pages_________ To ___________
Reviewer Date_____
Filed on: PC-Cover..b~avo
# of Pages' Ref .,ZZSAA - e:2 00
Attached. please find the final draft (hopefully) of the Programming Conventions section.
of tlte
SDO Policies and Procedures. I apologize for the long delay -- 1 was forced to give
highe~ priority to other activities.
In the reviews of this set of conventions, several things came lip that are not properUy part
of the conventions section but do require management attention. They are:
o The Mesa Source Formatter should be developed as soon as possible. Much
of the effect of these conventions will not be realized until the formatter
exists. Many bad habits and much improperly formatted code may result if
the formatter is delayed. (I regret having introduced an additional delay by
failing to publish these conventions sooner.)
o An improved version of Bravo is being developed. However, maintenance of
this central tool is still uncertain, I recommend that the Tools Group
accept maintenance responsibility ror Bravo 7.0 for SDO (and no one
else!). Also, a program should be developed that will print Bravo files of
thc stylized form we will be using directly from Maxc, the Alto exec, or the
Program Librarian. This program should be released along with the Source
Formatter. Again. 1 recommend that the Tools Group undertake this
development.
o Individual software projects arc being allowed the priviledge of specifying
their own naming conventions and othcr specialized cOllventions. In return.
each such project should publish the naming and other special conventions
it is using -- and keep this liP to date. Both the Diamond and Tools
Groups havc published slIch conventions. SOD Cv1anagcmenl will h:lve to
see to it that this is done with all projects. It has been suggested {hat |