Coding Standards

This chapter outlines the coding standards and best practices that should be followed when developing for this project. These standards aim to ensure code consistency, maintainability, and readability across the entire project.

Coding Conventions

  • Indentation: Use 2 spaces for indentation. This consistency improves code readability and helps developers quickly identify code blocks.
  • Naming Conventions: Adhere to the following naming conventions:
    • Variables: Use camelCase for variables, e.g., firstName, totalItems.
    • Functions: Use camelCase for function names, e.g., calculateAverage, renderComponent.
    • Components: Use PascalCase for component names, e.g., HomePage, UserList.
    • Constants: Use uppercase with underscores for constants, e.g., API_ENDPOINT, MAX_ITEMS.
  • Code Structure:
    • Components: Organize components into separate files within a dedicated directory.
    • Functions: Keep related functions grouped within the same file.
    • Data Structures: Use meaningful and descriptive names for data structures like arrays and objects.

Documentation

  • Code Comments: Use clear and concise comments to explain complex logic, non-obvious code sections, and important design decisions. Avoid redundant comments that simply restate the obvious.
  • JSDoc: Use JSDoc syntax to document functions, classes, and variables. This documentation will be automatically generated into API documentation.
  • Readme Files: Every directory containing code should include a README.md file describing its purpose, how to use the code, and any specific instructions for developers.

Formatting

  • Line Length: Limit lines of code to a maximum of 120 characters to enhance readability and prevent horizontal scrolling.
  • Semicolons: Omit semicolons at the end of statements.
  • Code Style: Utilize the Prettier code formatter to automatically format code, ensuring consistent style across the entire project.

Code Analysis and Linting

  • ESLint: Employ ESLint to enforce code style and identify potential issues during development. The project has a pre-configured ESLint configuration file that defines the rules and best practices to be followed.
  • Code Coverage: Use a code coverage tool like Jest to measure the percentage of code covered by unit tests. Aim for a high code coverage percentage (ideally 90% or above) to ensure thorough testing.

Testing

  • Unit Tests: Write unit tests for each individual function and component.
    • Use Jest for writing unit tests.
    • Focus on testing individual units in isolation.
    • Ensure tests are clear, concise, and easy to understand.
    • Use mocking to isolate dependencies and control test environments.
  • Integration Tests: Conduct integration tests to verify the interaction between different components and modules within the application.
    • Use Cypress for writing integration tests.
    • Test the flow of data and interactions across multiple components.
    • Include scenarios that test how the application behaves under real-world conditions.
  • Testing Pyramid: Maintain a well-balanced testing pyramid:
    • A broad base of unit tests
    • A smaller layer of integration tests
    • A limited number of end-to-end tests

Version Control and Branching

  • Git: Utilize Git for version control.
  • Git Flow: Follow a consistent branching strategy, such as Git Flow:
    • main branch: This branch should always be stable and represent the production-ready code.
    • develop branch: This branch is for active development and merging feature branches.
    • feature branches: Create a new feature branch for each new feature. Merge feature branches into the develop branch upon completion.
    • release branches: Create release branches from the develop branch to prepare for releases.
    • hotfix branches: Create hotfix branches from the main branch to address urgent bugs in production.
  • Commit Messages: Write clear and concise commit messages that explain the changes made in the commit.

Additional Resources

Refer to these external resources for further information:

Following these coding standards helps ensure that the project remains consistent, maintainable, and readable. It also facilitates collaboration between developers and promotes a high standard of code quality.