This document is being replaced with: http://www.openldap.org/devel/programming.html and http://www.openldap.org/devel/contributing.html However, some of the info here is still useful. Coding guide lines and and hints for OpenLDAP developers. ========================================================= Please add to this file when new points come up. C source -------- OpenLDAP requires many Standard C features to *build*. This includes functional prototypes and offsetof macro. It is possible to *build* OpenLDAP with a number of C translators which are not fully compliant with Standard C. OpenLDAP supports compiling and linking *with* applications with most C compilers and libraries. The installed headers are designed to provide K&R C compatiable function declarations on non-standard compilers. In cases where the compiler does not define __STDC__ but requires prototypes (ie: MSVC), the application should define LDAP_NEEDS_PROTOTYPES. In cases where the compiler does define __STDC__ but does not support prototypes, the application should define LDAP_NO_PROTOTYPES. .c files in the OpenLDAP source tree MUST #include "portable.h" before any other include file, even system includes. portable.h may control aspects of system includes, such as whether or not thread-safe library functions are used. (Separate applications can't use portable.h, since it is not installed. They can use ldap_features.h, though.) .h files that are NOT INSTALLED may depend on features from portable.h. .h files that *are* installed (from include/) should not depend on it. Avoid unnecessary changes, like reindenting code, even if that leaves the code a little ugly. Often switching your editors tab stops to 4 or 8 may make code easier to read. Unnecessary changes make it harder to maintain and merge different CVS branches of the source. Please follow the style of surrounding code. Use feature-specific #if tests (like #ifdef HAVE_LWP) which configure can figure out, not system-specific test (like #ifdef __SunOS_5_6). When available, use include files from ldap/include/ac/ to get system features or functions. The files try to fix crippled system includes, and to hide #ifdef messes that portable programs need in order to find a feature. Note that a file is not necessarily designed to be equivalent to standard C's file. Nonstatic function and variable definitions in .c files should be preceded by their declarations in .h files. Avoid implicit function declarations. External declarations with should be avoided. In .c files, include the appropriate .h file to obtain the declaration. If the declaration is not available in any system header, add it to the most appropriate ac/xxx.h header. Do NOT add extern declarations to .c files. When a function returns non-void, it should return a meaningful value. Avoid implicit int. It is recommended that ldap_cdef.h macros LDAP_F and LDAP_P be used even for non-installed headers. See lber.h and ldap.h for examples. CVS updating ------------ describes how to check out -stable. To get the -devel (HEAD) branch, omit `-r OPENLDAP_STABLE'. You can use 'cvs status -v README' to get a list available CVS tags. Core members should subscribe to the -core mailing list. This list is for private discussions between core team members. The openldap-devel@openldap.org mailing list is the primary developer forum for both technical disscusions and coordinating efforts. Please test patches before committing. This should include compiling and linking the system AND running the test suite. In general, a patch/bugfix should be applied to -devel and tested. When the patch is considered stable, then it can be merged into -stable. Same goes for other release engineering branches (like OPENLDAP_REL_ENG_1_1). (-stable is rel eng 1.0). Specific procjects may get their own branches, to be merged later. Log messages: Just describe the change and reason. CVS adds your name, date, etc. Various tips and hints ---------------------- How to correct a CVS log message: Commit the unchanged files again with the `-f' flag and with a log message stating how the previous log was in error: cvs commit -f cldap.c os-ip.c Preferably, prepend a line something like this to the message: "Forced commit to correct previous log, files were not changed." Modify ldapconfig.h instead of ldapconfig.h.edit. Then `cvs commit' from the include directory won't accidentally commit your private ldapconfig.h.edit.