- Use consistent indentation throughout your code examples. Typically, two or four spaces are recommended for each level of indentation.
- Follow the language's conventions for naming variables, functions, classes, and modules.
- Maintain a consistent naming style, such as camelCase, snake_case, or PascalCase, depending on the language's conventions.
- Use meaningful variable and function names that describe their purpose.
- Use proper spacing around operators and punctuation to enhance readability.
- Include comments to explain the purpose and functionality of code segments.
- Use clear and concise comments. Avoid excessive comments that merely repeat the code.
- Comment any non-obvious or complex parts of the code to help readers understand the logic.
- Ensure comments are up-to-date. Update comments when you modify code.
- Keep code examples concise and focused on the specific topic or concept you're demonstrating.
- Avoid unnecessarily complex code or language features that could confuse readers.
- Break long code examples into smaller, digestible sections or steps, and provide explanations as necessary.
- Highlight important lines of code or key takeaways using comments or inline explanations.
- Include error handling and show how to handle common errors gracefully when applicable.
- Explain any error messages or exceptions that may occur and how to troubleshoot them.
- Declare variables before using them, and ensure they are initialized if required.
- Highlight variable assignments and their significance in your explanations.
- Be consistent with coding conventions, such as naming, formatting, and style, throughout your code examples.
- Use a consistent approach for importing libraries, modules, or dependencies.
- Maintain a consistent file structure and organization in your examples.
- Follow language-specific best practices and guidelines for code examples.
- Use idiomatic code constructs and patterns for the specific programming language.
- Whenever possible, include testing or verification steps to ensure the code examples work as expected.
- Encourage readers to test the code on their own systems and report any issues.
- Specify the version(s) of the programming language, libraries, or frameworks your code examples are compatible with.
- Mention any breaking changes or differences between versions if relevant.
- Include a clear statement about the licensing terms for your code examples.
- Attribute the source if the code is adapted from external sources or open-source projects.
- Organize your code examples logically, grouping related examples together.
- Provide a clear structure for code files, such as headers, imports, main code blocks, and comments.
- Ensure that code examples are platform-independent whenever possible.
- Specify any platform-specific instructions or dependencies if needed.
- Periodically review and update your code examples to keep them relevant and in line with the latest best practices.