“astyle” is a powerful tool used for formatting, indenting, and beautifying source code written in programming languages such as C, C++, C#, and Java. It assists developers in improving code readability, ensuring consistent coding style, and making the codebase more organized and aesthetically pleasing.
Here are some key features and functionalities of “astyle”:
- Source Code Formatting: “astyle” analyzes the structure of the source code and automatically applies formatting rules to achieve a consistent and standardized layout. It adjusts indentation, spacing, line breaks, and other formatting aspects according to predefined or user-configurable style guidelines.
- Multiple Language Support: “astyle” supports several programming languages, including C, C++, C#, and Java. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for developers working across different codebases and projects.
- Configurable Style Options: The tool provides a wide range of customizable options to tailor the formatting according to specific coding style preferences. Developers can configure parameters such as indentation size, brace placement, line wrapping rules, and more to match their preferred coding conventions.
- Preserve Original Files: When running “astyle,” it creates a copy of the original source file with the “.orig” extension appended to the filename. This ensures that the original file remains intact while the formatted version is generated separately. This feature allows developers to review and compare the changes made by “astyle” before committing them to the code repository.
- Integration with Development Environments: “astyle” can be integrated into popular integrated development environments (IDEs) and code editors, providing a seamless experience for developers. By integrating “astyle” into their workflow, developers can easily format their code directly from the IDE, saving time and effort.
It’s important to note that “astyle” is an open-source tool, meaning that the source code is freely available for inspection, modification, and contribution. This fosters community collaboration, allowing users to suggest improvements, report issues, or even contribute to the ongoing development of the tool.
astyle Command Examples
1. Apply the default style of 4 spaces per indent and no formatting changes:
# astyle source_file
2. Apply the Java style with attached braces:
# astyle --style=java /path/to/file
3. Apply the allman style with broken braces:
# astyle --style=allman /path/to/file
4. Apply a custom indent using spaces. Choose between 2 and 20 spaces:
# astyle --indent=spaces=number_of_spaces /path/to/file
5. Apply a custom indent using tabs. Choose between 2 and 20 tabs:
# astyle --indent=tab=number_of_tabs /path/to/file