C Programming Experiments

A workspace for C programming experiments and learning.

Code formatting

clang-format

ClangFormat

On macOS, you can install clang-format using Homebrew. However, VS Code's C/C++ Extension Pack comes with integrated clang-format.

Clang-Format Style Options

LLVM Coding Standards

The code between a comment // clang-format off or /* clang-format off */ up to a comment // clang-format on or /* clang-format on */ will not be formatted. The comments themselves will be formatted (aligned) normally. Also, a colon (:) and additional text may follow // clang-format off or // clang-format on to explain why clang-format is turned off or back on.

I really like this section: Use Early Exits and continue to Simplify Code

indent

Using linux indent command:

format:
 indent -linux $(PATHS)*.c $(PATHS)*.h $(PATHT)*.c
 $(CLEANUP) $(PATHS)*~ $(PATHS)*~ $(PATHT)*~

VS Code setup

C/C++

C/C++ Extension Pack from Microsoft:

• C/C++ IntelliSense
• C/C++ Themes
• CMake Tools

In "Manage->Settings" (⌘,) search for "C_Cpp" (162 Settings Found).

See Editing and Navigating C++ Code and Customizing default settings.

You can format an entire file with Format Document (⇧⌥F) or just the current selection with Format Selection (⌘K ⌘F) in right-click context menu.

See Formatting.

The Visual Studio style is similar to:

BasedOnStyle: LLVM, 
UseTab: Never, 
IndentWidth: 4, 
TabWidth: 4, 
BreakBeforeBraces: Allman, 
AllowShortIfStatementsOnASingleLine: false, 
IndentCaseLabels: false, 
ColumnLimit: 0, 
AccessModifierOffset: -4, 
NamespaceIndentation: All, 
FixNamespaceComments: false 

Markdown lint

markdownlint by David Anson: Markdown linting and style checking for Visual Studio Code.

Configure

MD003 - Heading style

MD013/line-length : Line length :

Add in ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json:

    "markdownlint.config": {
        "MD003": { // Heading style
            "style": "setext_with_atx"
        },
        "MD013": { // Line length
            "code_blocks": false,
            "tables": false
        }
    },

VS Code March 2025 new features

VS Code March 2025 (version 1.99)

Agent Mode

• Agent mode is available in VS Code Stable. Enable it by setting chat.agent.enabled
• Extend agent mode with Model Context Protocol (MCP) server tools
• Try the new built-in tools in agent mode for fetching web content, finding symbol references, and deep thinking

Code Editing

• Next Edit Suggestions is now generally available
• Benefit from fewer distractions such as diagnostics events while AI edits are applied in the editor

Chat Features

• Use your own API keys to access more language models in chat (preview)
• Easily switch between ask, edit, and agent mode from the unified chat experience
• Experience improved workspace search speed and accuracy with instant remote workspace indexing

Notebook Editing

• Create and edit notebooks as easily as code files with support for edit and agent mode