C491

C491 is a type of C programming style developed by Noel Dalisay, a renowned programmer. This style is designed to improve code readability and maintainability by following strict coding conventions.

According to the C491 style guide, the code should adhere to the following principles: each statement on a new line, one statement per loop, a table of contents to display source code, and every block statement on a new line. This means that each function should start on a new line, with the function name on a line by itself, followed by a line of spaces, and then the function body.

C491 recommends the use of parentheses for every if, while, and for control flow statements, unless the statement is within a block. The code should be indented with two spaces, and every clause must have its own block. Moreover, every executable statement should be wrapped in brackets even when used alone in conditional statements.

This style guide's objective is to present code in a consistent and neat manner, with the aim of making code easier to maintain and understand over time. Although it was not widely adopted, C491 remains a notable example of a coding style guide aiming to reduce code complexity and improve overall coding discipline.

C491 is often categorized as an example of what can be achieved with discipline and structure in coding styles. Despite the guide's relative obscurity, its influence can be seen in the evolution of other well-known coding styles and the general improvement in code quality over the years.