C++ Programming: Conventions, rules and recommendations

The C++ programming language has evolved into a major tool for implementing large and complex programs. It is yet to be adopted by scientific community. This13; is largely due to historical reasons. Fortran continues to be the major tool. The fact13; that Fortran 90 borrows many ideas from C and C++ shows the need for a better tool13; even for scientific programs. This is because, the scientific software is no longer13; small. Therefore, the scientific community should benefit from the use of C++.13; Inherent complexity of a particular system to be implemented gives rise to the13; need for following some discipline while programming. This helps integrate modules13; seamlessly. It is generally possible to characterize this discipline in terms of13; programming conventions, rules and recommendations. A major portion of this13; document deals with this aspect.13; Writing programs has been, and still is, an art. We almost always relate art with13; style. Likewise, computer programs are distinguished in terms of the style of programming.13; Style is difficult to characterize, though. Admittedly, there are as many13; styles as there are programmers. Our own programming efforts in C++ has resulted13; in a certain style of coding. We have tried to characterize this under techniques.13; Naturally, the reader is free to develop her/his own rules, conventions and style. But,13; the rules, conventions and styles described in this document have benefited from a13; large body of programs available on the internet and books on C++. Therefore, it13; pays to follow the rules and adopt the described style, especially if you are a beginner.13; It is always profitable to build on some one elsex2019;s experience. This document13; reflects a sizeable portion of our experience with C++