Code Complete, 2nd Edition

Key Points

• Good variable names are a key element of program readability. Specific kinds of variables such as loop indexes and status variables require specific considerations.

• Names should be as specific as possible. Names that are vague enough or general enough to be used for more than one purpose are usually bad names.

• Naming conventions distinguish among local, class, and global data. They distinguish among type names, named constants, enumerated types, and variables.

• Regardless of the kind of project you're working on, you should adopt a variable naming convention. The kind of convention you adopt depends on the size of your program and the number of people working on it.

• Abbreviations are rarely needed with modern programming languages. If you ...