Merge branch 'develop' into bug/JAL-1841rnaSecStr

[jalview.git] / resources / checkstyle / README.txt

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+Checkstyle for Jalview
+----------------------
+
+http://checkstyle.sourceforge.net/
+GNU LGPL
+
+To get the Eclipse Checkstyle plugin
+------------------------------------
+       - Help | Eclipse Marketplace
+       - search for checkstyle
+       - install eclipse-cs checkstyle plugin
+The current version is 6.19.1 (August 2016).
+
+Config
+------
+
+       File Jalview/.checkstyle holds configuration for the "JalviewCheckstyle" ruleset.
+       This includes confining its scope to src/*.java and resources/*.properties.
+       This can be modified interactively through the checkstyle properties editor.
+       
+       Checkstyle config files in resources/checkstyle:
+               checkstyle.xml          : main configuration file with selected checkstyle modules
+               checkstyle-suppress.xml : rules to exclude certain checks / files
+               import-control.xml      : package import rules
+       
+       Checkstyle error messages can be customised. I've done this for TypeName as an example.
+
+How to use checkstyle
+---------------------
+
+       Option 1: enable it for the Jalview project
+               - right-click on project | Checkstyle | Activate Checkstyle
+               - notice CheckstyleNature gets added to the .project file
+               - don't commit this file unless we all agree to!
+               - Checkstyle will run as you recompile changed code
+               - checking the whole project can be slow and may hang - not recommended for now
+
+       Option 2: on selected code
+               - right-click on a class or package and Checkstyle | Check code with checkstyle
+
+Checkstyle rules
+----------------
+       Documented at http://checkstyle.sourceforge.net/checks.html
+       Should be self-documenting in checkstyle.xml
+       Open for discussion:
+       - which rules to use
+       - what naming and layout standards to apply
+       - settings for complexity metrics
+       - whether any rules should report error instead of warning  
+       
+Gotchas
+-------
+       Sometimes checkstyle needs a kick before it will refresh its findings.
+       A whitespace edit in checkstyle.xml usually does this. There may be better ways.
+       
+       Invalid configuration files may result in checkstyle failing with an error reported
+       in the Eclipse log file. 
+       Help | Installation Details | Configuration takes you to a screen with a 
+       'View Error Log' button.
+       
+       Sometimes checkstyle can fail silently. Try 'touching' (editing) config files, failing
+       that, carefully check / back out / redo any recent changes to its config.
+       
+       Putting <!-- XML comments --> inside a checkstyle <module> causes it to be ignored!
+       
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