Name
STYL-03: Standardize module and program headers.
Synopsis
While you should generally keep comments to a minimum in your code (see [STYL-09: Comment tersely with value-added information.]), it’s extremely important to create and keep current a standard header for all programs. This header should contain, at a minimum, the following elements:
Version, author, and copyright information : What is the version of the code? Who wrote the program, who owns the program, etc.
Access information : Where is the program stored? On disk in a file? Within the database under a certain schema?
Overview : What does this program do?
Dependencies : What does this program need to have defined, or have access to, in order to run properly?
Algorithms : Are any algorithms of special note used in the program? If so, specify them and/or supply a more detailed description of the theory of operation (if there is one).
Scope : What application module(s) was the program written for (if it’s not a generic library-type of program)? Frequently, packages are backend components of a system with a complex frontend. For example, a set of packages might comprise the Payroll subsystem.
Modification history : What modifications have been made to the program? Include a line entry for each change to the program, showing who, when, and what. Put the entries in date-descending order, so that the most recent change is at the top.
Exceptions : What errors might be raised by the program?
You are best off defining this header ...
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