CONTRIBUTING.md

Contributing

30 seconds of code is a community effort, so feel free to contribute in any way you can. Every contribution helps!

Here's what you can do to help:

• Open issues for things you want to see added or modified.
• Be part of the discussion by helping out with existing issues or talking on our gitter channel.
• Submit pull requests with snippets you have created (see below for guidelines).
• Tag uncategorized snippets by running npm run tagger and adding the appropriate tag next to the script name in tag_database.
• Fix typos in existing snippets, improve snippet descriptions and explanations or provide better examples.

Snippet submission and Pull request guidelines

• DO NOT MODIFY THE README.md FILE! Make changes to individual snippet files. You can optionally run npm run builder to update the README.md file automatically, based on the changes you have made.
• DO NOT MODIFY THE index.html FILE! Make changes to individual snippet files. You can optionally run npm run webber to update the index.md file automatically, based on the changes you have made.
• Snippet filenames must correspond to the title of the snippet. For example, if your snippet is titled ### awesomeSnippet the filename should be awesomeSnippet.md.
  • Use camelCase, not kebab-case or snake_case.
  • Avoid capitalization of words, except if the whole word is capitalized (e.g. URL should be capitalized in the filename and the snippet title).
• Snippet titles should have be the same as the name of the function that is present in the snippet.
  • All snippet titles must be prefixed with ### and be at the very first line of your snippet.
  • Snippet titles must be unique (although if you cannot find a better title, just add some placeholder at the end of the filename and title and we will figure it out).
  • Follow snippet titles with an empty line.
• Snippet descriptions must be short and to the point. Try to explain what the snippet does and how the snippet works and what Javascript features are used. Remember to include what functions you are using and why.
  • Follow snippet descriptions with an empty line.
• Snippet code must be enclosed inside ```js and ```.
  • Remember to start your snippet's code on a new line below the opening backticks.
  • Use ES6 notation to define your function. For example const myFunction = ( arg1, arg2 ) => { }.
  • Please use Javacript Semi-Standard Style.
  • Try to keep your snippets' code short and to the point. Use modern techniques and features. Make sure to test your code before submitting.
  • All snippets must be followed by one (more if necessary) test case after the code, in a new block enclosed inside ```js and ```. The syntax for this is myFunction('testInput') // 'testOutput'. Use multiline examples only if necessary.
  • Try to make your function name unique, so that it does not conflict with existing snippets.
  • Snippet functions do not have to handle errors in input, unless it's necessary (e.g. a mathematical function that cannot be extended to negative numbers should handle negative input appropriately).
• Snippets should be short (usually below 10 lines). If your snippet is longer than that, you can still submit it, and we can help you shorten it or figure out ways to improve it.
• Snippets should solve real-world problems, no matter how simple.
• Snippets should be abstract enough to be applied to different scenarios.
• It is not mandatory but highly appreciated if you provide test cases and/or performance tests (we recommend using jsPerf).
• You can start creating a new snippet, by using the snippet template to format your snippets.
• Updating the index.html or README.md files should only be done by altering the scripts in the scripts folder or altering their relative static parts in the static-parts folder.

Additional guidelines and conventions regarding snippets

• When describing snippets, refer to methods, using their full name. For example, use Array.reduce(), instead of reduce().
• If your snippet contains argument with default parameters, explain what happens if they are omitted when calling the function and what the default case is.
• If your snippet uses recursion, explain the base cases.
• Always use const functionName for function definitions.
• Use variables only when necessary. Prefer const when the values are not altered after assignment, otherwise, use let. Avoid using var.
• Use camelCase for function and variable names if they consist of more than one word.
• Try to give meaningful names to variables. For example use letter, instead of lt. Some exceptions to convention are:
  • arr for arrays (usually as the snippet function's argument).
  • str for strings.
  • n for a numeric value (usually as the snippet function's argument).
  • el for DOM elements (usually as the snippet function's argument).
  • val or v for value (usually when iterating a list, mapping, sorting etc.).
  • acc for accumulators in Array.reduce().
  • (a,b) for the two values compared when using Array.sort().
  • i for indexes.
  • func for function arguments.
  • nums for arrays of numbers.
• Use () if your function takes no arguments.
• Use _ if an argument inside some function (e.g. Array.reduce()) is not used anywhere in your code.
• Specify default parameters for arguments, if necessary. It is preferred to put default parameters last unless you have pretty good reason not to.
• If your snippet's function takes variadic arguments, use ...args (although in certain cases, it might be needed to use a different name).
• If your snippet function's body is a single statement, omit the return keyword and use an expression instead.
• Always use soft tabs (2 spaces), never hard tabs.
• Omit curly braces ({ and }) whenever possible.
• Always use single quotes for string literals. Use template literals, instead, if necessary.
• If your snippet's code is short enough (around 80 characters), you can make it a single-line function (although not mandatory). Otherwise, use multiple lines.
• Prefer using Array methods whenever possible.
• Prefer Array.concat() instead of Array.push() when working with Array.reduce().
• Use strict equality checking (=== and !== instead of == and !=), unless you specifically have reason not to.
• Prefer using the ternary operator (condition ? trueResult : falseResult) instead of if else statements whenever possible.
• Avoid nesting ternary operators (but you can do it if you feel like you should).
• You should define multiple variables on the same line (e.g. const x = 0, y = 0) on the same line whenever possible.
• Do not use trailing or leading underscores in variable names.
• Use dot notation (object.property) for object properties, when possible. Use bracket notation (object[variable]) when accessing object properties using a variable.
• Use arrow functions as much as possible, except when you can't.
• Use semicolons whenever necessary. If your snippet function's body is a single statement, return an expression and add a semicolon at the end.
• Leave a single space after a comma (,) character.
• Try to strike a balance between readability, brevity, and performance.
• Never use eval(). Your snippet will be disqualified immediately.