Basic Code Layout Question

Question

HI, I have a simple question, I've asked 3-4 different people and have had different answers from each of them.

Which code layout is better and used more?

does it really matter as long as it's consistent?

Which is seen as better practice in the world of working as a programmer?

Eg

A)

for(int i=0;i<8;i++)
{
    for(int p=0;p<8;p++)
    {
        if(array[i][p]->Equals(String))
        {
                    //Do Stuff
        }
    }
}

OR

B)

for(int i=0;i<8;i++){
 for(int p=0;p<8;p++){
  if(array[i][p]->Equals(String)){
                    //Do Stuff
                }
        }
}

Thanks, Tim

Answer 1

Several published style guides exist -- for example, Google's is here, and it mandates, for functions:

ReturnType ClassName::FunctionName(Type par_name1, Type par_name2) {
  DoSomething();
  ...
}

and for blocks:

if (condition) {  // no spaces inside parentheses
  ...  // 2 space indent.
} else {  // The else goes on the same line as the closing brace.
  ...
}

with similar examples for other blocks.

So, look around a few such style guides, pick one that's from a somewhat prestigious source and that you like, and if anybody objects to your style just say "oh, I picked it up from X" (where X may be Google, geosoft, or whatever other source you like (many more are listed here).