Consistency is very important when coding software programs. Ideally everyone on your team should follow a common set of coding styles. EditorConfig helps maintain consistent coding styles. Let’s see how it fairs with C#.

What is EditorConfig

From the EditorConfig website:

EditorConfig helps maintain consistent coding styles for multiple developers working on the same project across various editors and IDEs. The EditorConfig project consists of a file format for defining coding styles and a collection of text editor plugins that enable editors to read the file format and adhere to defined styles. EditorConfig files are easily readable and they work nicely with version control systems.

Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code and JetBrains Rider all support EditorConfig within their code editors. Using EditorConfig allows all team members to use a common coding style.

What does it look like?

Here is a sample EditorConfig file. The file name is .editorconfig and is stored in the root of the repository.

# top-most EditorConfig file
root = true

[*]
charset=utf-8
end_of_line=crlf
trim_trailing_whitespace=true
insert_final_newline=false
indent_style=space
indent_size=4
max_line_length=140

Applying the Styles

Microsoft Visual Studio

In Visual Studio 2019 a new Code Cleanup option exists (CTRL+K, CTRL+E) which applies code style settings. If you have JetBrains Resharper installed, you can also use CTRL+ALT+S to apply the Syntax Styles. However, I have found that CTRL+ALT+S applies more changes than what is defined in the EditorConfig file so I’d stick to (CTRL+K, CTRL+E).

NOTE You can install an Extension called “Code Cleanup on Save” that will apply the styles automatically when you save a file.

JetBrains Rider

In Rider, you can apply the styles using the Code Cleanup feature.

Default EditorConfig

Here is a Editor config you can try on a project. It represents the default settings from Visual Studio, with a few tweaks I prefer:

  • The max_line_length is set to 140 characters
  • The dotnet_sort_system_directives_first is true
  • There are Resharper settings included for handling braces:
resharper_braces_for_for=not_required
resharper_braces_for_foreach=not_required
resharper_braces_for_ifelse=not_required
resharper_braces_for_while=not_required

root = true

# C# files
[*.cs]

#### Core EditorConfig Options ####

# Indentation and spacing
indent_size = 4
indent_style = space
tab_width = 4
max_line_length=140

# New line preferences
end_of_line = crlf
insert_final_newline = false

#### .NET Coding Conventions ####

# Organize usings
dotnet_separate_import_directive_groups = false
dotnet_sort_system_directives_first = true

# this. and Me. preferences
dotnet_style_qualification_for_event = false:silent
dotnet_style_qualification_for_field = false:silent
dotnet_style_qualification_for_method = false:silent
dotnet_style_qualification_for_property = false:silent

# Language keywords vs BCL types preferences
dotnet_style_predefined_type_for_locals_parameters_members = true:silent
dotnet_style_predefined_type_for_member_access = true:silent

# Parentheses preferences
dotnet_style_parentheses_in_arithmetic_binary_operators = always_for_clarity:silent
dotnet_style_parentheses_in_other_binary_operators = always_for_clarity:silent
dotnet_style_parentheses_in_other_operators = never_if_unnecessary:silent
dotnet_style_parentheses_in_relational_binary_operators = always_for_clarity:silent

# Modifier preferences
dotnet_style_require_accessibility_modifiers = for_non_interface_members:silent

# Expression-level preferences
dotnet_style_coalesce_expression = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_collection_initializer = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_explicit_tuple_names = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_null_propagation = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_object_initializer = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_prefer_auto_properties = true:silent
dotnet_style_prefer_compound_assignment = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_prefer_conditional_expression_over_assignment = true:silent
dotnet_style_prefer_conditional_expression_over_return = true:silent
dotnet_style_prefer_inferred_anonymous_type_member_names = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_prefer_inferred_tuple_names = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_prefer_is_null_check_over_reference_equality_method = true:suggestion
dotnet_style_prefer_simplified_interpolation = true:suggestion

# Field preferences
dotnet_style_readonly_field = true:suggestion

# Parameter preferences
dotnet_code_quality_unused_parameters = all:suggestion

#### C# Coding Conventions ####

# var preferences
csharp_style_var_elsewhere = true:suggestion
csharp_style_var_for_built_in_types = true:suggestion
csharp_style_var_when_type_is_apparent = true:suggestion

# Expression-bodied members
csharp_style_expression_bodied_accessors = true:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_constructors = false:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_indexers = true:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_lambdas = true:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_local_functions = false:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_methods = false:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_operators = false:silent
csharp_style_expression_bodied_properties = true:silent

# Pattern matching preferences
csharp_style_pattern_matching_over_as_with_null_check = true:suggestion
csharp_style_pattern_matching_over_is_with_cast_check = true:suggestion
csharp_style_prefer_switch_expression = true:suggestion

# Null-checking preferences
csharp_style_conditional_delegate_call = true:suggestion

# Modifier preferences
csharp_prefer_static_local_function = true:suggestion
csharp_preferred_modifier_order = public,private,protected,internal,static,extern,new,virtual,abstract,sealed,override,readonly,unsafe,volatile,async:silent

# Code-block preferences
csharp_prefer_braces = true:silent
csharp_prefer_simple_using_statement = true:suggestion

# Expression-level preferences
csharp_prefer_simple_default_expression = true:suggestion
csharp_style_deconstructed_variable_declaration = true:suggestion
csharp_style_inlined_variable_declaration = true:suggestion
csharp_style_pattern_local_over_anonymous_function = true:suggestion
csharp_style_prefer_index_operator = true:suggestion
csharp_style_prefer_range_operator = true:suggestion
csharp_style_throw_expression = true:suggestion
csharp_style_unused_value_assignment_preference = discard_variable:suggestion
csharp_style_unused_value_expression_statement_preference = discard_variable:silent

# 'using' directive preferences
csharp_using_directive_placement = outside_namespace:silent

#### C# Formatting Rules ####

# New line preferences
csharp_new_line_before_catch = true
csharp_new_line_before_else = true
csharp_new_line_before_finally = true
csharp_new_line_before_members_in_anonymous_types = true
csharp_new_line_before_members_in_object_initializers = true
csharp_new_line_before_open_brace = all
csharp_new_line_between_query_expression_clauses = true

# Indentation preferences
csharp_indent_block_contents = true
csharp_indent_braces = false
csharp_indent_case_contents = true
csharp_indent_case_contents_when_block = true
csharp_indent_labels = one_less_than_current
csharp_indent_switch_labels = true

# Space preferences
csharp_space_after_cast = false
csharp_space_after_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
csharp_space_after_comma = true
csharp_space_after_dot = false
csharp_space_after_keywords_in_control_flow_statements = true
csharp_space_after_semicolon_in_for_statement = true
csharp_space_around_binary_operators = before_and_after
csharp_space_around_declaration_statements = false
csharp_space_before_colon_in_inheritance_clause = true
csharp_space_before_comma = false
csharp_space_before_dot = false
csharp_space_before_open_square_brackets = false
csharp_space_before_semicolon_in_for_statement = false
csharp_space_between_empty_square_brackets = false
csharp_space_between_method_call_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_method_call_name_and_opening_parenthesis = false
csharp_space_between_method_call_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_empty_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_name_and_open_parenthesis = false
csharp_space_between_method_declaration_parameter_list_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_parentheses = false
csharp_space_between_square_brackets = false

# Wrapping preferences
csharp_preserve_single_line_blocks = true
csharp_preserve_single_line_statements = true

#### Naming styles ####

# Naming rules

dotnet_naming_rule.interface_should_be_begins_with_i.severity = suggestion
dotnet_naming_rule.interface_should_be_begins_with_i.symbols = interface
dotnet_naming_rule.interface_should_be_begins_with_i.style = begins_with_i

dotnet_naming_rule.types_should_be_pascal_case.severity = suggestion
dotnet_naming_rule.types_should_be_pascal_case.symbols = types
dotnet_naming_rule.types_should_be_pascal_case.style = pascal_case

dotnet_naming_rule.non_field_members_should_be_pascal_case.severity = suggestion
dotnet_naming_rule.non_field_members_should_be_pascal_case.symbols = non_field_members
dotnet_naming_rule.non_field_members_should_be_pascal_case.style = pascal_case

# Symbol specifications

dotnet_naming_symbols.interface.applicable_kinds = interface
dotnet_naming_symbols.interface.applicable_accessibilities = public, internal, private, protected, protected_internal, private_protected
dotnet_naming_symbols.interface.required_modifiers =

dotnet_naming_symbols.types.applicable_kinds = class, struct, interface, enum
dotnet_naming_symbols.types.applicable_accessibilities = public, internal, private, protected, protected_internal, private_protected
dotnet_naming_symbols.types.required_modifiers =

dotnet_naming_symbols.non_field_members.applicable_kinds = property, event, method
dotnet_naming_symbols.non_field_members.applicable_accessibilities = public, internal, private, protected, protected_internal, private_protected
dotnet_naming_symbols.non_field_members.required_modifiers =

# Naming styles

dotnet_naming_style.pascal_case.required_prefix =
dotnet_naming_style.pascal_case.required_suffix =
dotnet_naming_style.pascal_case.word_separator =
dotnet_naming_style.pascal_case.capitalization = pascal_case

dotnet_naming_style.begins_with_i.required_prefix = I
dotnet_naming_style.begins_with_i.required_suffix =
dotnet_naming_style.begins_with_i.word_separator =
dotnet_naming_style.begins_with_i.capitalization = pascal_case

# ReSharper properties
resharper_autodetect_indent_settings=true
resharper_braces_for_for=not_required
resharper_braces_for_foreach=not_required
resharper_braces_for_ifelse=not_required
resharper_braces_for_while=not_required
resharper_enforce_line_ending_style=true
resharper_keep_existing_attribute_arrangement=true
resharper_keep_existing_embedded_arrangement=false
resharper_place_simple_embedded_statement_on_same_line=true
resharper_use_indent_from_vs=false
resharper_wrap_lines=true