Re: [PATCH v1] doc: change doc line length limit in contributors guide

[Thomas Monjalon <thomas@monjalon.net>]

12/05/2017 11:10, Mcnamara, John:
> From: Iremonger, Bernard
> > From: Thomas Monjalon
> > > 11/05/2017 18:11, Mcnamara, John:
> > > > From: Thomas Monjalon [mailto:thomas@monjalon.net]
> > > > >
> > > > > ...
> > > > > > -* The recommended style for the DPDK documentation is to put
> > > > > > sentences
> > > > > on separate lines.
> > > > > > -  This allows for easier reviewing of patches.
> > > > > > -  Multiple sentences which are not separated by a blank line
> > > > > > are joined
> > > > > automatically into paragraphs, for example::
> > > > > > +* Lines in sentences should be less than 80 characters and
> > > > > > +wrapped at
> > > > > > +  words. Multiple sentences which are not separated by a blank
> > > > > > +line are joined
> > > > > > +  automatically into paragraphs.
> > > > >
> > > > > Why not keep the recommendation of separating sentences?
> > > >
> > > > This isn't a recommendation. It is just pointing out that lines and
> > > > sentences are joined into paragraphs. Maybe that is obvious and
> > > > doesn't need to be stated.
> > >
> > > I'm talking about "The recommended style for the DPDK documentation is
> > > to put sentences on separate lines."
> > > I like this recommendation.
> > 
> > +1 for this recommendation
> > 
> 
> The problem is that almost no-one follows this recommendation.
> 
> An 80 character margin is a simple rule that most programming
> editors can enforce or handle automatically.
> 
> It is also what is recommended in OpenStack:
> 
>     https://docs.openstack.org/contributor-guide/rst-conv/general-guidelines.html#lines-length
> 
> The kernel doc guidelines don't have a length rule but their docs
> are wrapped at 80:
> 
>     https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/_sources/doc-guide/sphinx.rst.txt
> 
> The current DPDK "single sentence per line plus wrap at ~120 characters"
> guideline is unusual, not supported by editors and, with rare exceptions, not
> followed by anyone.
> 
> As such I think the guidelines should reflect how people actually
> write docs and submit patches, which is wrapping at 80 characters.

I am OK with 80 characters.
However, I think we should keep trying to explain that it is better
to wrap at the end of a sentence.

Example:
This long sentence with a lot of words which does not mean anything will wrap
at 80 characters and continue on the second line. Then a new sentence starts
and ends on the third line.

It would be better like that:
This long sentence with a lot of words which does not mean anything will wrap
at 80 characters and continue on the second line.
Then a new sentence starts and ends on the third line.