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+# Developer Guidelines
+
+## Code Style
+
+### Existing non-compliant code
+The code that does not comply with these guidelines will be fixed in separate
+pull request(s). Any new contribution should follow closely these guidelines
+but should not change style in the existing GridKit code.
+
+### Error handling
+Return values of member functions should be of type `int` and used for error
+handling. Functions return 0 if no error is encounter, return positive value
+for warnings and recoverable error, and negative value for irrecoverable
+errors.
+
+### Output
+If an output is needed (for example, a warning needs to be displayed), use
+`std::cout` and not `printf` as shown below. There should be a space before
+and after each `<<`. If the line needs to be broken, the `<<` operators should
+be aligned:
+
+```c++
+std::cout << "index out of bounds. Row " << i << " starts at: " << start 
+          << " and ends at " << end << std::endl;
+```
+
+### File names
+
+Each class should be implemented in a `*.cpp` and a `*.hpp` files with
+the same name. Files containing collection of standalone functions should
+have a descriptive name starting with lowercase character.
+
+
+### Local variables naming
+
+Local variable names should use C-style name format.
+```c++
+double local_variable; // Yes
+double localVariable;  // No, using lowercase camel instead of C-style name format
+```
+
+### Member variables naming
+
+Member variable names should use C-style name format and end with trailing underscore `_`.
+```c++
+double member_variable_; // Yes
+double another_member;   // No, there is no trailing underscore to distinguish it from nonmember variables
+double memberVariable_;  // No, using lowercase camel instead of C-style name format
+```
+
+### Function names
+
+Use lowercase camel format for function names.
+```c++
+int myFunction(double x); // Yes
+int another_function();   // No, using C-style name format
+int YetAnotherFunction(); // No, using uppercase camel name format
+```
+
+### Class names
+
+Class names should us uppercase camel name format.
+```c++
+class MyClass // Yes 
+{
+  ...
+}
+
+class Matrix // Yes
+{
+  ...
+}
+
+class My_Class // No, using underscore in class name
+{
+  ...
+}
+```
+
+
+
+### Enums (enumerated types)
+
+Always define `enum`s inside `GridKit` namespace. Type names should be
+capitalized and the constant names should be uppercase with underscores
+(but there is no underscore at the end!).
+
+```c++
+  enum ExampleEnum { CONST_ONE = 0,
+                     CONST_TWO = 8, 
+                     YET_ANOTHER_CONST = 17 };
+``` 
+
+### Constants
+
+If a constant is used in more than one file, define it in `Common.h`. For
+constants with long names, use underscores to separate words in the constant
+name. Use all caps (screaming snake case).
+
+```c++
+   constexpr double Pi = 3.1415; // No, the constant name should be all caps
+   constexpr double SQRT_TWO = 1.4142 // Yes
+   constexpr double SQRTTWO_ = 1.4142 // No, there is a trailing underscore
+   constexpr double EXP = 2.7183 // Yes   
+```
+
+### Pointers and references
+
+The pointer `*` or reference `&` belong to the type and there should be no space between them and the type name.
+```c++
+double* x;     // Yes
+int& n;        // Yes
+double *x, *y; // No, the pointer symbol is a part of `double*` type
+int & n;       // No, the reference symbol is a part of `int&` type
+```
+
+### Indentation
+Use only spaces for indentation, not tabs. Indent size is 4 spaces.
+
+When defining a class, the code blocks after `private`, `public` and `protected`
+should be aligned with opening/closing braces. There should be an empty line
+before each definition (except the first one). See example below.
+```c++
+class SomeClass
+{
+public:
+  SomeClass();
+  ~SomeClass();
+
+private:
+  int some_variable_;
+
+protected:
+  void someFunction();
+};
+```
+
+### Braces
+All braces should follow Allman style:
+```c++
+namespace someNamespace
+{
+  //some code 
+}
+```
+For short functions (i.e., empty constructor), do not inline braces.
+```c++
+ClassA::ClassA()
+{
+}
+```
+Have opening brace at the next line following  `for`, `if`, or `while`
+statement. When using `else`, follow the example below. 
+```c++
+if (cond == true)
+{
+  // some code
+}
+else
+{
+  // some other code
+}
+ ```
+Have a space between keywords `for`, `while` and `if` and the parenthesis as
+shown here:
+```c++
+for (int i = 0; i < n; ++i)
+{
+  // some code
+} 
+```
+
+Do not use one-line `if`s and `for`s. Always use braces.
+
+### Use of spaces and newlines
+There should be spaces between arithmetic operators. 
+```c++
+x = c * (a + b);  // Yes
+x = c*(a+b).      // No, the clarity is better if there are spaces between
+                  // binary operators and operands.
+```
+When defining member functions, use one empty line between the functions.
+```c++
+struct MyStruct
+{
+  int memberFunction()
+  {
+    // some code
+  }
+
+  int anotherMemberFunction()
+  {
+    // some other code
+  }
+};
+```
+
+### Include files
+
+Leave one empty line between all the includes and the first line of the actual code. 
+```c++
+#include <iostream>
+
+int main()
+{
+  std::cout 
+}
+```
+
+Header files should be included in 3 separate blocks: standard libraries,
+GridKit external dependencies, and GridKit header files. There should be an
+empty line between the blocks. External libraries should use `<...>`, while
+GridKit headers should be included with `"..."`.
+
+```c++
+#include <iostream>    // Standard libs headers
+#include <cmath>
+
+#include <sundials.h>  // GridKit dependencies
+#include <idas.h>
+
+#include "Ida.hpp"     // GridKit internal header
+```
+
+```c++
+#include <cstring>
+
+#include <SparseMatrix/CooMatrix.hpp>
+
+int main()
+{
+  //some code
+  return 0;
+}
+```
+The `system` includes should always be listed first.
+
+### Long function names
+
+Function declarations and function calls should be written on a single line.
+If a function has large number of parameters, the function should be broken
+over multiple lines so that each function parameter is on a separate line.
+All parameters should be aligned with the first parameter in the function.
+
+```c++
+int myFunction(double x, double y); // Yes, function on a single line
+
+int myFunction(double x1,  // Yes, function parameters on a separate lines.
+               double x2,
+               double x3,
+               double x4,
+               double x5,
+               double x6,
+               double x7);
+
+int myFunction(double x1,  // No, function broken inconsistently.
+               double x2, double x3,
+               double x4,
+               double x5, double x6, double x7);
+
+int myFunction(
+  double x1,  // No, first parameter should follow the parenthesis.
+  double x2,
+  double x3,
+  double x4,
+  double x5,
+  double x6,
+  double x7
+);
+
+```
+
+### Initializer list in class constructor
+
+Short initializer list should follow the constructor on the same line with
+space around `:`. Long initializer lists should begin on the next line,
+indented and starting with `:`. Initializers should be aligned.
+```c++
+// Short initializer list
+MyClass(n, m) : n_(n), m_(m)
+{
+  // ...
+}
+
+// Long initializer list
+MyClass(n, m) 
+  : n_(n), 
+    m_(m),
+    pX_(nullptr),
+    pY_(nullptr),
+    pZ_(nullptr),
+    size_(0)
+{
+  // ...
+}
+```
+
+
+
+### Using namespaces
+All classes should be in namespace `GridKit`. If needed, define additional
+namespaces inside `GridKit`.
+```c++
+namespace GridKit
+{
+  class Solver  // Yes, class defined inside GridKit namespace
+  {
+    // some code; 
+  };
+
+  namespace LinearAlgebra
+  {
+    class Vector  // Yes, class defined inside GridKit namespace
+    {
+      // vector code
+    };
+  }
+}
+
+class Matrix   // No, class is outside GridKit namespace
+{
+  // matrix code
+};
+