Automating C++ code formatting and linting with Docker

01 Oct 2023

tech

In modern software development, maintaining clean and consistent code is essential for productivity and collaboration. Manual code formatting and linting can be time-consuming and error-prone. However, with the help of Docker, we can automate these processes and ensure code quality across the team. In this blog post, we will explore how to set up an automated C++ code formatting and linting workflow using Docker.

What is Docker?

Docker is an open-source platform that allows developers to develop, deploy, and run applications using containers. Containers are lightweight and isolated environments that provide a consistent and reproducible environment for running software.

Setting up the Development Environment

To get started with automating C++ code formatting and linting, we need to set up the development environment with Docker. Follow these steps to set up the environment:

Install Docker on your machine by following the instructions provided on the Docker website.
Create a Dockerfile in your project’s root directory with the following content:
```
FROM ubuntu:latest
   
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y clang-format clang-tidy
   
WORKDIR /app
```
This Dockerfile uses the latest version of Ubuntu as the base image and installs the necessary tools clang-format and clang-tidy for code formatting and linting.
Build the Docker image by running the following command in your project’s root directory:
```
docker build -t cpp-dev .
```
This command builds the Docker image using the Dockerfile and tags it as cpp-dev.
Create a shell script named format.sh in your project’s root directory with the following content:
```
#!/bin/bash
   
docker run -it --rm -v "$(pwd)":/app cpp-dev clang-format -i -style=file /app/*.cpp /app/*.h
```
This script runs the clang-format command inside a Docker container, mounting the current directory as the working directory.
Create another shell script named lint.sh in your project’s root directory with the following content:
```
#!/bin/bash
   
docker run -it --rm -v "$(pwd)":/app cpp-dev clang-tidy /app/*.cpp
```
This script runs the clang-tidy command inside a Docker container, mounting the current directory as the working directory.

Automating Code Formatting and Linting

Now that we have set up the development environment with Docker, we can automate the code formatting and linting processes. Follow these steps to automate the processes:

Grant execute permissions to the shell scripts by running the following commands:
```
chmod +x format.sh
chmod +x lint.sh
```
Run the format.sh script to format all C++ source files in your project:
```
./format.sh
```
This script will automatically format the code according to the style defined in the .clang-format file in your project’s root directory.
Run the lint.sh script to perform static analysis and identify potential issues in your C++ code:
```
./lint.sh
```
This script will provide feedback on potential bugs, coding style violations, and other issues detected by clang-tidy.

Conclusion

Automating C++ code formatting and linting with Docker can greatly enhance code quality and team collaboration. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily set up a consistent and automated workflow for maintaining clean and error-free code. Remember to regularly run the code formatting and linting scripts as part of your development process, and your team will benefit from smoother code reviews and improved overall code quality.

#tech #C++