Coding-Style.md

+# Coding Style
+
+_This is a draft_
+
+This document attempts to explain the basic styles and patterns that are used
+in the MathJax codebase. New code should try to conform to these standards so
+that it is as easy to maintain as existing code. Of course every rule has an
+exception, but it's important to know the rules nonetheless!
+
+This is particularly directed at people new to the MathJax codebase, who are in
+the process of getting their code reviewed. Before getting a review, please
+read over this document and make sure your code conforms to the recommendations
+here.
+
+# General practices
+
+* Don't leave debug logging lying around.
+* Use Unix-style carriage returns ("\n") rather than Windows/DOS ones ("\r\n").
+  You can convert patches with DOS newlines to Unix via the 'dos2unix' utility,
+  or your favorite text editor.
+* Use two spaces for indentation.
+* When fixing a problem, check to see if the problem occurs elsewhere in the
+  same file, and fix it everywhere if possible.
+* End the file with a newline
+* Declare local variables as near to their use as possible.
+* For new files, be sure to use the right license boilerplate (TODO: add a link)
+
+# Naming and formatting code
+
+## Whitespace
+
+No tabs. No whitespace at the end of a line.
+
+## Line length
+
+80 characters or less (for laptop side-by-side diffing and two-window tiling;
+also for github and hardcopy printing).
+
+## Indentation
+
+Two spaces per logic level. No tabs. No whitespace at the end of a line.
+
+## Mode line
+
+Files should have Emacs and vim mode line comments as the first two lines of
+the file, which should set indent-tabs-mode to nil. For new files, use this,
+specifying two-space indentation:
+
+    /* -*- Mode: Javascript; indent-tabs-mode:nil; js-indent-level: 2 -*- */
+    /* vim: set ts=2 et sw=2 tw=80: */
+
+## Control structures
+
+Use K&R bracing style: left brace at end of first line, cuddle else on both
+sides. Class and function definitions are not control structures; left brace
+goes by itself on the second line and without extra indentation, in general.
+
+## Names
+ 
+* use interCaps for names: updateStatusBar.
+* Properties of Jax object should be prefixed by the Jax name. For example
+  HTMLcreateSpan.