If we follow K&R indentation, what is the standard way to indent a case with a block { ...} inside?

Example:

switch (a) {
    case FOO: 
        f("hello"); 
        break;
    case BAR: {
        ABC abc;
        DEF def = foo(&abc);
        g(&def, &abc);
        } 
        break;
    case BAZ: 
        h(0); 
        break;
}

Note: auto-indentation by Sublime makes it like this:

switch (a) {
    case FOO: 
    f("hello"); 
    break;
    case BAR: {
        ABC abc;
        DEF def = foo(&abc);
        g(&def, &abc);
    } 
    break;
    case BAZ: 
    h(0); 
    break;
}

which seems non-optimal in readability: case and break are on the same indentation, and it's difficult to see the blocks.

If we follow K&R indentation, what is the standard way to indent a case with a block { ...} inside?

Example:

switch (a) {
    case FOO: 
        f("hello"); 
        break;
    case BAR: {
        ABC abc;
        DEF def = foo(&abc);
        g(&def, &abc);
        } 
        break;
    case BAZ: 
        h(0); 
        break;
}

Note: auto-indentation by Sublime makes it like this:

switch (a) {
    case FOO: 
    f("hello"); 
    break;
    case BAR: {
        ABC abc;
        DEF def = foo(&abc);
        g(&def, &abc);
    } 
    break;
    case BAZ: 
    h(0); 
    break;
}

which seems non-optimal in readability: case and break are on the same indentation, and it's difficult to see the blocks.

• c
• switch-statement
• indentation
• conventions
• brackets

• IMO opinion the auto-indentation by Sublime is horrible, but I'm sure you can change the settings of the auto-indent so it meets your needs. – Jabberwocky Commented Feb 25 at 8:16
• I have not seen use of braces and variable declaration in a case block in K&R book, maybe was added with C99, but if you really insist I probably would do it as you did but indent the block content one step. I think Sublime is wrong, puttting the closing brace aligned with case implies the case ended there which is not true (the next case/default label ends a case block). – user7816881 Commented Feb 25 at 8:29
• 2 These kind of style-related questions will be regarded as off-topic on SO. You could ask them at software.codidact instead. – Lundin Commented Feb 25 at 8:52
• 1 Btw as per C23 you no longer need braces inside case to declare local variables there. – Lundin Commented Feb 25 at 8:57

1 Answer 1

Save time: the best indentation is to use your IDE's auto format and never use manual formatting. Assume others will auto format your code. It is simple not worth your valuable time to worry about "standard way to indent a case".