Can you measure coding style? Yes, it is possible, but don’t expect too simple results. The main complication is that there are plenty of strong opinions about what constitutes good coding style.

If you tell a colleague their coding style could be improved, you likely conjure up a passion you never knew the person possessed. It’s easier to have a dumb program calculate some metrics. All metrics are flawed one way or the other, but at least it’s neutral and everyone is sized up along the same scale. Continue »