On: Google C++ style guide

[adamnemecek]

> Code coherence can be accomplished with more relaxed rules if you delegate more responsibility to your engineers.

Please elaborate.

[shin_lao → adamnemecek]

I think consensus through code review is better as compilers and languages evolve. If you write rules for everything you spend your time checking for compliance and perhaps rewriting rules instead of relying on a more organic code quality assurance.

You also want your engineers to think by themselves instead of hiding behind a rules book.

[cloudwalking → shin_lao]

Code style doesn't dictate what your engineers build, it just makes their code easier to review and maintain. Code smells, foreign conventions, and inconsistency all make reviewing and editing code harder.