These rules apply to perl and php, unless otherwise mentioned.

• spaces instead of tabs
• indent is 4 spaces
• cuddled else:

  if ($a > $b) {
    $a++;
  } else {
    $b++;
  }

• Line-length: usually <80 characters, not more than 120 chars
• translate parameter from @_ to names in first line of sub

• POD(perl)/Doxygen(php) API documentation for modules, close to code
• POD(perl) documentation for scripts (pod2usage)

• variables: lower case, underscore splits words
• constants: upper case, underscore splits words
• functions: lower case, underscore splits words
• modules/classes: upper case first, camel case splits words

The following Perltidy configuration can be used as a guideline for formatting the code in Metamod.

# make some defaults explicit to document the decision
--indent-columns=4
--cuddled-else
--indent-block-comments
--paren-tightness=1
--square-bracket-tightness=1
--brace-tightness=1
--block-brace-tightness=0
-nbl
-nsbl
--static-block-comments

# deviations from the default
--maximum-line-length=120
--continuation-indentation=4
--opening-brace-always-on-right
--closing-token-indentation=0