c# - Convention for Filenames of Generic Classes

Question

I want to be able to distinguish between a generic and regular (non-generic) version of a class. Much like the .NET framework does with it's generic and non-generic versions of several of it's interfaces and collection classes. (Queue, Queue(T))

I generally like to follow the convention of one class per file (as in Java). Is there a common convention for naming files containing a single generic class? I'm mostly interested in Windows (NTFS specifically) but it seems like a good convention would be (at least a little) portable.

Answer 1

Just found this question after looking for what conventions other people use for generic class filenames.

Lately I've been using ClassName[T].cs. I really like this convention, and I think it's superior to the others for the following reasons:

• The type parameters jump out at you a little more than they do with the Microsoft convention (e.g., ClassNameOfT.cs).
• It allows you to have multiple type parameters without too much confusion: Dictionary[TKey, TValue].cs
• It doesn't require you to create any special folders, or to have your generic classes in a special namespace. If you only have a few generic classes, having a special namespace dedicated to them just isn't practical.

I borrowed this convention from Boo's generic syntax, albeit slightly modified (Boo uses ClassName[of T]).

Some developers seem to have a phobia of filenames that contain anything but letters and underscores, but once you can get past that this convention seems to work extremely well.