Is this skill specific to a particular C compiler?

No, the Context Struct Pattern is a standard architectural approach compatible with all C compilers and standards.

How does this skill improve C code quality?

It enforces clean architecture by making dependencies explicit and allowing multiple instances of the same module to run without state interference.

Where should the context parameter be placed?

Following standard C conventions, the context pointer (e.g., ctx) should be the first parameter in your function signatures.

What is the Context Struct Pattern?

It is a C design pattern where state is passed explicitly as a struct pointer to functions rather than using global variables, typically as the first parameter.

Can this skill help with unit testing?

Yes, by passing state via pointers, you can easily inject mock contexts into functions to test specific logic scenarios without side effects.

C Context Struct Pattern

Name: C Context Struct Pattern
Author: mgreenly

bymgreenly

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Herramientas para Desarrolladores

Implements state-safe C development by replacing global variables with explicit context struct pointers.

Acerca de

The Context Struct Pattern skill provides Claude with specific architectural guidance for C programming, emphasizing the use of explicit state management over global variables. By mandating that the first parameter of every function is a context struct (such as ik_repl_ctx_t), this skill enables developers to eliminate global state, support multiple concurrent instances of a module, and significantly improve code testability through dependency injection. It is an essential pattern for building robust, scalable C systems like REPLs, terminal emulators, and complex runtime environments where state isolation is critical.

Características Principales

Explicit dependency management for modular code
Support for multiple concurrent module instances
Elimination of global state in C modules
1 GitHub stars
Enhanced unit testing via mock context injection
Standardized function signatures with context-first parameters

Casos de Uso

Refactoring legacy C code to remove global variable dependencies
Building testable C libraries that require explicit state isolation
Designing modular REPL or terminal components for C applications

Acerca de

Características Principales

Explicit dependency management for modular code
Support for multiple concurrent module instances
Elimination of global state in C modules
1 GitHub stars
Enhanced unit testing via mock context injection
Standardized function signatures with context-first parameters

Casos de Uso

Refactoring legacy C code to remove global variable dependencies
Building testable C libraries that require explicit state isolation
Designing modular REPL or terminal components for C applications