Think critically about how you set up all your file names. Plan ahead!
Be descriptive, not generic.
Avoid using generic file names that may conflict when moved from one location to another.
Be consistent—refer to tab on README files.
Limit the length—rule of thumb is max of 32 characters.
Files should include only letters, numbers, and underscores/dashes.
No special characters and no spaces; Use dashes, underscores, or camel case (like-this or likeThis).
Not all systems are case-sensitive. Assume this, THIS, and tHiS are the same.
Different systems have different requirements. Limiting the length of file names; only using letters, numbers, and underscores/dashes; and not assuming case sensitivity will keep you out of trouble.
Have a strategy for version control.
Do not overwrite file extensions.
In the USA we generally write dates in the format June 30, 2019. Well, the rest of the world is following ISO Standard 8601:
Think about it. Computers read left to right. To have your files listed in order by the date you will need to start with the year. Do not use only the last two digits. Use all four digits so we do not end up with another Y2K glitch.
If you are going to use numbers for version control remember to add leading zeros. Again, computers read left to right so if no leading zeros, computers will do their own thing and list the teens after number one instead of number two.
TIP: Use ordinal numbers (1,2,3) for major revisions and decimals for minor changes (1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2).
Some Common Elements to Consider Including in a File Name:
Some Common Elements to Consider Including in a File Name:
