Hybrid Compact Block Spacing: A Practical Coding Format for Readability and Refactoring

Writing clean and maintainable code is an art. While many developers adhere to established style guides, some find that customizing their formatting can improve readability and even expose opportunities for refactoring. One such approach is what I call Hybrid Compact Block Spacing (or you could call it Harlin's Compact Block Spacing -- Harlin is my first name :-D).

This technique blends compact formatting for simple statements with block spacing for multi-line code, creating a structured and efficient layout that enhances both readability and maintainability.

What Is Hybrid Compact Block Spacing?

Hybrid Compact Block Spacing is a hybrid approach to formatting code that balances compactness and readability by following these key principles:

Single-line statements remain contiguous – Simple, short statements are kept together without unnecessary line breaks.
Multi-line statements are spaced apart – Complex or multi-line expressions are given their own section with whitespace before and after, except when they begin a block within a function.
HTML attributes, especially class lists, follow an indented multi-line format – Keeping long attribute values structured without unnecessary extra lines.
No excessive blank lines in HTML between elements – Keeps the markup tight but readable.
If an HTML element's start and end can fit on one line, keep it that way – Avoid unnecessary line breaks for simple elements.

Why Use This Spacing Style?

This formatting approach has multiple benefits, particularly for developers who prioritize readability, maintainability, and refactoring efficiency:

1. Improves Code Readability

Compact code reduces unnecessary scrolling while keeping logic easy to follow.
Multi-line statements stand out, making complex operations easier to understand.

2. Encourages Refactoring

Blocks of code that take up too much space naturally indicate where a function might be extracted.
Helps spot redundant or overly complex code sections more quickly.

3. Enhances Debugging & Collaboration

Easier for developers to trace logic without excessive line breaks.
New contributors can quickly distinguish between simple operations and heavier logic.

Examples

Python Example

Here’s how Hybrid Compact Block Spacing applies to Python:

Without Hybrid Compact Block Spacing (Messy Formatting)

users = [user for user in database.get_users() if user.is_active and user.has_permission()]

for user in users:
    user_data = {
        'name': user.name,
        'email': user.email,
        'role': user.role,
    }
    print(user_data)
log_action("Processed users", len(users))

With Hybrid Compact Block Spacing

users = [user for user in database.get_users() if user.is_active and user.has_permission()]

for user in users:
    user_data = {
        'name': user.name,
        'email': user.email,
        'role': user.role,
    }

    print(user_data)

log_action("Processed users", len(users))

HTML Example

Here’s how this method applies to HTML and CSS class formatting:

Without Hybrid Compact Block Spacing (Messy Formatting)

<div class="bg-white rounded shadow p-6">
  <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
    <a href="{% url 'ui:features' 'docrepox' %}" class="flex items-center gap-2">
      <h3 class="font-bold text-gray-800 underline"> SECURITY </h3>
      <span class="material-symbols-outlined"> privacy_tip </span>
    </a>
  </div>
  <p class="text-gray-600">
    <span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="font-size: 22px !important;"> verified </span> Your data is safe.
  </p>
</div>

With Hybrid Compact Block Spacing

<div class="bg-white rounded shadow p-6">
  <div class="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
    <a href="{% url 'ui:features' 'docrepox' %}" class="flex items-center gap-2">
      <h3 class="font-bold text-gray-800 underline">SECURITY</h3>

      <span class="material-symbols-outlined">
        privacy_tip
      </span>

    </a>
  </div>

  <p class="text-gray-600">
    <span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="font-size: 22px !important;">
      verified
    </span> Your data is safe with modern encryption and user controls. <br>

    <span class="material-symbols-outlined" style="font-size: 22px !important;">
      verified
    </span> Fine-grained access controls to keep your data private.
  </p>
</div>

When to Use Hybrid Compact Block Spacing

This approach works best in situations where:

Code readability is a priority but you want to avoid unnecessary vertical space.
You frequently refactor your code and need a structure that highlights complex logic.
HTML attributes (like class) are long and need structured indentation.
A multi-line statement inside a function is not the first thing in a block; otherwise, no extra blank line is needed.

It may not be ideal for teams that follow strict style guides that enforce line-break-heavy formatting, but it can be a great personal formatting style for developers who like clean, structured code.

Final Thoughts

Hybrid Compact Block Spacing is an efficient way to organize your code, making it more readable, maintainable, and easier to refactor. It’s not a widely recognized style (yet), but if you find it useful, consider adopting it in your workflow.

What do you think about this formatting style? Do you use a similar approach? Let’s discuss in the comments!