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+# Angular Material Coding Standards
+
+
+## Code style
+
+The [Google JavaScript Style Guide](https://google.github.io/styleguide/javascriptguide.xml) is the
+basis for our coding style, with additional guidance here where that style guide is not aligned with
+ES6 or TypeScript.
+
+## Coding practices
+
+### General
+
+#### Write useful comments
+Comments that explain what some block of code does are nice; they can tell you something in less time than it would take to follow through the code itself.
+
+Comments that explain why some block of code exists at all, or does something the way it does, 
+are invaluable. The "why" is difficult, or sometimes impossible, to track down without seeking out 
+the original author. When collaborators are in the same room, this hurts productivity. 
+When collaborators are in different timezones, this can be devastating to productivity.
+
+For example, this is a not-very-useful comment:
+```ts
+// Set default tabindex.
+if (!$attrs['tabindex']) {
+  $element.attr('tabindex', '-1');
+}
+```
+
+While this is much more useful:
+```ts
+// Unless the user specifies so, the calendar should not be a tab stop.
+// This is necessary because ngAria might add a tabindex to anything with an ng-model
+// (based on whether or not the user has turned that particular feature on/off).
+if (!$attrs['tabindex']) {
+  $element.attr('tabindex', '-1');
+}
+```
+
+#### Prefer more focused, granular components vs. complex, configurable components.
+
+For example, rather than doing this:
+```ts
+<md-button>Basic button</md-button>
+<md-button class="md-fab">FAB</md-button>
+<md-button class="md-icon-button">pony</md-button>
+```
+
+do this:
+```ts
+<md-button>Basic button</md-button>
+<md-fab>FAB</md-fab>
+<md-icon-button>pony</md-icon-button>
+```
+
+#### Prefer small, focused modules
+Keeping modules to a single responsibility makes the code easier to test, consume, and maintain. 
+ES6 modules offer a straightforward way to organize code into logical, granular units. 
+Ideally, individual files are 200 - 300 lines of code.
+
+#### Less is more
+Once a feature is released, it never goes away. We should avoid adding features that don't offer 
+high user value for price we pay both in maintenance, complexity, and payload size. When in doubt, 
+leave it out. 
+
+This applies especially so to providing two different APIs to accomplish the same thing. Always 
+prefer sticking to a _single_ API for accomplishing something. 
+
+### TypeScript
+
+#### Provide function descriptions
+For functions that are more complicated than a simple getter/setter, provide at least a brief 
+sentence explaining what the function does and/or _why_ it does something.
+
+### CSS
+
+#### Be cautious with use of `display: flex`
+* The [baseline calculation for flex elements](http://www.w3.org/TR/css-flexbox-1/#flex-baselines) 
+is different than other display values, making it difficult to align flex elements with standard 
+elements like input and button.
+* Component outermost elements are never flex (block or inline-block)
+* Don't use `display: flex` on elements that will contain projected content.
+
+#### Use lowest specificity possible
+Always prioritize lower specificity over other factors. Most style definitions should consist of a 
+single element or css selector plus necessary state modifiers. Avoid SCSS nesting for the sake of 
+code organization. This will allow users to much more easily override styles.
+
+For example, rather than doing this:
+```scss
+md-calendar {
+  display: block;
+
+  .md-month {
+    display: inline-block;
+
+    .md-date.md-selected {
+      font-weight: bold;
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+do this:
+```scss
+md-calendar {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.md-calendar-month {
+  display: inline-block;
+}
+
+.md-calendar-date.md-selected {
+  font-weight: bold;
+}
+```
+
+#### Never set a margin on a host element.
+The end-user of a component should be the one to decide how much margin a component has around it.
+
+#### Prefer styling the host element vs. elements inside the template (where possible).
+This makes it easier to override styles when necessary. For example, rather than 
+
+```scss
+:host {
+  // ...
+  
+  .some-child-element {
+    color: red;
+  }
+}
+```
+
+you can write
+```scss
+:host {
+  // ...
+  color: red;
+}
+```
+
+The latter is equivalent for the component, but makes it easier override when necessary.
+
+#### Support styles for Windows high-contrast mode
+This is a low-effort task that makes a big difference for low-vision users. Example:
+```css
+@media screen and (-ms-high-contrast: active) {
+  .unicorn-motocycle {
+    border: 1px solid #fff !important;
+  }
+}
+```
+
+#### Explain what CSS classes are for
+When it is not super obvious, include a brief description of what a class represents. For example:
+```scss
+// The calendar icon button used to open the calendar pane.
+.md-datepicker-button { ... }
+
+// Floating pane that contains the calendar at the bottom of the input.
+.md-datepicker-calendar-pane { ... }
+
+// Portion of the floating panel that sits, invisibly, on top of the input.
+.md-datepicker-input-mask { }
+```