add incomplete notes on code style

README.md

@@ -44,3 +44,79 @@ this project must be built on a host running Linux.
 if you are not running Linux, use a VM of some sort.
 i personally use VirtualBox running Alpine Linux.
 i have not tried building with WSL2.
+
+### Code Style
+
+this project encourages a heretical and horrifying style of code
+for its shell scripts. the intent is to chain `&&`s while facilitating
+trivial re-ordering of lines. for instance, a `RUN` command in a Dockerfile
+(which just executes a line of shell) might look like this:
+
+```sh
+RUN : \
+ && echo hello \
+ && note() \
+    { : \
+     && printf '\033[1m%s\033[m: %s\n' >&2 \
+        noted "$*" \
+     ;} \
+ && note '\\( o _ o )//' \
+;
+```
+
+*gratuitous explanation:*
+
+  * 4-space indentation is a must, since at least three characters
+    are needed to contain the operators on the left of each line.
+
+  * `:` is akin to the `true` command; it's used as a no-op
+    that only sets the most recent exit code (`$?`) to `0`.
+
+  * `\` continues the code to the next line;
+    the proceeding newline is removed and ignored.
+    this is purely superficial.
+
+  * `&&` is a short-circuiting operator that only evaluates
+    its right-hand side when `$?` is `0`. `&&` is preferred
+    over a simple semicolon because most programs use a
+    non-zero exit code to indicate that an error occurred,
+    whereas `;` will continue executing code,
+    even in the presence of an error.
+
+  * `||` is like `&&` but only executes when `$?` is *not* `0`.
+    **important:** `||` has a lower precedence than `&&`!
+    make sure to wrap your `||`s in braces unless you want to
+    capture *everything* before it. for instance:  
+    ` && { test -e myfile || touch myfile ;} \`
+
+  * leftmost `&&`s and `||`s are always centered within their 4-space indent.
+
+  * avoid using pipes (`|`) when possible, because only the
+    exit code of the final command in any pipe is respected.
+
+  * functions are declared (`()`) on their own line
+    without any braces or other commands.
+
+  * `{ :` is used to begin a multi-line block,
+    similar to how `RUN :` begins a shell command.
+    sadly, the space between the brace and the colon is not optional.
+
+  * ';}` is used to finish a multi-line block.
+    this is aligned with the preceeding `&&` and `||` operators.
+    thankfully, the space between `;` and `}` is optional.
+
+  * a final `;` is used to finish off the line-continutation.
+    this means that every line before it can end with a `\`,
+    which simplifies editing. when podman gives you strange errors,
+    double-check that you aren't forgetting the final semicolon.
+
+  * redirections are usually specified *before* a final list of arguments.
+    this makes skimming code easier when arguments extend across many lines.
+
+  * **TODO:** explain `if cmd ␤ ;then : ␤ ;fi`.
+
+  * **TODO:** explain `for cmd ␤ ;do : ␤ ;done`.
+
+  * **TODO:** explain `while cmd ␤ ;do : ␤ ;done`.
+
+  * **TODO:** explain `test`s.