Use consistent, explicit, and well-documented formats in all configuration files to improve readability and prevent misunderstandings. When defining configuration values: 1. Use consistent units for numerical values (e.g., prefer `2g` instead of `2048m` for memory settings) 2. Explicitly configure all necessary goals/options for build tools rather than relying on defaults 3. Be specific about file type configurations when appropriate rather than using overly broad wildcards Example: ```gradle // Gradle properties - consistent format for memory org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx2g // Build configurations - explicit plugin configuration plugins { id 'io.spring.javaformat' version "${javaFormatVersion}" } // Explicitly configure all required tasks tasks.named('format') { // Configuration here } // Editor configurations - specific rather than overly broad when needed // .editorconfig example with targeted file types [*.{java,xml,properties}] charset = utf-8 ``` Following these practices ensures configs are more maintainable, easier to understand at a glance, and less prone to unexpected behavior.