diff --git a/doc/examples.dox b/doc/examples.dox
index d32f4b956..da4f371bc 100644
--- a/doc/examples.dox
+++ b/doc/examples.dox
@@ -143,9 +143,9 @@
  */
 
 /** \example simple/simple2.c
- * This application generates, refines, and adjusts an internally set
- * geometry. The resulting VTK files visually present each stage of the
- * mesh modification procedure.
+ * This application generates, refines, and adjusts a mesh set on the command line.
+ * The resulting VTK files visually present each stage of the mesh
+ * modification procedure.
  *
  * Usage:
  *    > `p4est_simple <configuration> <level>`
diff --git a/example/simple/simple2.c b/example/simple/simple2.c
index 9363f5b61..289da0fc7 100644
--- a/example/simple/simple2.c
+++ b/example/simple/simple2.c
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   p4est_coarsen_t     coarsen_fn;
   simple_config_t     config;
   const simple_regression_t *r;
-  int                 nbrick_x=1, nbrick_y=1;
+  int                 nbrick_x = 1, nbrick_y = 1;
 
   /* initialize MPI and p4est internals */
   mpiret = sc_MPI_Init (&argc, &argv);
@@ -395,8 +395,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   /* create connectivity and forest structures */
   geom = NULL;
   if (config == P4EST_CONFIG_BRICK) {
-    nbrick_x = argc > 3 ? atoi(argv[3]) : 3;
-    nbrick_y = argc > 4 ? atoi(argv[4]) : 2;
+    nbrick_x = argc > 3 ? atoi (argv[3]) : 3;
+    nbrick_y = argc > 4 ? atoi (argv[4]) : 2;
     connectivity = p4est_connectivity_new_brick (nbrick_x, nbrick_y, 0, 0);
   }
   else if (config == P4EST_CONFIG_THREE || config == P4EST_CONFIG_EVIL3) {
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   p4est_balance (p4est, P4EST_CONNECT_FULL, init_fn);
   P4EST_ASSERT (p4est_checksum (p4est) == crc);
 #endif
-  
+
   /* print and verify forest checksum */
   P4EST_GLOBAL_STATISTICSF ("Tree checksum 0x%08x\n", crc);
   if (mpi->mpirank == 0) {
diff --git a/example/simple/simple3.c b/example/simple/simple3.c
index 4f9528eb0..bdee6b25a 100644
--- a/example/simple/simple3.c
+++ b/example/simple/simple3.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   p8est_coarsen_t     coarsen_fn;
   simple_config_t     config;
   const simple_regression_t *r;
-  int                 nbrick_x=1, nbrick_y=1, nbrick_z=1;
+  int                 nbrick_x = 1, nbrick_y = 1, nbrick_z = 1;
 
   /* initialize MPI and p4est internals */
   mpiret = sc_MPI_Init (&argc, &argv);
@@ -256,10 +256,11 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   /* create connectivity and forest structures */
   geom = NULL;
   if (config == P8EST_CONFIG_BRICK) {
-    nbrick_x = argc > 3 ? atoi(argv[3]) : 3;
-    nbrick_y = argc > 4 ? atoi(argv[4]) : 2;
-    nbrick_z = argc > 5 ? atoi(argv[5]) : 1;
-    connectivity = p8est_connectivity_new_brick (nbrick_x, nbrick_y, nbrick_z, 0, 0, 0);
+    nbrick_x = argc > 3 ? atoi (argv[3]) : 3;
+    nbrick_y = argc > 4 ? atoi (argv[4]) : 2;
+    nbrick_z = argc > 5 ? atoi (argv[5]) : 1;
+    connectivity =
+      p8est_connectivity_new_brick (nbrick_x, nbrick_y, nbrick_z, 0, 0, 0);
   }
   else if (config == P8EST_CONFIG_PERIODIC) {
     connectivity = p8est_connectivity_new_periodic ();