I have tried almost every IDE listed here, but none of them provide code completion.
As a Flex developer I am used to code completion in Flash Builder. It saves tons of time and helps with spelling errors.
Does anybody know about IDE with code completion for Cappuccino? Is is difficult to create, or it is simply not as important for everybody as it is important for me?
Our company is gonna use Cappuccino heavily, and thus I don't mind to ask one developer to volunteer and create some kind of Eclipse plugin. Just let me know, how important it is and how difficult it would be.
There's no full IDE support that I know of, but several text editors have support. Coda ships with it, and there exist textmate and sublime text plugins (Several of the core team members use Sublime, and I hear it's pretty good.) https://github.com/aparajita/Cappuccino-Sublime
Also, unfortunately, the website is a pretty poor resource for finding relevant content, it works for some old stuff that hasn't changed (like the tutorials), but things like debugging and editors the info is almost certainly out of date because of how rapidly these things are changing.
Related
Back in the old days, Help was not trivial but possible: generate some funky .rtf file with special tags, run it through a compiler, and you got a WinHelp file (.hlp) that actually works really well.
Then, Microsoft decided that WinHelp was not hip and cool anymore and switched to CHM, up to the point they actually axed WinHelp from Vista.
Now, CHM maybe nice, but everyone that tried to open a .chm file on the Network will know the nice "Navigation to the webpage was canceled" screen that is caused by security restrictions.
While there are ways to make CHM work off the network, this is hardly a good choice, because when a user presses the Help Button he wants help and not have to make some funky settings
Bottom Line: I find CHM absolutely unusable. But with WinHelp not being an option anymore either, I wonder what the alternatives are, especially when it comes to integrate with my Application (i.e. for WinHelp and CHM there are functions that allow you to directly jump to a topic)?
PDF has the disadvantage of requiring the Adobe Reader (or one of the more lightweight ones that not many people use). I could live with that seeing as this is kind of standard nowadays, but can you tell it reliably to jump to a given page/anchor?
HTML files seem to be the best choice, you then just have to deal with different browsers (CSS and stuff).
Edit: I am looking to create my own Help Files. As I am a fan of the "No Setup, Just Extract and Run" Philosophy, i had that problem many times in the past because many of my users will run it off the network, which causes exactly this problem.
So i am looking for a more robust and future-proof way to provide help to my users without having to code a different help system for each application i make.
CHM is a really nice format, but that Security Stuff makes it unusable, as a Help system is supposed to provide help to the user, not to generate even more problems.
Yep, at some point they want to add behaviour to their help files which makes it a security issue and guess what happens, the remedy being often worse than the threat.
Or it's too simple or too complicated and being replaced by something new without caring for backward compatibility.
If you want it really simple and build for the ages go for .TXT
You didn't specify what your apps are coded in so it depends.
If it's a web app, plain HTML would be the best choice, for a help file you don't need special features or javascript so being browser independant should be straightforward. But also for desktop apps HTML, on- or offline are often used with good results.
PDF is the other general solution, and yes you can jump to specific pages, see this answer. Every pc has (or should) one client or the other installed, I wouldn't worry about that. I myself never choose Acrobat Reader, faster, sompler and often better solutions are available, my favorite is Sumatra.
I'm sure .Net apps have their own help system (no experience here) and many languages have options to display tooltips, windows or pages with help either by pressing a hotkey (F1) or clicking some control dialog.
I have been scrambling to find a good way to edit/run AS3 on Mac for free. AXDT for eclipse won't install, and for a while I was using Sublime text + Terminal but it sucked cause of no code completion. Any ideas? Obviously FD is out of the question, being Windows only.
Currently, there are no entirely free ActionScript IDEs for the Mac. There are, however, some solutions you could use, depending on what you're working on and what other language support features you need, other than simple code completion:
If you're working on open source stuff, you should take a look at IntelliJ IDEA, which is free for OSS projects.
Also, FDT has a free version, but it does not include advanced refactoring, as well as a number of other functions.
If you don't need project management, refactoring and such, you could keep using a text editor and compile via the command line. There is an ActionScript 3 syntax file for vim, and an ActionScript mode for Emacs.
If you're going to work with ActionScript (semi-)professionally, I would strongly recommend you reconsider paying for a good solution, though. There is so much more to a good IDE than just text highlighting and code completion!
IDEA, for example, actually helps you write better code in many ways: By enabling you to run unit tests (as suites, as single test class, and even as a single test method) directly from the editor window; by including highly advanced refactoring features, such as "change signature", "extract interface" or "inline method"; by analyzing what you write, and offering alternatives, etc.etc.
And then, of course, there's all the things that have nothing to do with the language itself, but make your life as a developer much easier: version control and issue tracking integration, build tools, dependency management, just to name a few.
If you're going to make any money with your code - and I mean, ANY money - a good IDE will earn its price quickly, probably even within a day's work.
I think this is a project in future though not very near (I have other project I'm working on) but as I always do, I love to ask questions and get clear view of what is facing me and may be slowly learn some useful things. I am a fan of netbeans (Because so far is the only IDE that can meet my need) for PHP coding but it is very resource hunger. MAC people are blessed with Nice IDEs like Coda, TextMate et al. I though in future I would code an IDE and if thing goes wel I may well sell it :)
Now My question is, what one needs to know to code such an editor?
I know how to make GUI and events interaction in wxWidgets and I know there is wxSTC for making editors but I lack general knowledge of what is needed to make full fledged PHP editor (adding there by Javascript/Html support).
Google didn't help much, may be I'm using wrong keyewords
Thanks for direction and/or help
I went with wxSTC. The Wiki docs were helpful to start with, then scintilla docs and finally wxSTC Docs at yellowbrain are wonderful!
So far I'm really impressed with Espresso, but it doesn't seem to offer any auto-formatting (by which I'm spoiled by Visual Studio). Are there any general code editors for Mac that support this? Specifically I'm interested in PHP and JavaScript, but curious to know about any options that might exist.
I've found Dreamweaver to be a great development platform on the Mac for PHP and Javascript. I'm not sure if you have access to it, but if it is a possibility, at least give it a test run. It does code highlighting, etc. that makes it much easier to code. The price, however, does make it a problem for most people.
In that case, you could try BBEdit. I've heard good things from people who would know but I personally have not used it (I have Dreamweaver through my company). It does auto-complete and a bunch of other nice things. It only costs $99 so it isn't too bad. Here is the link to the site:
http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/
I like TextMate. It’s powerful and inexpensive.
I may have found a good one from this answer, Aptana Studio. Looks like it's free/open-source, multi-platform, and supports code formatting for things like JavaScript and PHP.
I'll try it out and post back the results!
Update: While the app is okay and does offer some handy formatting, it's unfortunately clumsy and has some really annoying interface behavior (like code completion that won't go away and appears at the worst possible times) and a horrible options dialog, so it's not an ideal solution.
In my department, we are currently using ReSharper 4.0 and deciding whether to upgrade to 4.5 upon its release next week. I personally am a huge fan of ReSharper however a number of my colleagues have pointed out that they have been using a plug in from DevExpress called Refactor Pro that performs similar functionality.
http://www.devexpress.com/Refactor
http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/beta.html
Has anyone previously compared these tools and hold any strong views on which tool would give us the greatest increase in productivity and why?
In my department, we also use ReSharper. Today, I installed 4.5, but had already used 3.something, 4.0 and 4.1 before. It really offers many great refactoring and code-writing supporting functions, renaming methods and functions, reordering parameters...
What I really like is that according to your corporate code style, you can configure ReSharper to give you hints on style violations in different severity levels (and quickly apply according changes, like MS StyleCop, but much easier to configure and more subtle).
My absolute favorite feature is Class-Searching by entering only the CamelCases, i.e. you type TSHWLOV and ReSharper will know that you mean the class from some referenced library named 'TerrificSearchHelperWithLotsOfVoodoo'.
Last year I have tried the DevExPress CodeRush/RefactorThis-Alternative, after I was quite impressed by the things that Oliver Sturm did with it on BASTA Spring 08.
The interface catchier and more impressive than Resharper, there are huge arrows flipping around your IDE and things like that, though the core functionality is rather similar.
I had the feeling that CodeRush is more focussed on code creation than on refactoring, i.e. more shortcuts for tasks like creating variables etc.
My favorite feature there was a sidebar, which always shows you all keyboard-shortcuts available in your current context. This makes you learn those commands quickly, where in ReSharper you have to look up most of them in nested submenus.
Both suites are really powerful and it after months of using them you will probably still discover new functions, which you have always needed without knowing it.
However, I decided in favor of ReSharper mostly because of I was more familiar with it and DevExpress was using much resources on my notebook and occasionally even slowed it down. By now, I use a much more powerful machine again, maybe I will give it another try soon.
I personally prefer CodeRush.
I find R#'s interface drives my (admittedly minor) OCD tendencies crazy. The little lightbulb insists on appearing on the far left of the screen, even if it's advice pertains to something in the middle or on the right. I find it garish and distracting.
By contrast, CodeRush's equivalent smart tag is lower contrast and smaller. It is therefore capable of locating itself within the code without distracting from said code. I find I can ignore this SmartTag when I need to, and it is always right in front of me when I decided I need it.
It is mainly this, that has prevented me from wanting to explore R# any further.
As far as CodeRush's feature set: Code Analysis, Refactorings, CodeProviders, Templates, TabToNextReference, QuickNavigation and many more.
I especially like CodeRush's extensibility which has allowed myself and several others to create many plugins for use within it. (http://code.google.com/p/dxcorecommunityplugins/)
CodeRush also has some top quality support and a very active community of users.
Certainly neither R# or CodeRush will suit all users. Every one has their own preferences. However, if you've not tried both, you should certainly do so.
If you come from the R# side of the equation and are looking to test out CodeRush, then you may find the compatibility plugin useful (http://code.google.com/p/dxcorecommunityplugins/wiki/CR_ReSharperCompatibility)
In addition CodeRush has a Free edition 'CodeRush Xpress' which Microsoft commissioned DevExpress to create, and which they have licensed on behalf of every user of Visual Studio 2008. This partnership will continue into VS2010 upon it's release.
If you have any questions regarding CodeRush you can find details for contacting me at the bottom of my community wiki page.
I should say that I do not work for DevExpress. I am what you might call a DevExpress MVP. To maintain this position, I answer questions in the DevExpress forums (and nothing else).
Everything I say is my own honest opinion.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me :)
I'm using DevExpress which has a lot of "hidden" functionality, so you need to read the manuals to know how to activate some of the functionality. I find it very passive and subtle.
I used ReSharper and found it buggy and very invasive in my coding style. Bracket-closing drove me nuts, it ignored my preferences and couldn't cope with how I write my lines of code - which may not be most efficient but it's one of those things that ain't gonna change!
I've tried both, and really didn't get along with ReSharper. I found it to be just too intrusive for my coding style. When I switched to CodeRush / Refactor! it was like I'd found the perfect aid to my productivity. The refactorings are, for the most part, exactly what I wanted to see from this kind of product.
It is, however, horses for courses and you may well find that you prefer ReSharper. The best advice I can give is to try the other products and see which you prefer.
The only correct answer is to use both, of course! I do. You need a beefy laptop though. If I had to choose only one, I'd choose ReSharper... I think the static code analysis is a lot better.
ReSharper has a lot of great features, and DevExpress has a lot of great features.
When you put the two together, you end up w/ whole lot of AWESOME.
You need to jump through a few hoops to make them play nicely together: http://frazzleddad.blogspot.com/2010/01/making-devexpress-resharper-play-nicely.html
R# 4.5 is a free upgrade if you have a 4.0 license. So I'd suggest to get and use it - changing the "productivity tool" is always a pain because you'll have to get used to different ways, keyboard shortcuts etc. of doing things - no matter how good the tool actually is.
I have a personal copy of Refactor Pro but I use R# 4.1 at work with the StyleCop add-in as that is the team standard tool. I like RfP's arrows and code positioning stuff which is better than R#. Otherwise the tools are very similar.
However, at this time, its the StyeCop add-in that swings it in favor of R# for me.
Cheers
Benjy