Javascript Improvements

[haveben]

I purchased WebCoder 2009 primarily for its Javascript functionality. I have several suggestions for what I would like to see with improvements.

1) Color Coding - Currently, the color coding scheme is really minimal. I would like to see reserved words, strings, functions, numbers... the norm in a coding application.

2) Support for libraries - Make it smart enough to import a library and provide basic usage information so I don't have to always keep a reference handy. (YUI, GOOGLE, MOO TOOLS, Prototype, jQuery, Ajaxian, and the list goes on and on... we tend to use these to prevent having to re-invent the wheel)

3) Smarter Variable and Function list - It would be nice to not have a list of every variable used in every function, but rather a hierarchy using a tree menu. With the variables and functions, it would be nice if the hierarchy was able to accept notes about the functions and variables... Some of my pure Javascript pages are several thousand lines and it would be nice to make notes in the tree menu about variables and functions. Also, it would be nice to note if it is an array or variable. It would be nice to create and track member variables and functions of javascript (pseudo) classes.

4) Intellisense - it would be good to be able to see notes describing the functions and parameters.


There is a lot more, but this is a good start. I am pretty sure I would upgrade to 2010 if several of these have been addressed.

Thanks a bunch!
Ben

[KasperTSW]

Hi Ben,

>1) Color Coding - Currently, the color coding scheme is really minimal. I would like to see reserved words, strings, functions, numbers... the norm in a coding application.

Reserved words, strings and numbers are already there. I have added identifiers and brackets for the next version. Built-in functions are complicated due to the nature of JavaScript usually consisting of both built-in objects and the DOM functionality provided by the browser. What else do you want?

>2) Support for libraries - Make it smart enough to import a library and provide basic usage information so I don't have to always keep a reference handy. (YUI, GOOGLE, MOO TOOLS, Prototype, jQuery, Ajaxian, and the list goes on and on... we tend to use these to prevent having to re-invent the wheel)

I like the idea, but I will need your help for this. More information to come

>3) Smarter Variable and Function list - It would be nice to not have a list of every variable used in every function, but rather a hierarchy using a tree menu. With the variables and functions, it would be nice if the hierarchy was able to accept notes about the functions and variables... Some of my pure Javascript pages are several thousand lines and it would be nice to make notes in the tree menu about variables and functions. Also, it would be nice to note if it is an array or variable. It would be nice to create and track member variables and functions of javascript (pseudo) classes.

I think this should be done with documentation, e.g. JsDoc, which I would be happy to support and use in IntelliSense, if people want it

>4) Intellisense - it would be good to be able to see notes describing the functions and parameters.

Should be covered by my answer for #3

[haveben]

Have been testing Beta 3. I like the changes.

With #2 from the previous post, I would suggest incorporating some simple XML-type import feature for defining JS libraries. Put the functionality out there and I am sure your user's would be happy to contribute the files to define the libraries. You could just create another thread in the forum for users to post their definition files.

Would probably include:

• Library Name
• Major Version
• Minor Version
• Objects
  
  • Properties
  • Methods
  • etc.
• Functions
• etc.

[KasperTSW]

That's already possible and if you look in the beta forum, you will see that efforts have already been made to create a MooTools def file