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From: Charles Roper on 25 Feb 2010 03:23
Hi Friends,

I am doing a bit of research for a project I am helping out with - a
text editor - and the following question has been asked: what would your
dream API look like and be capable of? Obviously, the API will be
scriptable via Ruby.

I'd be very interested to hear what you guys think.

Many thanks,
Charles


From: Marc Weber on 25 Feb 2010 03:53
Hi Charles,

Jedit can be scripted in various languages. I bet they have JRuby
support.

Vim can be scripted in Ruby.

I don't know about Eclipse.

Writing an editor is a non trivial task.

And I would not ask what API do you dream of.
I'd ask: Which features do you need and how to get them.

Marc Weber

From: Charles Roper on 25 Feb 2010 04:40
Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply.

On 25/02/2010 08:53, Marc Weber wrote:
> Jedit can be scripted in various languages. I bet they have JRuby
> support.
>
> Vim can be scripted in Ruby.

Are you saying these offer model API's that we should take a look at? I
already know Vim is a strong influence on the project. RedCar also
offers scripting via Ruby.

> Writing an editor is a non trivial task.

Agreed.

> And I would not ask what API do you dream of.
> I'd ask: Which features do you need and how to get them.

The features are already there - this isn't a new editor. What we're
doing is looking at how to make the editor flexible, extensible and fun
as possible without requiring folk to hack on C++. But this isn't about
the editor itself, as such, but rather about the API: what do people
feel makes a great API for a text editor. Or, put another way, what are
the strengths/weaknesses of other API's, Ruby or not, you may have used.

Cheers,
Charles

From: Marc Weber on 25 Feb 2010 04:53
Hi Charles,

your trying to please everyone. This is not going to work (IMHO).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_text_editors

Here is a list. You can join all mailinglists and ask people what they
like and dislike. Or join their irc rooms.

Eg Vim is a great editor. I'd even say perfect if it wasn't bad at
talking to external processes. (I'm going to fix this though..)
Also the default Vim scripting language VimL isn't very fast.
Keep in mind that it was invented before Ruby, Python etc existed.
At at that time it was very cool.

> as possible without requiring folk to hack on C++.
The big question is: Why do they start hacking at all?
What features are they missing?

Eg I prefer using vi keys over nice API's because they make me
productive every day.

Good luck - I don't think I can help you any further - I told you what
is important to me.
Marc Weber

From: Charles Roper on 25 Feb 2010 05:32
On 25/02/2010 09:53, Marc Weber wrote:
> Good luck - I don't think I can help you any further - I told you what
> is important to me.

Thanks, it's appreciated. :)

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