Javascript IDE?

I'd like to get some insight into the views the regulars round here have
of Javascript integrated development environments.

It seems to me that it is not really possible to ignore Javascript
entirely, there are just too many things that customers (sometimes) expect.

So, how do you do yours? Can anyone recommend an IDE that is compatible
with multiple browsers?

Thanks.


--

John Robin Devany
http://www.devany.com

On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 15:18:40 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany
<firstname (AT) lastname (DOT) com> wrote:

I'd like to get some insight into the views the regulars round here have
of Javascript integrated development environments.

It seems to me that it is not really possible to ignore Javascript
entirely, there are just too many things that customers (sometimes) expect.

So, how do you do yours? Can anyone recommend an IDE that is compatible
with multiple browsers?

IDE stands for "Integrated Development Environment", usually referring
to the fact that the editor, compiler and maybe a debugger and GUI
editor are all *integrated* into the same software (or "environment").

I'm not really sure how you'd "integrate" a JavaScript development
environment since (for the purposes of web-based client-side
JavaScript) the compiler is in the web browser and not a standalone
tool anyway. There are debuggers available which can integrate into
browsers (particularly IE) and your "GUI" will be written in HTML.

Most people just write JavaScript in a text editor. In most cases
what's being written isn't amazingly complex, and the version of
JavaScript supported by most browsers doesn't sport any fancy features
that normally warrant a fancy editor.

Personally, on the few occasions where I've had reason to write
JavaScript (which, fortunately, is becoming less and less necessary
these days unless you are writing a fancy web application) I just did
it in the same text editor I write my HTML and other code in, with the
addition of a new syntax highlighting configuration for JavaScript.

Best regards,
-Claire

Claire Tucker said the following on 03/08/2004 17:12:

On Tue, 3 Aug 2004 15:18:40 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany
firstname (AT) lastname (DOT) com> wrote:


I'd like to get some insight into the views the regulars round here have
of Javascript integrated development environments.

It seems to me that it is not really possible to ignore Javascript
entirely, there are just too many things that customers (sometimes) expect.

So, how do you do yours? Can anyone recommend an IDE that is compatible
with multiple browsers?



IDE stands for "Integrated Development Environment", usually referring
to the fact that the editor, compiler and maybe a debugger and GUI
editor are all *integrated* into the same software (or "environment").

OK, go with semi-integrated. Otherwise stated, a bunch of stuff that
works reasonably well together without crashing.

I'm not really sure how you'd "integrate" a JavaScript development
environment since (for the purposes of web-based client-side
JavaScript) the compiler is in the web browser and not a standalone
tool anyway. There are debuggers available which can integrate into
browsers (particularly IE) and your "GUI" will be written in HTML.

The debuggers I've tried integrated into IE have been mega flaky. I
tried MS Visual Studio (6) and some previous MS 'solution' (whose name
now escapes me.). I've also looked at the Mozilla Javascript debugger,
which seemed a better way to go, but looks like its got a steep
learning. Hence I wanted to gather opinions.

Which debugging tool do you use with IE?

Most people just write JavaScript in a text editor. In most cases
what's being written isn't amazingly complex, and the version of
JavaScript supported by most browsers doesn't sport any fancy features
that normally warrant a fancy editor.

Personally, on the few occasions where I've had reason to write
JavaScript (which, fortunately, is becoming less and less necessary
these days unless you are writing a fancy web application) I just did
it in the same text editor I write my HTML and other code in, with the
addition of a new syntax highlighting configuration for JavaScript.

I do have a fancy web application. Though I try to keep it clean, little
bits of Javascript creep in, and, as its a development platform for
larger apps, other (internal) developers are asking questions about how
we could maintain a standard library of Javascript routines.

Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

Thanks for the considered response.

Regards
--

John Robin Devany
http://www.devany.com <- not a very fancy web application

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:36:13 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany wrote:

Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

You aksed Claire, but I'll toss in my 2c worth..

I use TextPad, with an appropriate .syn file
to highlight the syntax of the Javascript.

HTH

--
Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/ Open-source software suite
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
http://www.1point1C.org/ Science & Technology

Andrew Thompson wrote:

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:36:13 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany wrote:

Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

I use TextPad, with an appropriate .syn file
to highlight the syntax of the Javascript.

Textpad only does syntax highlighting based on file type, i.e., it only
highlights javascript if it is in a separate file. I am still looking
for a lightweight editor that is able to properly parse an HTML file,
and highlight the HTML as HTML, javascript as javascript, css as css,
etc. The InterSystems Caché database's IDE does this, but it is
unsuited as a general-purpose editor.

Gertjan.

--
Gertjan Klein <gklein (AT) xs4all (DOT) nl>

Gazing into my crystal ball I observed John Robin Devany
<firstname (AT) lastname (DOT) com> writing in news:cf7gid$6ng$1 (AT) titan (DOT) btinternet.com:

I do have a fancy web application. Though I try to keep it clean, little
bits of Javascript creep in, and, as its a development platform for
larger apps, other (internal) developers are asking questions about how
we could maintain a standard library of Javascript routines.

Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

You might want to check out http://www.chami.com/html-kit . It has syntax
highlighting for several languages, and you can save different versions for
different uses. There are also plugins that you can install, or write your
own. It also lets you store snippets and templates.

--
Adrienne Boswell
Please respond to the group so others can share
http://www.arbpen.com

Gertjan Klein wrote:

Andrew Thompson wrote:


On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:36:13 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany wrote:


Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

I use TextPad, with an appropriate .syn file
to highlight the syntax of the Javascript.


Textpad only does syntax highlighting based on file type, i.e., it only
highlights javascript if it is in a separate file. I am still looking
for a lightweight editor that is able to properly parse an HTML file,
and highlight the HTML as HTML, javascript as javascript, css as css,
etc. The InterSystems Caché database's IDE does this, but it is
unsuited as a general-purpose editor.

Gertjan.

As far as syntax highlighting goes, VIM is the best editor I've used.

It highlights files containing a mix of PHP, CSS, JavaScript and HTML
correctly. There are plugins to make it easy to use, I find Vimacs has
more sane keybindings and modeless editing.

VIM:
http://www.vim.org/

Vimacs:
http://www.vim.org/scripts/script.php?script_id=300

--
Wesley Tarle

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 07:31:44 +0200, Gertjan Klein in
comp.infosystems.www.authoring.site-design wrote:

Andrew Thompson wrote:

On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:36:13 +0000 (UTC), John Robin Devany wrote:

Syntax colouring would be nice, which editor do you use?

I use TextPad, with an appropriate .syn file
to highlight the syntax of the Javascript.

Textpad only does syntax highlighting based on file type, i.e., it only
highlights javascript if it is in a separate file. I am still looking
for a lightweight editor that is able to properly parse an HTML file,
and highlight the HTML as HTML, javascript as javascript, css as css,
etc. The InterSystems Caché database's IDE does this, but it is
unsuited as a general-purpose editor.

I don't know if the following app falls under your definition of
"light", but jEdit is a fine editor, with a plethora of plugins. It has
excellent syntax hilighting.



--
ATTENTION
This room is fullfilled mit special electronische equippment.
Fingergrabbing and pressing the cnoeppkes from the computers is
allowed for die experts only! So all the "lefthanders" stay away
and do not disturben the brainstorming von here working
intelligencies. Otherwise you will be out thrown and kicked
anderswhere! Also: please keep still and only watchen
astaunished the blinkenlights.

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 09:20:38 -0400, Wesley Tarle wrote:

..as far as syntax highlighting goes, VIM is the best editor I've used.

Thanks for the tip Wesley, sounds like VIM
accounts for most of the shortcomings
identitified by Gertjan*. I'll give it a trial..

* Hey, (shrugs) Just because I have had good experiences
with one editor, does not mean I am *fanatic* about it..

--
Andrew Thompson
http://www.PhySci.org/ Open-source software suite
http://www.PhySci.org/codes/ Web & IT Help
http://www.1point1C.org/ Science & Technology