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Open source IDE ideas — Parallax Forums

Open source IDE ideas

Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
edited 2011-10-10 20:52 in Propeller 1
I'm testing some preliminary ideas here with an open source IDE, with the aim of porting vb.net code into something that will run on Linux and on PCs.

Would some kind soul with a Linux box test out this little program for me please?

I can't attach .exe files, and so I renamed it as .txt. Just rename it back to .exe

It is a jabaco program which is Basic translated to Java, so hopefully it will run if you have Java installed. It seems to run in any directory and this will be a most helpful feature.

The program itself is not so important (is it just a skeleton menu at present) - more the question of whether it runs on a variety of machines without too many hassles. Also there are some icons which I hope have been embedded in the file.

Help here would be most appreciated.
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Comments

  • max72max72 Posts: 1,155
    edited 2011-02-27 04:56
    Hi, I haven't my linux box available at the monent, but I'll test it soon.
    Just a suggestion:
    In the past I tried to rename executables as text files but sometimes I had problems related to the way a EOL is interpreted. So if by chance yuou have a binary with a similar sequence you can get into trouble. If I remember correcly the problem was related to the "text" protocol used, in place of the bynary one. Maybe a zip file is a safer bet, as it is handled as a binary all around.
  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2011-02-27 08:49
    Got it to work with win7 pro and ubuntu 10.10 in wine, The strange thing was I had to install java for windows in wine in order for it to work.
    I couldn't get it to work with crossover because crossover couldn't install java.
    hope this helps.
    -dan
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-27 14:07
    Thanks guys - that is great.

    It may be that it needs to be compiled for linux in order to run on linux, but that should be possible.

    Back to coding!
  • rosco_pcrosco_pc Posts: 468
    edited 2011-02-27 14:34
    No just compile it to a jar file. It can then be started with java -jar name
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-27 14:40
    No just compile it to a jar file. It can then be started with java -jar name

    That sounds a good idea. The compiler has an option to compile to .exe or to compile to .jar
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-27 14:45
    HI,

    I would recommend to use REAL-BASIC Studio to do this in!

    You can compile for ALL PLATFORMS. but most importantly you can DEVELOP on All Platforms.

    I am assuming you want to make a SPIN/PASM development tool?

    Regards

    Dave M
  • Kevin WoodKevin Wood Posts: 1,266
    edited 2011-02-27 16:39
    Just to let you know, you can run Linux in a virtual machine to test stuff like this. VirtualBox and VMWare Player are both freely available.

    Also, FreeBASIC runs on both Windows and Linux, so it might be an option for you, depending on what you need from the language.
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-27 16:53
    Virtualbox/VMware look great. eg http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads - that will make testing a lot easier.

    Re Realbasic, this looks very nice and some of the features look easier to do that with jabaco. However, it is not free, and I have a feeling that some of the open source people are using linux because it is free. Maybe some of the open source users can comment on how much of a driver the cost is, vs other factors (wanting to run different software, speed, not wanting to be tied to MS, bloatware issues etc).

    Certainly vb.net is suffering a bit from bloatware. I tend to develop code on a slow computer so it runs fast on most computers. It makes me write code differently. I suspect some developers in the big organisations insist the company buys them the fastest computers, which means their code runs slow on most computers. That is my theory anyway. vb.net 2008 is taking up to a minute to start up and so I'm not all that keen on going to vb.net 2010.

    jabaco is only a few seconds which is very nice. Qt for C programmers is also only a few seconds.
    I am assuming you want to make a SPIN/PASM development tool?

    Yes that is the aim. I have quite a lot already working - eg nice color syntax highlighting for Pasm/Spin as well as for C and Basic code. I have one crazy bit of demo code that has all 4 languages in it.
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-27 16:59
    HI Dr_Acula,


    If you use real basic I could help you, It has a great OOP Language,

    I use real basic to develop all my applications that work with the propeller,

    The reason I am suggesting this, is because ALL US MAC USERS seems to miss out on these types of projects, there are plenty of mac users here.


    Dave M
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,202
    edited 2011-02-27 17:29
    Aren't there a gaggle of well-worn, cross-platform IDE's that a Propeller plug-in could be adapted to?
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-27 17:47
    The reason I am suggesting this, is because ALL US MAC USERS seems to miss out on these types of projects, there are plenty of mac users here.

    Mac - yes, good point.

    I did a bit more research on jabaco - yes, programs compiled by jabaco will run on the mac (ie the one above). But... the program development can only be done on a windows machine. http://www.jabaco.org/board/622-jabaco-for-mac-os.html

    That potentially means mac and linux people can't contribute.

    So in an ideal world:
    - development on mac, linux and windows
    - can run on mac, linux and windows
    - reasonable cost or free


    I have a simple checklist for testing out suitable programs;
    1) can it drive a serial port
    2) can it shell programs and detect when the shelled program has finished running
    3) is it possible to change the color of all instances of a word in a richtextbox

    re JonnyMac, which IDEs are you thinking of?
  • YodaYoda Posts: 132
    edited 2011-02-27 17:47
    I agree Jon - not sure I see the purpose of this as it is a VB to java translator. In general the output of a language translator is almost impossible to decipher. I am starting up now on my eclipse plugin that I think will be what you are looking for. The whole purpose of eclipse was to be a platform to write cross platform tools.
  • YodaYoda Posts: 132
    edited 2011-02-27 17:49
    Dr_Acula wrote: »
    Mac - yes, good point.

    I did a bit more research on jabaco - yes, programs compiled by jabaco will run on the mac (ie the one above). But... the program development can only be done on a windows machine. http://www.jabaco.org/board/622-jabaco-for-mac-os.html

    That potentially means mac and linux people can't contribute.

    So in an ideal world:
    - development on mac, linux and windows
    - can run on mac, linux and windows
    - reasonable cost or free


    I have a simple checklist for testing out suitable programs;
    1) can it drive a serial port
    2) can it shell programs and detect when the shelled program has finished running
    3) is it possible to change the color of all instances of a word in a richtextbox

    re JonnyMac, which IDEs are you thinking of?

    Eclipse!! That is what it was designed for.
  • KyeKye Posts: 2,200
    edited 2011-02-27 17:55
    http://www.eclipse.org/

    Eclispe is good... =)
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-27 18:16
    So in an ideal world:
    - development on mac, linux and windows
    - can run on mac, linux and windows
    - reasonable cost or free


    I have a simple checklist for testing out suitable programs;
    1) can it drive a serial port
    2) can it shell programs and detect when the shelled program has finished running
    3) is it possible to change the color of all instances of a word in a richtextbox

    REAL-BASIC Yes, COSt is not free, but don't forget you can use real-basic to write ANY APPLICATION on ANY PLATFORM!
    + I can help you!

    And also , WHy do you need JAVA?

    Dave M
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-27 18:38
    Some more things.

    I have used the bstl to upload binaries to a prop chip, using realbasic
    There is also a compiler which you can use that brad c wrote!

    I communicate via SERIAL ( USB/232 & RS485 ) all the time using realbasic

    There a a trillion tools to manipulate text in any way you like including fancy graphics,

    As far as the USER INTERFACE is concerned, You only need to make these once, then when you compile for each platform , the equivalent objects are substituted without any need to write platform specific code for it.

    You can write code to include platform specific tasks.

    The realbasic language is easy to learn, its VERY EASY to write generic code and don't forget if fully OOP, if you want it that way.

    In fact the REALBASIC IDE Interface was written with REALBASIC!

    Dave M
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-02-27 19:34
    I shall download Eclipse and Real Basic and check these out. This brainstorming is great - I would never have found those without this help!
    In fact the REALBASIC IDE Interface was written with REALBASIC!

    That could be handy if the source is available, then you could see how syntax highlighting is done and replicate it. (The vb.net code to do this gets a bit slow with programs more than a few hundred lines)
    And also , WHy do you need JAVA?

    No particular reason except that java seems to be more universal and more likely to be installed already. But it appears there are other ways to do this.Lots of things to check out here. Very exciting!
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-27 20:18
    Hi Dr_Acula

    I found a syntax highlighter + much more example for realbasic. seems pretty extensive! all for free and source code is there to do what ever you like, this one seems to have a few languages already included, seems to do alot,

    Now download the demo version of real basic , open this example project, run it, have a play , theres a lot of work already done here, at first glance, it looks like you just have to create some kind of XML file for the SPIN Definitions??


    http://homepage.mac.com/alexrestrepo/indexmain.html#SyntaxHighlightEditField

    http://homepage.mac.com/alexrestrepo/files/CustomEditField.zip


    Actually You can open up a spin file ( I just did )


    Is there a SPIN syntax definition available?
    Dave M
  • ZootZoot Posts: 2,227
    edited 2011-02-27 21:27
    A compiler in Eclipse would be awesome.
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-28 00:37
    A compiler in REALBASIC would be even "AWESOMER!"

    No Seriously,

    Has anyone had a look at this?

    DEVELOP on ANY PLATFORM, COMPILE FOR ANY or ALL Platforms, 1 Application, 1 language. No need to care ( too much) in what platform you work with.

    Dave M
  • YodaYoda Posts: 132
    edited 2011-02-28 06:58
    DavidM wrote: »
    A compiler in REALBASIC would be even "AWESOMER!"

    No Seriously,

    Has anyone had a look at this?

    DEVELOP on ANY PLATFORM, COMPILE FOR ANY or ALL Platforms, 1 Application, 1 language. No need to care ( too much) in what platform you work with.

    Dave M

    The problem with this is you have to have a different runtime for every platform which means you have to build on each platform. That is not very productive at all. At least with eclipse you create one set of plugins that will run everywhere eclipse does (which is all major OSes).

    The other detractor it costs money and eclipse doesn't
  • ZootZoot Posts: 2,227
    edited 2011-02-28 07:03
    Eclipse is a goto for dev and runs fantastically on all platforms. Given that I live most of my professional day in Eclipse, having a compiler there for my electronics projects would be great. The chances of me installing RealBasic are.... zero.
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-02-28 07:19
    I'm voting for going the route of an Eclipse plug-in.

    I think anything short of that, or at least something done in Java, or GCC, is not going to satisfy the open source folks.

    As good as RealBasic may or may not be, I have not tried it, it will not be accepted by the OS folks because of the expense of the compiler.

    C.W.
  • bradharperbradharper Posts: 64
    edited 2011-02-28 07:28
    I really like the idea of an Eclipse plug-in. Quite honestly, I'd prefer one for the IntelliJ platform even more so, but It's not as widely used - unfortunately. Either implementation will add some very useful richness and efficiencies to Propeller development if implemented properly.
  • dgatelydgately Posts: 1,633
    edited 2011-02-28 07:41
    I changed the extension to ".jar" from ".txt" and launched the application on a Mac. All of your buttons, sliders, text fields, etc. worked well!
  • JonnyMacJonnyMac Posts: 9,202
    edited 2011-02-28 07:45
    The up-side of Eclipse is that the interface is done, well established, and well regarded. I'm starting to use it for programming my Android phone -- would love to be able to use it for programming my Propeller projects, too.
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-28 15:17
    Yoda wrote: »
    The problem with this is you have to have a different runtime for every platform which means you have to build on each platform.

    That's not true!

    I can develop on the mac ( or PC or Linux) AND WITH THE PRESS OF ONE BUTTON produce runtimes for each platform at THE SAME TIME!

    Ok It costs money, but you can write just about ANY KIND OF APP with it! Well worth a few 100 bucks, if you spend most of your day programming!

    It does produce finished apps that LOOK LIKE and PERFORM as finished apps and running native machine code.

    I had a look at eclipse still can't work out what the hell it is!, I mean you go to the downloads section , and I get a list of a dozen different things, Which one do you download for developing an IDE for Microcontrollers , Too confusing!


    Again, has anyone looked at this..

    http://homepage.mac.com/alexrestrepo...lightEditField

    You will need Realbasic, You can download a trial version, Open this project and run it,

    Also, IS there a SYNTAX DEFINITION for SPIN/PASM ?

    Dave
  • YodaYoda Posts: 132
    edited 2011-02-28 16:14
    DavidM wrote: »
    That's not true!

    I can develop on the mac ( or PC or Linux) AND WITH THE PRESS OF ONE BUTTON produce runtimes for each platform at THE SAME TIME!

    Ok It costs money, but you can write just about ANY KIND OF APP with it! Well worth a few 100 bucks, if you spend most of your day programming!

    It does produce finished apps that LOOK LIKE and PERFORM as finished apps and running native machine code.

    I had a look at eclipse still can't work out what the hell it is!, I mean you go to the downloads section , and I get a list of a dozen different things, Which one do you download for developing an IDE for Microcontrollers , Too confusing!


    Again, has anyone looked at this..

    http://homepage.mac.com/alexrestrepo...lightEditField

    You will need Realbasic, You can download a trial version, Open this project and run it,

    Also, IS there a SYNTAX DEFINITION for SPIN/PASM ?

    Dave


    What I was trying to point out you have different binaries for each platform which does become a distribution nightmare. Such is not the case for eclipse. All you need to develop for IDE on eclipse is the one that says plugin development.

    And I do program all day for a living and it is on the eclipse platform (java, perl, python, C/C++), so it would be much more productive to have Spin there too.
  • DavidMDavidM Posts: 630
    edited 2011-02-28 16:33
    Hi Yoda,

    So How does eclipse handle this?

    For a Mac you distribute a ".app", for a PC you use ".exe"

    What does eclipse do differently?


    Dave M
  • ctwardellctwardell Posts: 1,716
    edited 2011-02-28 16:45
    David,

    I believe all of the Eclipse plugins are in Java, so as long as you have the JVM, and of course Eclipse, you are good to go.

    C.W.
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