[dorkbotpdx-blabber] Building an IDE (that doesn't suck)

[mark gross]

On Fri, Aug 08, 2008 at 12:34:25PM -0700, Paul Stoffregen wrote:
> As many of you know, I'm building a completely new microcontroller  
> development platform, which will eventually feature an IDE (integrated  
> development environment... not the disk interface acronym).
>
> Many people feel a lot of IDEs suck.  I usually find them to be more  
> trouble than they're worth.  On the other hand, some people love them  
> and could never imagine using terminal windows, editing a makefile and  
> running it all via the command line.  Especially with the Arduino IDE,  
> it sure makes things very easy to learn, though maybe somewhat limiting?
>
> So I'm looking for input and feedback, admittedly at this very early stage.
>
> Are there any IDEs you particularly like, and what makes them compelling?

I hate them all.  That said the only one I have any experience with is
Visual Studio from '95 through '01.

The only useful feature was the code browsing. Everything else was
crap and in fact got in the way.  We did our builds using make files
despite we had shiny *.dsp and *.whatever files holding the project
meta data.

The debugger tied to the code editing did provide for a quit
tweak-test-debug-repeat cycle times.

>
> What sucks (if anything) about IDEs you've used?

price,
value,
TCO was higher as the IDE resulted in hard to maintain and reproduce
builds in a team enviornment.

>
> What features are essential, important, nice-but-not-necessary, or just  
> extra fluff?

code and library browsing.
enable quick and easy compile-test-debug cycles.
enable sensible source code management, and
enable sensible team build integration when working with more than one
person.
Access to help documentation for language, library and device.


>
> How can I make it easy to learn for beginners, yet also usable for  
> experienced users?

see above, but its not worth it.

>
> Really, any ideas are welcome, as I have a completely blank slate right  
> now.  Well, in truth I'm hoping to reuse existing free code, if not  
> simply use an existing IDE with minor mods.  Eclipse, Arduino, and  
> Code::Blocks are ones I've looked at so far.  However, I'm not against  
> writing lots and lots of code if necessary.

run way now!

Just use eclipse, everyone else is.  As much as I hate Eclipse for
eating my LPC code 6months ago, I think just building your IDE off it
is the *only* viable approach *if* you have to have an IDE.

good luck, (I think you in for a world of hurt)

--mgross

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/pgp-signature
Size: 189 bytes
Desc: Digital signature
Url : http://music.columbia.edu/pipermail/dorkbotpdx-blabber/attachments/20080808/8084b7a3/attachment-0001.bin