ROADMAP TO HBIDE - Prtipal Bedi -17 th Nov 2009

CCH : From the Harbour Main Developers List

2009/11/17 Pritpal Bedi <bedipritpal@hotmail.com>:

Hello All

Just a start for more discussions...

EMERGENCE OF THIS IDEA

Massimo: initiated idea to have "xMate" or "xMate like"   edit/compile/link/run cycle IDE but available for all   platforms  Harbour support.

Viktor: presented the minimum requirements an IDE must contain
  0) Availability on OS X, Linux and Windows x86 and x64.
  1) Very good editor with block editing capability, syntax
     highlighting, possibly "intellisense". Project-wide
     search and replace. Support for all CPs Harbour supports.
     ( syntax highlighting for: prg, c and cpp )
  2) Integration with VCS.
  3) Integrated build tool.
  4) Integrated project management.

Istvan: extended 3) above as  3.1) Integrated debugger.

Francesco: suggested to integrate "Eclipse" which he thought, and others supported, is a great tool, but also expressed that  he has no knowledge, so far, how it can be integrated with Harbour.

MY VIEWPOINT

Since the day Andy started development on xMate, I remained in  touch with this project and we had numerous talks about its features. since then xMate is an integral part of my development cycles. I am rather
a dire fan of xMate.

As this is a Windows only solution, it will probably be hard to port it to  any other platform, unless a great amount of time is not invested into it.

As of now I do not have requirements to convert my applications on all  platforms and as such xMate completely fulfils my needs.

Having said that, still, I am keen on developing an IDE, to a level  resembling  to xMate ( because of my intimacy as well a big user base ) in functionality  but extending it in other ways.

ROADMAP TO HBIDE:

0. Development style : PRG
1. Primary coding style : HBXBP
2. Extended calls ( if could not be included in HBXBP ) : HBQT
3. Base protocol for COMPILE/LINK cycle : HBMK2
4. 1st version : xMate like functionality
5. 2nd version : Integration of Qt CREATOR and .ui components
6. ...


BENEFITS ( apart from a multi-platform usage ):

1. Xbase++ class framework will be extended to include some very fine Qt extensions.
2. HBQT will be extented to include missing components which might be  necessary.
3. The resulting application will show up the strength of so many Harbour
4. The resulting application will offer a application framework for GUI development  to the beginners, i.e., it itself will be a demo application.

LOCATION

harbour/contrib/hbide

NAME

HBIDE - Harbour's Integrated Development Environment

CHANCES OF SUCCESS


Because project is purely based on PRG code, it is highly possible that  a lot of you may join this effort, not only for coding but also for debugging, suggestions  and whatever... So I see in optimism for its succeess.

DETERMINATION

I am geared up for its development no matter what will be the consequences, failure or success.
First commit will be around this weekend though I am in a position to show you up something.

NEXT REQUISIT

Your support in terms of vocalness.


Regards
Pritpal Bedi