This is an idea I have for quickly navigating to a method declaration in a
Java class.
Searching for a method declaration in the current buffer is one of the
activities I perform frequently. I am aware of five ways to accomplish this
task.
1. use standard emacs search capabilities
2. use jde classes menu
3. use ecb methods buffer
4. use find-tag
5. use speedbar
Here's why I don't like any of the above options. Ecb and the jde classes
menu require the mouse. Mouse usage is inefficient. Find-tag requires
frequent updating of the tags file and requires knowing and correctly
spelling the full method name. Searching usually results in multiple hits
due to method calls. The speedbar shows variables and method names and
takes up too much screen real estate.
Are there other ways to more efficiently locate a method? Probably, but
what I am looking for is described below.
I would like to see the list of methods for the current buffer in the
minibuffer by pressing some C-[some key]. While the list is presented in
the minibuffer I can narrow the list of methods names that I am interested
in by typing a portion of the method name. Once I have the method name that
I am interested in at the head of the list I can select it with the enter
key. Selecting the method name takes me to the method declaration in the
current buffer. This is similar to what is provided by ido.el and
iswitchb.el packages which provide fast buffer and file switching.
Is there anything like this in existence today? If not, does anyone think
this would be a good addition to the jde?
