Having done some heavy duty debugging over the last few days, I have a proposal for the debug area.
Problem: I can't seem to see the information I want to see when I want to see it. That sounds a little vague, but lets take it as a princple. Current State: - The current debug window USes a tab model, which allows for 4 different categories of information that can't be displayed together (Console, Threads, Frame, Watches). - Adding field watchpoints, and other non-breaking breakpoints is somewhat cumbersome. For example field watchpoints have to be typed in (rather than accessed through the editor). Non breaking lin breakpoints must be checked using the checkbox. - Displaying the stacks of multiple threads is difficult, and can be done only one at a time through the pulldown on the right hand side of the debug window. Proposal. - Take advantage of the white-space that often exists to the right side of the debug area. Except for those people developing in small-realestate environments there is a ton of un-used white-space to the right of the display area. - Allow for simultaneous display of frame and stack displays (in particular. Idealy we could set up as many "displays" as we wanted stretching out to the right, but right now I would be happy with 2 or 3. - Possibly allow for a tear-off console (with a checkbox for keep on top). - Allow multiple threads to be displayed simultaneously. This is particularly useful when debugging deadlock problems (for example, you see one thread holding lock1, and waiting for lock2, while another thread is holding lock2, waiting for lock 1). - Allow an editor based mechanism for selecting frame watchpoints and non- breaking breakpoints. This is a quick substitute for inserting debug statements, which is still sometimes easier done than setting breakpoints. I'm sure other folks would have other adds, but I think the debugger UI is the one area of the system where just a little bit of "intellij polish" would go a long way. Mike --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] To obtain my PGP public key, mail "SEND PUB KEY" in the subject to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" _______________________________________________ Eap-features mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellij.com/mailman/listinfo/eap-features
