Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Hey Steven, does FD crash on you when you have your view split and choose File-close all? On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 8:44 PM, Steven Sacks flash...@stevensacks.netwrote: In FlexBuilder, they don't start appearing as auto-completion hints as you type. You have to hit CTRL+SPACE. This is not a mere difference. You have to stop writing code to get auto-completion. Even worse, it's not live which means it breaks your natural flow. In FlashDevelop, you can hit space, return, period, open parentheses, open bracket, or any non-alphanumeric character and it will auto-complete. In FlexBuilder (and AFAIK, FDT) only return works. Here's a simple example: var loader:Loader; In FlashDevelop, you type these exact characters: lo.l( And it turns into this: loader.load( In Flex Builder, you have to type this: lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN That's 3 mental breaks. FlashDevelop's auto-completion is a natural flow and doesn't interrupt your typing, FlexBuilder's does three times. Let's quickly look at Flex Builder's example again in detail so I can really illustrate the mental break it causes. lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN First, you have to hit two keys to get the hint, and then one more key to accept the hint. Then, you type the period and then have to hit return again to accept the load function hint. That last return causes oad( to appear. The important part of that completion is the open parentheses. You are expected to type RETURN to type ( and that is a mental break. It's far more natural to type open parentheses because that's what your mind knows goes after a method name. Sure, SHIFT+9 is not as easy to type as ENTER, but that's hardly the point. This is about your mental flow as you type. One makes you think (three times), the other doesn't because it just makes sense. FlashDevelop's auto-completion allows you to access arrays and such easily, too. var array:Array = []; FlashDevelop: ar[ Ends up with array[ FlexBuilder you have to type: ar CTRL+SPACE ENTER [ Lame. On top of that, if you make a typo in FlexBuilder or FDT, the hints go away. If you press CTRL+SPACE and there's a typo you get no hints. In FlashDevelop, typos are forgiven and code hints still show up, and again, live as you type. When it comes to auto-completion, the undisputed winner is FlashDevelop. FDT is in second place, and FlexBuilder a distant third. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders -- --Joel Stransky stranskydesign.com ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Unfortunately, yes, I get runtime errors sometimes when screens are split and you close some tabs. You can choose to ignore the errors and FlashDevelop will keep on trucking. You don't have to quit. Joel Stransky wrote: Hey Steven, does FD crash on you when you have your view split and choose File-close all? ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
[Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
I'm a long-time Flash user just trying out Flex for the second time, last time being about 3 years ago. I have the 60 day trial of Flex Builder 3. Anyway, I've been using FlashDevelop for so long I think I've really become spoiled by its excellent auto-completion feature. Flex Builder seems pretty week by comparison. AFAICT, it doesn't autocomplete in-scope member-names, doesn't give any hints for the import command, doesn't automatically create an import when you declare a variable type, doesn't autocomplete key words like private and public and function. What is up with this? Somebody please tell me there's a config setting I'm missing ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Anyway, I've been using FlashDevelop for so long I think I've really become spoiled by its excellent auto-completion feature. Flex Builder seems pretty week by comparison. AFAICT, it doesn't autocomplete in-scope member-names, doesn't give any hints for the import command, doesn't automatically create an import when you declare a variable type, doesn't autocomplete key words like private and public and function. What is up with this? I don't think I've ever typed an import command, because it does automatically create the import for me. The trick is to type the variable name and the colon, then choose the variable type using autocomplete. If you do this, it builds the import for you. Otherwise, not so much. Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software http://www.figleaf.com/ Fig Leaf Software provides the highest caliber vendor-authorized instruction at our training centers in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Northern Virginia, or on-site at your location. Visit http://training.figleaf.com/ for more information! ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Dave Watts wrote: The trick is to type the variable name and the colon, then choose the variable type using autocomplete. Okay, that part is the same in FlashDevelop. Thanks! ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Only FlashDevelop auto-completes in-scope member names and key words. Only FlashDevelop has smart auto-completion that forgives typos. AFAIK, only FlashDevelop has toggle line (CTRL+T) functionality (which I use all the time), and the *extremely* useful clone file (CTRL+SHIFT+N) functionality. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Okay, help an id10t out here. Only FlashDevelop auto-completes in-scope member names and key words. only FlashDevelop has toggle line (CTRL+T) functionality Could someone describe what this behavior is? It's not clicking for some reason (little out of it today). Thanks, Jer On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 4:10 PM, Steven Sacks flash...@stevensacks.netwrote: Only FlashDevelop auto-completes in-scope member names and key words. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
FlashDevelop auto-completes class, instance and local vars, as well as native key words like public, private, class, interface, implements, function, static, const, etc. FDT and FB do not. Here's what toggle line does hello(); world(); CTRL+T on world line world(); hello(); While this might seem minor, it's actually VERY handy. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Ahh, okay. Ctrl + T would be useful. I didn't really notice that keywords were missing from auto-complete. What annoys me more about FB's auto-complete is that it occasionally simply vanishes either because of a parse error in your code or (just as often) for no reason. Then again, that could just be my screwy install. Jer On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Steven Sacks flash...@stevensacks.netwrote: FlashDevelop auto-completes class, instance and local vars, as well as native key words like public, private, class, interface, implements, function, static, const, etc. FDT and FB do not. Here's what toggle line does hello(); world(); CTRL+T on world line world(); hello(); While this might seem minor, it's actually VERY handy. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Okay, so how do I use FD to edit Flex docs? Steven Sacks wrote: FlashDevelop auto-completes class, instance and local vars, as well as native key words like public, private, class, interface, implements, function, static, const, etc. FDT and FB do not. Here's what toggle line does hello(); world(); CTRL+T on world line world(); hello(); While this might seem minor, it's actually VERY handy. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
This statement is absolutely incorrect, and a bit baffling. Clearly if it didn't do that stuff nobody would ever use it. FDT does indeed complete all those, and I haven't looked at FB in a while but would be absolutely stunned if that was in fact accurate. The default code hinting is just when you hit dot, but you can configure it to do it more often. This link shows you how to make it so you get code hinting automatically as opposed to when you hit CTRL-Space (tho ctrl-space works to complete the above by default): http://blog.flashmech.net/2008/10/fdt-tip-boost-your-code-assist/ You can also change the delay before code hints appear and make it more FD-like if you want. I guess another part of why I like FDT is that it's highly customizable. So, erm, yeah. On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 2:34 PM, Steven Sacks flash...@stevensacks.netwrote: FlashDevelop auto-completes class, instance and local vars, as well as native key words like public, private, class, interface, implements, function, static, const, etc. FDT and FB do not. Here's what toggle line does hello(); world(); CTRL+T on world line world(); hello(); While this might seem minor, it's actually VERY handy. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
RE: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
Okay, so how do I use FD to edit Flex docs? Install the new Flex SDK, point FD to it. Then, create a new Flex project in FD. FD supports both Actionscript and MXML syntax, among others. Jason Merrill Bank of America Global Learning Shared Services Solutions Development Monthly meetings on the Adobe Flash platform for rich media experiences - join the Bank of America Flash Platform Community ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
FlexBuilder absolutely does NOT do auto-completion of class, instance and local vars (FD also does function names, etc.). I've never seen FDT do it, either, but that link obviously makes it clear that it is possible (though completely undocumented, not to mention that field doesn't look like it will accept 28 characters). It also says AS2, but does that work for AS3? Why on earth isn't this the default behavior? FDT costs hundreds of dollars, FlashDevelop is free. If you're on Mac, I guess it's the best choice available. Also, FDT is 100% project based. You can't just drag and drop an .as file on to it like you can with FlashDevelop (unless you already have one open). Plus, you don't get ANY auto-completion if the file isn't part of your project. Does FDT have a clone-file feature? ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
FDT does the auto-error check, which is so sweet - i read that FD doesn't have the ability to get that info, even with a plugin... I have built projects on all three, and if I'm on pc I like FD with the find/replace expanded extension. On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Steven Sacksflash...@stevensacks.net wrote: FlexBuilder absolutely does NOT do auto-completion of class, instance and local vars (FD also does function names, etc.). I've never seen FDT do it, either, but that link obviously makes it clear that it is possible (though completely undocumented, not to mention that field doesn't look like it will accept 28 characters). It also says AS2, but does that work for AS3? Why on earth isn't this the default behavior? FDT costs hundreds of dollars, FlashDevelop is free. If you're on Mac, I guess it's the best choice available. Also, FDT is 100% project based. You can't just drag and drop an .as file on to it like you can with FlashDevelop (unless you already have one open). Plus, you don't get ANY auto-completion if the file isn't part of your project. Does FDT have a clone-file feature? ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
That page was old, it does work in AS3. OK, so, burning with curiosity (and a desire to postpone doing the latest batch of client changes), I fired up Flex Builder, created a private var,went into the constructor, hit ctrl-space, and the autocomplete shenanigans triggered. If ya type in the first couple letters, then do it, it autocompletes. So yeah, the difference is merely auto- vs manual-triggering of code completion if there's not a . involved. the Eclipse-based editors (by default, in FDT's case) trigger their code hinting with ctrl-space, where FDT doesn't. How's FD handling vectors these days? I haven't used FD since they became available. FDT's a little wack in that if you have an interface built with, say, Vector.String, when you auto-populate your stub function with all the interface methods it only types it to Vector (with no type), which is kind of annoying at present. But it does handle them fine within classes, where vector[i]. will fire code hinting on whatever the vector is typed to. On Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 3:49 PM, Steven Sacks flash...@stevensacks.netwrote: FlexBuilder absolutely does NOT do auto-completion of class, instance and local vars (FD also does function names, etc.). I've never seen FDT do it, either, but that link obviously makes it clear that it is possible (though completely undocumented, not to mention that field doesn't look like it will accept 28 characters). It also says AS2, but does that work for AS3? Why on earth isn't this the default behavior? FDT costs hundreds of dollars, FlashDevelop is free. If you're on Mac, I guess it's the best choice available. Also, FDT is 100% project based. You can't just drag and drop an .as file on to it like you can with FlashDevelop (unless you already have one open). Plus, you don't get ANY auto-completion if the file isn't part of your project. Does FDT have a clone-file feature? ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
It certainly does. It's simply using the mxml compiler to find those errors. The FD developers have stated their intent to include it one day, but have stated it's a lot of work. They currently have syntax checking. Keep in mind that FlashDevelop is two guys working in their spare time for free. jared stanley wrote: FDT does the auto-error check, which is so sweet - i read that FD doesn't have the ability to get that info, even with a plugin... I have built projects on all three, and if I'm on pc I like FD with the find/replace expanded extension. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
Re: [Flashcoders] FlexBuilder 3 auto-complete vs. FlashDevelop
In FlexBuilder, they don't start appearing as auto-completion hints as you type. You have to hit CTRL+SPACE. This is not a mere difference. You have to stop writing code to get auto-completion. Even worse, it's not live which means it breaks your natural flow. In FlashDevelop, you can hit space, return, period, open parentheses, open bracket, or any non-alphanumeric character and it will auto-complete. In FlexBuilder (and AFAIK, FDT) only return works. Here's a simple example: var loader:Loader; In FlashDevelop, you type these exact characters: lo.l( And it turns into this: loader.load( In Flex Builder, you have to type this: lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN That's 3 mental breaks. FlashDevelop's auto-completion is a natural flow and doesn't interrupt your typing, FlexBuilder's does three times. Let's quickly look at Flex Builder's example again in detail so I can really illustrate the mental break it causes. lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN First, you have to hit two keys to get the hint, and then one more key to accept the hint. Then, you type the period and then have to hit return again to accept the load function hint. That last return causes oad( to appear. The important part of that completion is the open parentheses. You are expected to type RETURN to type ( and that is a mental break. It's far more natural to type open parentheses because that's what your mind knows goes after a method name. Sure, SHIFT+9 is not as easy to type as ENTER, but that's hardly the point. This is about your mental flow as you type. One makes you think (three times), the other doesn't because it just makes sense. FlashDevelop's auto-completion allows you to access arrays and such easily, too. var array:Array = []; FlashDevelop: ar[ Ends up with array[ FlexBuilder you have to type: ar CTRL+SPACE ENTER [ Lame. On top of that, if you make a typo in FlexBuilder or FDT, the hints go away. If you press CTRL+SPACE and there's a typo you get no hints. In FlashDevelop, typos are forgiven and code hints still show up, and again, live as you type. When it comes to auto-completion, the undisputed winner is FlashDevelop. FDT is in second place, and FlexBuilder a distant third. ___ Flashcoders mailing list Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders
