@Hans

You need to learn to type faster then :)

Simon

@Valiant

Well, as C/C++ is by far the most popular, and best supported, language, that will be the one that will be focused on first. The PHP/HTML plugin will be close behind for commercial purchasers.

Simon

@NotYo

It means the master disc has been finalised. In other words, the duplicators have there master copy, and it's nowjust a matterof time until user CDs hit the streets.

Simon

@abalaban

I'm with you on this. Plugins support external languages (compiled or scripted).

There are currently no plans to start writing a new language from scratch :)

Simon

@nbache

Again, if that is the case, which it most likely is, then that's how it implements the resource tracking. The preprocessor (and probably the compiler too) is already part of VS. This is not the case with CodeBench (for the C/C++ plugin, cc1 is separate), and as such, is a duplication of work, which I'm not prepared to spend time on.

This is why CodeBench is promoted as a Project Management System, rather than a full blown code generator.

In any case, I have to leave something to the programmer, otherwise there'd be nothing to think about :)

Simon

Things like autocomplete should be an easy task to implement once I have all the lexicons sorted out. These will be needed to support the highlighting, so they will serve a dual purpose.

Whether that makes it into the intial release is something else entirely.

Simon

@nbache

Do you know if VS uses a separate compiler/preprocessor to create the finished executable, or is it all handled by VS itself?

If the later is the case, then VS already has the preprocessor built-in (possibly in the language specific plugin), so tracking variable usage and other such luxuries are already in the system. For me, I would have to duplicate the work of the preprocessor, and that is not something I am thinking about doing in the next 10 years, sorry.

Simon

@Swoop

4.1 will be a requirement purely for the updated stuff that isn't in the last public 4.0 release.

Simon

@Chris

Basically, all that functionality boils down to double-clicking the project icon, waiting for the project to load, and clicking the "Build" button.

You can edit the code inbetween if you want too :)

Simon

@nbache

ome of the things VS has in it's favour is that it is designed to be used for one purpose, CodeBench is designed to be as general as possible to accommodate any language. While certain language specific stuff can be implemented by the plugins, the complxity is limited by the fact that it is just a plugin, and cannot replace all IDE functionality.

Things like variable definition tracking etc are beyond the scope of this application, and are the job of the preprocessor. In order to implement what you mention would mean practically writing my own preprocessor. Sadly, that is not going to happen.

I'm adding features all the time, and in it's current state it is more than usable. My goal is to add the last remaining couple of things, then freeze the development. Concentrate on fixings outstanding issues, and get it releasable.

Simon

@abalaban

Exactly, by offering something on this scale with the SDK should hopefully encourage some new blood.

Simon

@abalaban

Well, the idea is to have a limited version with a C/C++ plugin (preconfigured for the AmigaOS 4 SDK) available to be distributed with the next SDK update.

This will then give SDK customers an instantly available common base to start working. Whether this happens is another matter, there is still a lot of work to do.

Access to the full product, which will enable some features not in the limited version, and any plugins that may be finished, will be a commercial purchase. Pricing is yet to be determined, but I'm not intending on pulling anyones pants down with the cost!

As for importing existing projects, the project window makes that very easy. Simply create a new project, and set up the base data required. Then simply select "Add Files" and multiselect all the source, header and data files required for the project. They will be put into their correct categories automatically for you. Then hit "Build"!

I have tried to make this system as painless as possible, and so far it seems to be working as expected. I am able to pull files from the OS4 CVS, and create a project as described above, and it has worked everytime so far.

Simon

@abalaban

CodeBench (using the C/C++ plugin) generates makefiles for you. These are standard makefiles that can be used with the OS4 port of Make.

It also currently generates up to 3 levels of dependancies in the makefiles too, so they are quite comprehensive. As you say, you can simply "Make" the makefiles that are created, but I doubt you will want to code, on OS4, without it once you get used to it.

The editor features things like automatic function discovery and tracking, so you can simply highlight a user function in the source and select "Go To Function" and it will take you to that functions code. All functions in the current file are also available in the "Quick Link" window, so you can simply click it to go there.

User definable labels are also supported for instant "Bookmarks" in the current file, and again are available from the "Quick Link" window.

There are many other features, of which I should really sit down and write a full list, but the project wide search (and replace) is very handy, and the search results window shows you which file, which function and at what line the hit was found, plus it allows you to jump there by simply clicking the item in the results pane.

During development, there have been a few times where I have rendered CodeBench unusable, and having to resort to other methods of editing code has made me appreciate just how ueful CodeBench really is. I find it extremely awkward to code without it.

Simon

@DBAlex

CodeBench is a plugin driven management system designed for OS4. Currently I have the C/C++ and PHP/HTML plugins working. Technically any language should be able to be supported provided a plugin exists for it.

And before anyone asks, no, it can't be backported to 68K as it relies too heavily on OS4.x features (updated Reaction classes, DOS, Intuition etc)

I have been working on this, now and then, for quite some time, and it has been able to compile itself, and the OS4 source code for a good while now.

Simon

@Menthos

The C/C++ plugin will use a graphical front end to gdb, and as such will be controllable directly from the gui.

Simon

@Chris

You can warm boot from USB devices so long as massstorage.device and other necessary files are in kickstart. Cold booting from USB devices doesn't work, sadly

Simon

@Lio

No, it is currently not working

Simon

@clros

Not yet, which is why it's labelled "Codebench ALPHA" :)

Simon

@Jack

I'm adding the highlighting now, I know how important some of you think it is

Simon

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