Add SmartClient as a framework to Aptana

[landofdreams]

Hi,

We know that the developers could add any third JavaScript frameworks they like to the aptana. Anyway, this problem seems an integrating issue when you use Aptana and SmartClient and want to leverage the code assist from Aptana.

Having looked at the example, I made a jar and put it on the eclipse\plugins folder and most functionalites like wizard, sample project are worked well, except code assist. Bacause of the SmartClient framework is not open source and its code is not written in a well-format (I mean the comments), and prepare a sdoc file seems impossible. Using support\LibraryNameAPI.xml can implement code assist as well, so I plan to write a program to convert the SmartClient documentation to the LibraryNameAPI.xml. For now, I just edit it by myself in order to test the functionality.

SmartClient does not support initiate object through "new" operator instead using class factory like:

SomeClass.create({ 
    ID:"anObject", 
    attr1:10, 
    attr2:"aString", 
    //.... 
})

That causes the problem I've talked, when you typed the "anObject.", you can't see any hits or assist message appear. If you wrote it like this way:

var anObject = new SomeClass(); 
anObject. //(you will see many properties and method assist messages appear and that will help you write code effienctly)

The code assist works well when you write code like above, but the grammar is not correct in the SmartClient world.


Did you have any idea on how to solve this problem?

thanks,
landofdreams.

[Isomorphic]

SmartClient is open source - you can grab the SmartClient LGPL package for sources. However, the better starting point might be the XML file that contains the complete reference documentation, which you can find in smartclientSDK/isomorphic/system/reference/referenceDocs.xml. If you create an XSLT or similar transform that works with Aptana, please share it with the community.

On "new" vs "create" - the features of SmartClient's class system are not possible to implement if you use the JavaScript "new" operator (including class method inheritance and interfaces). We would appreciate it if you lobbied the creators of Aptana to support alternative ways of creating components, as it is only a matter of time before other frameworks realize how much more is possible when you use a function (like create()) to create components.

[landofdreams]

I am trying to lobby the creators of Aptana to support other ways of creating components. In fact, the same question was posted to the Aptana forum few days ago but they haven't replied yet.

Instead of the referenceDocs.xml, I have noticed and used the referenceDocs.js file. If the "new" operator problem has solved, I will create a program to transform the documentaion from referenceDocs.xml to a certain XML file of the Aptana's SmartClient plugin and I would like share the plugin with the community.

[SchlauKunde]

Any progress on Your SmartClient code assist efforts ? I have tackled this topic myself, too; but with no success until now ...

[Isomorphic]

Hi guys,

We are working on this right now, with some promising results so far. We have no release date yet, but we hope to make it available fairly soon - we realize this is something that people want. We'll announce on the blog (blog.isomorphic.com) when it's ready.

We'll also make sure to post on this thread.

Regards,
Isomorphic Software

[SchlauKunde]

Good to hear that comprehensive, context-sensitive SC code assist is on its way :-) !

I have just discovered the "Widget Initialization Templates" in the SmartClient_Widgets_Guide.pdf (version 5.2; around 2005).

These templates could make for a good starting point when it comes to SC component creation ... :-) So are they available in raw text format ? And for the latest version 6.5.1 ?

[Isomorphic]

Those have been superceded by the countless feature explorer examples, which are much more specific to actual use cases.

[Isomorphic]

Code assist is here! Check out the blog.

[Isomorphic]

In case anyone is having difficulty getting the plugin working, please recheck the blog (http://blog.isomorphic.com) - we've posted a couple of troubleshooting tips.

We'd also like to encourage everyone who tries out the plugin to post feedback in the blog comments - successes, failures, tips for working around installation or usage problems, improvement suggestions, just your feedback generally.

[SchlauKunde]

Those have been superceded by the countless feature explorer examples, which are much more specific to actual use cases.

The create()-methods with full support for object literal properties - optional/mandatory, possible/default values, help - are still missing from the current code assist; so I decided to provide some templates for them myself ...

BUT: They are NOT listed in "referenceDocs.js/xml", and I am NOT willing to put them together manually ... by browsing through countless Feature Explorer Examples ...

So could You please make those ISC component creation templates from older times available again in an updated version ?

[Isomorphic]

Dare I say it, it is a free product. If you to create a script or SmartClient application that could generate such templates from the referenceDocs.xml file (there is enough information there) or from the ScriptDoc file in the Aptana plugin (probably simpler), it would be a welcome addition to the free Aptana plugin.