Because UDTs can have static members too I came to an idea that reminds a little to vb. There constant enumerations work like the following example:
imagine this translated to tB:Enum Direction [As Long] Left = 1 Right Up Down End Enum
thereafter in vb it's not necessary to "Dim anyVar As Direction" but one can use instantlyType Direction Static Left As Long = 1 ' i know currently not possible to assign value here Static Right As Long ' will be 2 now... Static Up As Long ' these anyway will remain constantly same value Static Down as Long End Type
now what's better about this then the current way as below?doSomething( Direction.Up ) ' assume doSomething is a Sub here...
imagine to have some autocomplete-function in some (still to develop) smart thinBasic-IDE that will bring up a list of possible subitems of types, classes and enumerations when pushing the dot-key (.) Some IDE that not just lists Udts, Functions, Subs and Callbacks in codebrowser but also only shows one function or declarations-section only per code-window, one, that is "project-oriented" - means, it loads all used #include-files to editor and also has a variables-list-tab next to codebrowser that shows global and local to current functions variables & their types. "Declarations-section" is just like code that is not contained within any function.Begin Const %Direction_Left = 1 %Direction_Right %Direction_Up %Direction_Down End Const
One that inserts "Then" automatic when user types "If ". Just push like Shift+TAB-Key to jump behind the "Then" or Shift+Return-Key to go into the next line without adding code behind "Then". The IDE will be smart enough to add some "EndIf" one line below if nothing follows "Then" . And of course - if one types "ElseIf " - automatic "Then" added too. Same behaviour of course when codeline in declarations section starts with Function/Sub/Callback Function: It'll automatic switch from declarations-section to the new Functions/Subs code and of course it has "End Function/End Sub" added automatically then.
Another feature: Pushing double-quote will automatic make double-quotes twice- one at current caret-position and one thereafter- press Shift+Tab here also to get out of the quoted part in same line, Shift+Return will jump out of the quoted part into the next line while just return will move the end-quote into the next line.
Of course all "Begin" will automatic add the "End" - no matter if Select Case, While, Do or whatever. And as mentioned - typing a dot outside quotes will bring up a list of possible members to choose from.
Oh yes, I forgot... the variables-list (tab next to codebrowser) inserts on click on a listed variable even this variable at current caret position. Variables list looks somewhat like this:
Difference is, all Functions, UDTs etc of all to project #Includeds are listed in this tree, oriented to the whole project.' this is source code ' Declarations-Section #Include "thinBasic_gl.Inc" Type t_vec3d X As Double Y As Double Z As Double Static num As Long ' holds "number_of_myVecs" Test as Function End Type Dim keepRunning As Boolean = True Dim myVec() As t_vec3d Dim foo as String = "Byte" '... ' this is current edited function displayed in code-editor Function Vec3d_GetID( Byval X as Double, Byval Y as Double, Byval Z as Double) As Long Local lID As Long Local toFind As t_Vec3d ' just for Fun: Dim noSense Like foo toFind.X = X toFind.Y = Y toFind.Z = Z If toFind.num > 0 Then lID = Array Scan myVec For toFind.num, Byte(1, SizeOf(t_vec3d)), = toFind EndIf If lID Then ' found this vec3d: Return lID Endif ' need a new one... If toFind.num = 0 Or toFind.num >= UBound(myVec) Then ' allocate more space if reach UBound ReDim Preserve myVec(toFind.num + 1000) EndIf toFind.num += 1 myVec(toFind.num) = toFind Function = toFind.num End Function ' ##################################### ' this is variables list, another Tab next to codebrowser, "local" depends on current edited function: Global keepRunning, Boolean myVec, t_vec3d, Array foo, String Local X, Double, parameter ByVal Y, Double, parameter ByVal Z, Double, parameter ByVal lID, Long toFind, t_vec3d noSense, Variable ' clicking onto a variable here will insert it to code-window at current caret position ' ##################################### ' and this is codebrowser-tree, all expanded and contains lots of information -Project "myProject" ' equals a folders name on HD -Includes "MAIN.tBasic" "thinBasic_gl.Inc" -UDTs -t_Vec3d X As Double Y As Double Z As Double Static num As Long Test As Function -Declarations -"thinBasic_gl.Inc" Function glAreTexturesResident Function gl... there's a lot of... Sub glAccum Sub gl... also a whole lot of subs declared within thinBasic_gl.Inc... -Functions -"MAIN.tBasic" TBMain '(this always listed as first) Vec3d_GetID +Subs +Callbacks +Notes
OK, that went a little out to some more than just constant type-lists abusing static udt-members as global const enumerations, but I think it contains ideas...
I'm still not sure which software (i.e. "Control") to use to write this editor, currently I prototype in TBGL(2d) because RTF is cumbersome as hell and common textbox does not allow colored code. (now since optional parameters in Type-functions work, my new nodes also work finally and also my TBGL-Treeview-Gadget- but coding itself in a TB-written editor is a little lagging, especially when it comes to create the list of possible expressions for autocomplete and on re-scanning the current function for "AS" and "LIKE" on every Return-Key hit and always re-scan if a section of code was marked before...(think of CTRL+X etc.) or if CTRL+V was pushed.
I hope one of you can see the need of some smart IDE too, one that offers a lot of overview, minimizes the amount of bugs where possible (automatic parenthesis-count in codelines, adding End to any started etc.) and increases coding speed also. Still a lot to do... maybe someone with some experience in creating coding environments will overtake and be faster...
I think there are missing some Forum-sections as beta-testing and support 
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