jmccay's Journal: The Ultimate Programmer's Development Platform

I have decided to describe my Ultimate Programmer's IDE Platform. The number one requirement is that it is a native compiled program for the CORE features, and a Java interpreted program will not do it! Java requires another program in addition to the OS or desktop software to run it--thus it is interpreted. For you Java developers, just get over it.
      The reason I require a native compiled program is because Java doesn't run fast enough on my Pentium II 350 to be a useful editor...let along a full-featured IDE. It might be doable on the Pentium III 900 that nebaz has loaned me, but that would make the speed difference between the two moot.
      It must be an MDI style program. Switching between code text windows should be easy and possible with a simple keystroke--such as Visual Studios keystroke ability. The layer movement of the text windows should move the new window to the top of the window order while pushing all windows in between back one in the order.
      The search abilities must allow for regular expression searches. I found this to be very helpful when programming with Visual Studio 6.0. The full searching abilities should be available in a scripting language or all scripting languages that can manipulate the IDE.
      That brings me to the next important feature. The IDE must be available in various scripting languages, and executable from a custom tools menu by creating a menu item with the command like " ". The bare minimum should be the text editor windows (this includes the ability to switch between the text windows) to enable the creation of scripts to automate various tasks--such as automating the upgrading of one version of a software library to another version or library. Multiple scripting languages should be available so that the right scripting language can be used for the right task.
      Another feature of having the entire IDE functionality available in scripts is the ability to customize and add new features. You can add a new feature and work out the algorithm details before committing it to a native compiled code!
      The IDE must have a class/project browser and file browser. I have found this very helpful in a large project. You must be able to automatically add functions, variables, and classes from a right click menu.
      A graphical representation of the project hierarchy is needed--like a UML diagram. Unfortunately, there is no one model to do this yet. UML is good, but to my knowledge you can't diagram functional languages and scripts. I think we need a new modeling language that allows modeling multiple design paradigms including OOP, AOP (Aspect Oriented Programming), functional, and anything else in the future.
      An integrated Dialog, or MDI, RAD (Rapid Application Design) tool that allows you to switch between manipulating the dialog with controls and editing the corresponding text, or resource, files.
      Support for multiple languages with customizable color context high lighting. It should be easy to add new context high lighting for new languages added.
      An essential feature is the ability to support multiple projects in one session. The ability to work on and view a shared source (DLL or so) along with the corresponding program that needs use it.
      Multiple compilers should be supported, or at least be easy to add support for a new compiler. This way you can keep the all these good features you like without having to learn new IDE features.
      An integrated debugger is also essential! Optionally, the ability to add a different debugger would be nice. Included with this feature would be features like call stack viewing and variable watching.
      Code role up should be provided to hide complex code that is not being worked on. This feature should be customizable to allow for new definition on what constitutes a code segment to role up.
      The last thing for now is a syntax completion feature that allows you to add, remove, and customize entries and libraries! This is a nice feature that I miss from Visual Studio since I don't have access to it anymore. This feature should also have knowledge of the current project class, variables, etc in order for it to be of the utmost usefulness.
      I might add more later on, but this is it for now. Think I have gotten all the features I like for now.