Syntax Highlighter - Ideas/Suggestions

[thelifelessone]

I may or may not be making a new syntax highlighter for JASS2 languages (vJASS, cJASS, Zinc), and Galaxy when SC2 comes out. I won't unless I get some good ideas for extra features.

Be warned, this won't be out until 2010, when I'll be a lot less busy, but if it isn't done by summer, it'll be a lot longer (vacation in Europe. Yay. ).

But still. I wanted to get ideas, so I can better plan it.
So just throw 'em at me, and I'll see how they sound (descriptions are nice too).
This'll be in Visual Basic or C# by the way, with a port to Python sometime after summer next year.

Current features to be implemented:
- JASS highlighting.
- vJASS highlighting.
- cJASS highlighting.
- Zinc highlighting.
- Customizable themes.
- MPQ Editor.

Name suggestions are also welcome (so long as they aren't lame. )


REMEMBER!
This program depends on your ideas! Without them, it cannot be made!

Hmm. Forgot to mention. This'll be open-source when it's out of beta (version 1.0.0).

(copied from my topic on The Helper).

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So yeah, ideas are cool.
And I decided this'll be in C#.

 

[PurplePoot]

What's the advantage of yet another syntax highlighter?

 

[thelifelessone]

It'll highlight vJASS, cJASS, and Zinc.
And Galaxy once we know what it looks like.

 

[PurplePoot]

Yes, but there have been plugins done for countless text editors to do so already.

 

[thelifelessone]

Do those have a built in MPQ editor?
Easy to customize themes? The ability to compile vJASS, Zinc and cJASS (a feature I'm going to attempt)? Syntax checkers?

 

[PurplePoot]

MPQ editor: No, but I don't see the need for them. Never liked integrated tools—they always seem to do the job worse.

Easily customizable themes: yes.

Compilation: no, but there is no need.

Syntax checkers: no, but there is no need.

 

[thelifelessone]

Well they aren't going to be built in, but rather plugins that come with the tool.
So people can remove/disable them if they'd like.

 

[PurplePoot]

Compilation is totally useless though, and syntax checking can be done by saving in the editor. After all, if it's Windows-only you'll tend to have access to the editor.

 

[thelifelessone]

Some people don't have access to WC3, or NewGen, all the time.

While I'm sure we could both come up with dozens of reasons why this is or is not a waste of time, I've made up my mind. Use it or not, it's being made.

 

[syltman]

Compilation is totally useless though, and syntax checking can be done by saving in the editor. After all, if it's Windows-only you'll tend to have access to the editor.

Linux users have to compile it with the Jasshelper.exe and since there's nothing like tesh you use texteditors to make triggers and then use the //! import command.

I'd like to see cjass highlight for jEdit. It doesn't exist.

 

[thelifelessone]

This is going to be written in C#, which only really works on Windows.
I am, however, going to eventually port it to Python, which'll work on all OSes.