dmd support for IDEs and the D tool chain

[Denis Koroskin]

On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:06:59 +0400, Jacob Carlborg <doob at me.com> wrote:

> Here is my thoughts and what I think is needed to build a really good  
> IDE and maybe get some attention from the enterprise. It's really not  
> enough for the compiler to output some json for an IDE to use, the whole  
> tool chain needs to be revised.
>
> Compiler:
>   * Written in D
>   * Supports all major platform
>   * 32 and 64bit support
>   * Doesn't have annoying bugs like forward reference errors and problem
>     with the linker
>   * Built with and IDE in mind
>   * Can be built as a (dynamic)library
>   * Can build dynamic libraries
>   * Supports incremental builds
>   * Has clearly separate components, especially the front- and back-end.
>   * Has a license that allows it to be built into an IDE and/or shipped
>     with an IDE
>   * Basically something like LLVM + Clang
>
> Compiler or separate tool:
>   * Automatically tracks all dependencies and builds the
>     application/library (like DSSS)
>
> GUI library:
>   * Written in D
>   * Supports all major platforms (mac, linux, win)
>   * Uses native controls (as much as possible) to draw its controls
>   * Supports (de)serializing controls (Glade, nib)
>
> IDE:
>   * Written in D
>   * Be able to show syntax and semantic errors as you type
>   * Autocompletion
>   * Refactoring
>   * Building
>   * Supports incremental builds
>   * Basically something like Eclipse JDT
>
> GUI builder:
>   * Supports (de)serializing controls (Glade, nib)
>   * Basically something like Interface Builder, Glade
>
>
> All of the above would be the most optimal. For example, everything  
> don't have to be built in D but for building an IDE in D I think that it  
> would be easier.
>

I can't agree more. Everything you wrote is in my TODO list, starting with  
a compiler, which already compiles most of the druntime (and hopefully  
will compile it fully by the end of this week). I'll release it to public  
as soon as Brad creates a project page at dsource.