IDE Coolbar

[staratel20]

I have no problem discussing this in public. I just wanted the right person to see it — someone who can actually implement it 🙂

I have some code that was generated by “my friend” (the first letter is 'A' and the last one, you can guess, is 'I' )) ). I’ve tried to make it work and made some improvements — mainly fixing some errors.

But to make it fully work, you really need to see the whole picture. I’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty.

I like a lot the function Desktops, which is very convenient for debugging in different cases. And one time I thought - oh, it would be nice to have the similar feature for the project with the same interface ( I mean - the dedicated button next to the Desktops, named Layouts and absolutely the same popup menu for it ). But the concept of Layouts is essentially - saving the 'current vision' of editor with IDE break points and watch lists - so you  can activate them for certain issues (and you can name issues and you name desktops). It’s a kind of quick solution for when too many units are open and you want to get back to debugging exactly the same issue.

We can only guess how much time it will save — no IDE has such a feature today (or at least I’m not aware of any).

So I’m gladly posting the code here and welcome anyone who would like to take it and integrate it into the IDE. I would create a ticket, but I probably did that a long time ago (if I did it at all), so I’ll just attach the code here and hope it will be helpful.

[Martin_fr]

saving the 'current vision' of editor with IDE break points and watch lists - so you  can activate them for certain issues (and you can name issues and you name desktops). It’s a kind of quick solution for when too many units are open and you want to get back to debugging exactly the same issue.

I think you mean the  "session". That is everything that is stored in the *.lps file (if you didn't select to have it stored as part of the lpi).

You can easily test it, by
- backing the lps up
- making changes
- switch to another project, while switched restore the lps
- switch back
=> and all that should be restored.

Actually: nice idea.

(no, I hadn't had time to look at your attached sample, sorry...)

[staratel20]

Thanks Martin. I hope people like it and someone experienced will integrate/implement it. I believe that the guy is here)). I believe, humanity thanks to him in advance)

[staratel20]

So, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed

[JuhaManninen]

So, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed

Sorry but Open Source does not work like that. You throw out an idea and then expect others to implement it. No, you must implement it yourself. Then if others see it as good they may contribute.
You get help when you ask specific questions with code proving that you really try.

I’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty.

Yeah. Lazarus is written by many people during decades. I don't think any one single person could write such a big piece of SW.

[Martin_fr]

So, I’m wondering if someone is trying to implement it. I can help if needed

Sorry but Open Source does not work like that. You throw out an idea and then expect others to implement it. No, you must implement it yourself. Then if others see it as good they may contribute.
You get help when you ask specific questions with code proving that you really try.

I’m sure that if I had written Lazarus myself, I would have implemented this feature without much difficulty.

Yeah. Lazarus is written by many people during decades. I don't think any one single person could write such a big piece of SW.

Well, looking at "unleashed" => people throw out ideas (ok they were invited to do so), and they get done...
That said, it is rare...

IMHO, the thing about ideas is not that they get presented. But managing expectations. I have in the past picked up some ideas, but usually for stuff that I anyway work on. There I am actually glad for ideas, because I don't know how other use the tools I write (and yet I mean those tools to be used by all).

This idea... Well, I wont pick it up myself, because I have to many ideas (my own and others) on other areas already.

[staratel20]

I think another purpose of sharing ideas is to avoid working on something that someone else is already implementing. It doesn’t make much sense if two people work on the same problem and end up with nearly identical results.
So my message is basically: “Hey, I’m thinking about implementing this (not 100% sure yet). Has anyone already started working on something similar?”

I think there’s nothing wrong with being a bit lazy, especially when it comes to programming 🙂

Essentially, this improvement was inspired by laziness 🙂

[Dreihirn]

Balasz has not been active for quite a while now. If you have an idea for improvement why don't you discuss it in public? Or, when you even have code for it, send a ticket to the bug tracker (find the link on the left side-bar).

I may be wrong, but apparently the Lazarus 4.8 IDE Coolbar and all Components Palette bars lack tool tips.  At least I did not enjoy these and did not find an applicable preference to somehow activate such feature.

Please advise if:

• HOW TO find an applicable preference to activate a.m. tool tips in the Lazarus IDE if possible;
• MISSING feature and it could be some reasonable effort to add such feature to the GUI be means of TCustomListView.ToolTips or similar.

Apparently, the Lazarus IDE preferences GUI under "Umgebung" (DE) or presumably 'environment' (EN) provides a complete list of components and the names respectively, if I understand this correctly.

Concerning (2.) I would consider some later contribution efforts of my own based on any reasonable advice and some help needed where to start.

[dsiders]

Balasz has not been active for quite a while now. If you have an idea for improvement why don't you discuss it in public? Or, when you even have code for it, send a ticket to the bug tracker (find the link on the left side-bar).

I may be wrong, but apparently the Lazarus 4.8 IDE Coolbar and all Components Palette bars lack tool tips.  At least I did not enjoy these and did not find an applicable preference to somehow activate such feature.

Please advise if:

• HOW TO find an applicable preference to activate a.m. tool tips in the Lazarus IDE if possible;
• MISSING feature and it could be some reasonable effort to add such feature to the GUI be means of TCustomListView.ToolTips or similar.

Apparently, the Lazarus IDE preferences GUI under "Umgebung" (DE) or presumably 'environment' (EN) provides a complete list of components and the names respectively, if I understand this correctly.

Concerning (2.) I would consider some later contribution efforts of my own based on any reasonable advice and some help needed where to start.

My IDE Cooolbar displays hints, Component List does not.... but what kind of a hint do you need? Check your IDE Options > General settings in the Hints section.

[Dreihirn]

My IDE Cooolbar displays hints, Component List does not.... but what kind of a hint do you need? Check your IDE Options > General settings in the Hints section.

Thank you for the kind reply.

However, my IDE Cooolbar still does not display hints, even after toggling the default settings in "General" off/on and making them "Apply" before an explicit Lazarus restart.

Maybe my expectation of "tool tips" i.e. hints is wrong but hovering over the IDE Coolbar does not provide an hints. I changed my GUI to "English" and provide some screenshots to avoid further misunderstandings.

Any further ideas?

[Dreihirn]

Regarding a macOS installation I got news from the German Lazarus forum such as:

• Lazarus fixes (4.9) no hints
• Lazarus trunk (4.99) hints are displayed

My apologies for not mentioning my MacPorts Lazarus 4.8 on macOS environment earlier.

Please find my quote below:

Good news for Installing Lazarus 4.8 on a macOS 14 Sonoma Intel Mac x86_64 environment.

My five cents.