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April 25, 2006
Barista: An Implementation Framework for Enabling New Tools, Interaction Techniques, and Views in Code Editors
Andrew J. Ko, Brad A. Myers, Carnegie Mellon University,
USA
Toolkit that enables the creation of structured code editors
with visualizations, annotations and alternative views
embedded in code. Helps editor designers explore new tools
not possible with textual code editors.
The goal is to innovate within code editors, through improving usability, user experience and making it more fun.
The problem with current editors is that the rows of characters are restrictive, and it´s hard to customize.
Features if Barista (part of the Marmelade project) include:
- Comments using pictures and diagrams.
- Text transformation. A formula appears as a mathematical formula, but is transformed into textual format when clicked on.
- Blocks of text can be shrunk to half the size.
Details and screenshots
Limitations:
- Because it´s graphical, the developer cannot code remotely.
- An editor designer is required.
- Performance is a problem, since there are 1000´s of floating objects.
- The code has to be serialized instead of plain text.
Future goals:
- Create a more stable version, going from alpha to beta.
- Making the software Open source is considered.
Posted by sv2 at April 25, 2006 12:56 PM