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Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

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Re: Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

#62

Post by corysama »

csomar wrote: post #46

I use VIM. You can read my configuration here: http://omarabid.com/my-vim-configuration/

Meanwhile, back on topic, has anyone here tried Vim.js? It's the full, real vim. But, I'm interested in how well a vim expert thinks it works.

http://coolwanglu.github.io/vim.js/streamlinejs/vim.html

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

#63

Post by TylerJewell »

task_queue wrote: post #23

No, because none of them contain the static analysis and developer tools one comes to expect from a competent IDE. Also coding in the browser has been a miserable experience.

These sorts of issues are quickly going away. While it is true they have not been entirely eliminated, there are some architectures rolling out that should eliminate them. There are a couple technology problems various teams are trying to solve. First is that the editing experience has to be local fast. The new Monaco project coming out from Microsoft soon is an adaptation of Atom that is getting to near desktop editing speeds, including aspects related to Content Assist that require processing of large files in near real time. The second is internet connectivity. Increasingly, the editors that are being embedded in the browser will have transient services that can co-locate within the browser, enabling continued editing / saving even while the connection is offline. These technologies, as they mature and the edge cases are ironed out, should work to improve this concern.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

#65

Post by pokoleo »

saboot wrote: post #31
maratd wrote: post #21

Yup, I have Cloud9 installed locally on my own server. All my coding is done through it. Fast, easily accessible over VPN, and complete control. Love having multiple terminals open right up on my server in the IDE and just flip through them using tabs.

This looks great, it could be a good tool for setting up dev environments for student interns. Not sure how well the C++ is. Their documentation [1] doesn't list how to install privately, nor is the pricing for private setups clear. Could you share how you set this up, and how much it costs? https://docs.c9.io/v1.0/docs/picking-a-plan

Why would you use anything other than "standard" dev environments for student interns?

You've probably ironed out many kinks in your dev environment, and can help them when they run into them. You run risks at alienating your interns with un-manageable errors.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

#67

Post by filearts »

mmgutz wrote: post #54
filearts wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On both points, that is the exact opposite of my experience doing Node.js/Javascript/CSS/HTML in Cloud9IDE. It is clear that the browser environment imposes some restrictions on what an online IDE can do (restricted hotkeys, no on-machine filesystem access). Notwithstanding that, I've come to prefer the Cloud9IDE environment over local options and love being able to pick-up where I left off as I switch between comput…

You can do that with Vim/Emacs, tmux on less than $5/mo VPS. Chrome has a pretty good SSH terminal extension.

I only program as a hobby. Cloud9IDE and other cloud services have let me build a site / service that is ranked in the top 9k globally (per Alexa) without having to fuss about this sort of thing.

There are many things I could do given the time and interest. Learning everything needed to get where I am has taken lots of time that I feel is better spent providing direct value to the product and its users vs. wondering what the 'optimal' dev environment might look like.

Re: Ask HN: Is anyone using a web IDE for most of their development work?

#70

Post by jtheory »

_cipher_ wrote: post #34
task_queue wrote: post #23

No, because none of them contain the static analysis and developer tools one comes to expect from a competent IDE. Also coding in the browser has been a miserable experience.

> Also coding in the browser has been a miserable experience. Basically that ^. Having tried some web IDEs, I can say it's not a pleasant situation when browser crashes or hangs. Putting aside local tools or whatever, the editor must must be available at all times, with or without internet connection. At least that's my view. :)

Heck, even email in a browser still is rough going, and I'm using a webmail interface Google has been working on for ages now, in Google's own browser -- but I still write most of my emails in a native mail application.

"Edit X from any anywhere" is a great idea, and "Every time you open the application you'll automatically have the newest version" is a great idea, but when you add them together and get "our application will run in the browser" it falls flat (still) in crucial ways.

Just basic workflow -- work on your code in the browser-based IDE, then (in the same browser, with your multiple tabs and windows) go dig up some ideas on SO, check your gmail... Now flip back quickly to your IDE. Oh -- but it's not in your dock/taskbar, or Alt-tab menu. Which of those browser windows was it in?

You can work around this by tweaking your workflow, and obviously Google in particular is working on browser apps that bridge the gap; I use Postman in Chrome, and that's a better experience. But this is more important than I think a lot of people realized.

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