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Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

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Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#131
In my mind this a convenient approach for developers to map the code into a two dimensional space in a spread-out way. It is similar to method of loci[1] that the develpoper spacially elaborately encode the code snippets and their connections to strengthen the memory thus strengthen the comprehension. I boldly suggest considering ading an option for a background pattern which is not distracting but a little bit informative. I don't have a specific one in mind but consider if the background is a world map, users will remember the location they want to find faster and also locate themselves faster.

Following this line of thought, I think allowing user to define tab border color or even to add different noise for each tab worth considering (noise fades with zoom level and distance to the view port center).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci

Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#132

So this is a major side question, but is there a go-to open source infinite canvas? I'm building a card game and I need a multiplayer infinite canvas for it. I'd appreciate any recommendations.

https://reactflow.dev/

Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#134

Beware, canvas-based code editors (like Code Bubbles) have problems. A 1d carousel/ribbon performed better in some initial user studies: https://austinhenley.com/pubs/Henley2014CHI_Patchworks.pdf

I was always surprised that Code Bubbles got so little airtime...

Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#135

Does this project take any inspiration from Light Table? Potential feature request - take the visualization beyond 2D. Really complex systems are usually an intricate graph (polite way of saying ball of yarn) and just visualizing in the 2D plane doesn't seem to cut it in my experience. I would love to have something like concentric spheres of visualization - boundary services on the outer layer, core/domain services…

Not just Light Table from 2010s, but also I would expect that the authors know about Oberon from late 1980s. It also features code on a boundless canvas.

Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#137
Reminds me of a hackathon submission I did for a Neo4j Hackathon. I remember winning some money :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTsnSxyO6MY

It will be great if you are able to run tests on the codebase and watch the entire graph light-up in different colors. This is much cooler way to depict test coverage and also identify the most heavily used part of the codebase.

Re: Launch HN: Haystack (YC S24) – Visualize and edit code on an infinite canvas

#138
Reminds me a bit of the old smalltalk GUI. It had this sort of "object editing" capability IIRC. Actually, smalltalk could connect different data types, such as code, images, videos, presentations, docs, etc into a cohesive whole. Not as polished as your demo of course , but that was the core idea.
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