How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#1

Post by hdante » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 9:47 PM UTC

# Choose:

a) I wouldn't pay anything

b) I would pay 1 dollar

c) I would pay 10 dollars

d) I would pay 100 dollars

e) I would pay 1000 dollars

f) This editor already exists, it's __________________ (write in the comments)

# Features:

* free, open source software

* UNIX portable

* base program fits in embedded system (* scalable plugin architecture up to IDE level

* terminal (CLI) support

* graphical (GUI) support

* conformat, easy to use, human interface guidelines (shortcuts, layout)

* all features ready to use, no initial configuration necessary

* jump to definition

* jump to line

* split windows

* multiple files

* line and column numbers

* long line wrapping

* automatic refactoring (rename, reorder, control structures, etc.)

* regex search and replace

* shortcuts operating on full symbols (delete symbol, next symbol, etc.)

* symbol checking (misspelling)

* automatic indentation

* vertical selection and filling

* block indentation

* block comments

* help integration (man, info, devhelp, web, doxygen)

* project support/build system integration (meson, cmake, etc.)

* pkg-config integration

* syntax highlight

* extra whitespace pruning

* searching through the project (vcs, dir)

* unicode

* mouse/clipboard support even in terminal mode

* debugging

* parsing

* bonus: version control system integration (commits, etc.)

* bonus: diff/patch integration

* bonus: fast operation with long lines

* bonus: fast syntax highlighting for large files

* bonus: block folding

* bonus: input method for symbols (greek letters, unicode symbols, etc.)

* bonus: coding style lenses (file style vs. visible style)

* bonus: collaborative programming

* bonus: video streaming

* bonus: Windows support

* bonus: embedded OS support

* bonus: plugin store

* bonus: API store

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#2

Post by uberman » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 10:07 PM UTC

I don't really want to get into an item by item argument. Rather I'll ask, what do you propose that is the essential missing feature you seek that is not already covered by one of the many available options out there?

At the moment, for me I would pay nothing as there are lots of editor options that I already use and already fill my needs.

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#3

Post by nomorecommas » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 10:19 PM UTC

I don't see anything on this list I can't already do in Emacs with support from a few external tools. I would not pay for your text editor.

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#4

Post by geoah » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 11:12 PM UTC

nomorecommas wrote: post #3

I don't see anything on this list I can't already do in Emacs with support from a few external tools. I would not pay for your text editor.

Option f was “there is already an editor like this ___” or something like that. That might have been a bit more polite.

Emacs imo doesn’t really match what op is proposing. Specifically the part about user experience.

> * conformat, easy to use, human interface guidelines (shortcuts, layout) > * all features ready to use, no initial configuration necessary

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#5

Post by geoah » Tue, Dec 21, 2021, 11:17 PM UTC

I’d probably be willing to pay 100 usd for a terminal based version of something that resembles vscode in terms of user experience and easy of use rather than the rabbit hole that are vim/emacs. Language server support would be great as it would make the transition easier.

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#6

Post by lordkrandel » Wed, Dec 22, 2021, 12:09 AM UTC

f) Why would you care when you have nvim? (Adapted from Trainspotting)

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#7

Post by AnimalMuppet » Wed, Dec 22, 2021, 12:16 AM UTC

I'm not sure that "fits in an embedded system (< 1 MB memory)" and "GUI" are compatible. At least, many (most?) embedded systems with less than 1 MB of memory don't have GUIs.

Re: How much would you pay for development of a text editor with these features?

#8

Post by db48x » Wed, Dec 22, 2021, 2:04 AM UTC

geoah wrote: post #4

nomorecommas wrote: post #3

I don't see anything on this list I can't already do in Emacs with support from a few external tools. I would not pay for your text editor.

Option f was “there is already an editor like this ___” or something like that. That might have been a bit more polite. Emacs imo doesn’t really match what op is proposing. Specifically the part about user experience. > * conformat, easy to use, human interface guidelines (shortcuts, layout) > * all features ready to use, no initial configuration necessary

Nobody can agree on which software is easy to use, or which guidelines to follow, or which things count as configuration.

For example, if I put my source code in a different directory than you do, do I have to configure anything? Does that even count as configuration? My compiler is in /gnu/store/…, and yours is in /usr/bin. Oops, one of us has to configure something. You write in code Raku and I write in Self. Oops, more configuration. It’s an incoherent goal.

Emacs has 1.3 million lines of code that you don’t have to reinvent, all written in a language that is extensible and doesn’t need a lengthy compilation and restart cycle every time you make a change.