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Socoder -> Blitz -> Alternative IDE? Protean etc

Fri, 05 Oct 2007, 19:51
Forklift_Fred
Someone mentioned the Protean IDE recently and it got me thinking. I have vague memories of it being mentioned before but was happy with the original IDE at the time and didn't want to spend anymore money.

I've had a look at it and as it is now free I've download it but it won't run. I'm guessing I don't have the .net framework but I thought I'd run all updates when I got my new PC...

So my first question is a silly "how can I see if I have .net?)

Second question, are there any other free IDEs that you recommend? I'm not specifically wanting to use a different one but I've been inspired to take a look.

Views and opinions guys?

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Come rain or shine...
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 05:16
Phoenix
To find out if you have .NET, you only have to check in control panel at the "Install/Uninstall programs"-dialog.

I've barely used Protean, since it became free after I stopped using Blitz. But judging by the little I've seen, it seems to be an excellent IDE.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 05:36
Nolan
I recommend IDEal.

Put simply, it's the best--although I won't use it much until it supports BlitzMax.

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nolandc.com
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 10:40
Yo! Wazzup?
I want to start using IDEal, but I'm just too used to the Blitz IDE

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Hi everyone! I'm new to Blitz and only 10 years old so all things coding is gush to me
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 10:44
JL235
After a quick look at that link, I really like the look of IDEal.

|edit| Not literally the look, it looks ugly. But more the look of it's functionality. |edit|
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 13:31
Scherererer
I remember using Protean back in the day actually. I remember it being good, but at the time I had only used it and the default blitz IDE, so it was a major improvement. This was probably about 5 or so years ago too, so i don't know what has changed.

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Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 14:32
JL235
I'm pretty certain you can also make plugins for different languages with Visual Studio. If someone made a Blitz plugin for it I bet it would be pretty popular. SapphireSteel, the Ruby plugin for VS, starts at $200 dollars per license.
Sat, 06 Oct 2007, 14:49
Forklift_Fred
Phoenix To find out if you have .NET, you only have to check in control panel at the "Install/Uninstall programs"-dialog.


I knew it had to be that obvious! Thanks. (and no I haven't got it)

And thanks to everyone who's contributed so far...

I'll check them out tomorrow.

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Come rain or shine...
Sun, 07 Oct 2007, 23:38
tnt23
i mentioned protean recently

protean is imo the best overall, but feature-wise i'd say ideal.

a plugin for visual studio shouldn't be that hard to make, just time consuming. (but i could be wrong)

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What if this were not a hypothetical question?
Wed, 10 Oct 2007, 19:27
Forklift_Fred
Yep it was you

So anyway, I installed the .Net Framework because I also needed it for another application. Protean looks to be quite a big step from the default IDE, which I expected but I'm sure it will all fall into place soon enough.

One problem I have is a niggly one that I don't think can be fixed but I may just get over it if I use it enough... The first thing I did after a brief read of the intro stuff was customise the colours. As I did when I moved from BlitzPlus (which was the trial I started with) to Blitz3D, I set things to the scheme I was used to... I worked out what I wanted from the extra features once I knew what they did and thought everything looked good until... I spotted that the standard functions like DrawImage() etc were the same colour as the variables which just doesn't make sense

I can accept the standard functions being the same colour as the ones I write myself (although userlib functions can be a different colour, which is fair enough) but I don't was to see the following code all in one colour (apart from the string), it doesn't make sense.



Could this be the uncomfortable feeling that sends me back to default (or on to another IDE)? On that front are there any recommendations that would fit my delicate sense of colour separation?

(I'm sorry, I haven't looked at the others yet, I'll understand if you ignore me until I do. I'm just tired and a bit grumpy at the moment so I should still be up and online!)

EDIT Actually, to be fair, a very quick look at IDEal shows that it will do the colour thing so just ignore my request for recommendations, I need to find the right one for me myself!

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Come rain or shine...
Sat, 13 Oct 2007, 04:50
Afr0
If you're looking for the *ultimate* IDE, I'd like to recommend Visual C# Express Edition. You can also download Express Editions of C++, C++.NET and VB.NET, but the features of the IDE are pretty much equivalent. Contrary to what tnt23 says, if you absolutely have to code in Blitz (even though I would recommend C# anyways), there's no need to make a plugin! All you do is replace the C# compiler executable with the Blitz compiler ('blitzcc.exe' I believe it's called, if my memory serves me correctly), and you're ready to go!

For reference, the Visual C# Express Edition can be downloaded here!

|edit| And yes, it will do the colour thing. Any colour scheme that pleases you, as a matter of fact! |edit|

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Afr0 Games

Project Dollhouse on Github - Please fork!
Sat, 13 Oct 2007, 05:17
Jayenkai
*Sticks with BlitzIDE.. and Programmers Notepad for everything else.*

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''Load, Next List!''
Fri, 26 Oct 2007, 14:09
DeathKnight
New version of IDEal 0.8.94

download:https://www.fungamesfactory.com/downloads.html
Fri, 26 Oct 2007, 18:20
Forklift_Fred
Yeah, I'm quite liking IDEal. Not really using the bits at the side just yet but everything else is working out nicely for me. Liking the collapsible blocks and the ability to comment/un-comment blocks of code, oh and the level of control over the colours - went further than I ever expected

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Come rain or shine...