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Re: ObjC method syntax (was: Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs)
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Re: ObjC method syntax (was: Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs)


  • Subject: Re: ObjC method syntax (was: Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs)
  • From: Erik Hanson <email@hidden>
  • Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 11:44:45 -0800

On Feb 25, 2004, at 9:14 AM, Allan Odgaard wrote:
On 25. Feb 2004, at 13:42, Glen Low wrote:

Another thing, hopefully not further adding fuel to another language war, on the topic of ease of syntax...

The [ ] call syntax of ObjC still bugs me. Suppose I want to call method alloc, so I start typing: [...]

I couldn't agree more! I too often face this problem, and I think it is a classic.

I have considering automating inserting the start bracket if it is missing. The only problem is that if we write:

[obj1 msg] msg:[obj2 msg] msg:something]

It would not be able to know where to place the start bracket. Sometimes it would be possible to know it based on object types (and which methods they implement), but probably not in most of the cases -- I was thinking it best just to insert it as far away as possible, as that would require the most crsr movements to do manually, and thus would generally be of more value (and statistically I would also think that this is generally where one most often omits it) -- a friend of mine suggested allowing to cycle through positions e.g. with escape, I don't know how well that will work (but it is worth a shot).

I agree that this is a great problem for an editor to solve. Lots of language deficiencies can be solved with a smart editor. For example, in Java, you're always importing classes. Smart IDEs like Eclipse and IDEA will automatically generate and remove the import statements for you.

I agree with your friend's cycling suggestion. You could try implementing it much like application switching is done with command-tab. For example, typing command-[ would insert the bracket in the closest position. But *holding down* the command key while typing "[" would temporarily put the bracket in the closest position. You could then keep hitting "[" to move it farther and farther away. When you release the command key, the bracket gets permanently inserted into the current location.

This would be great for parentheses too. I often start an if condition like this: "if ( a == b )" and then I remember I need to add another condition: "if ( a == b ) && ( b == c ) )". I'd love to be able to hit command-( to have my editor insert the "(" right after the "if".

BTW, are you writing an editor or something?


--
Erik Hanson
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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: ObjC method syntax (was: Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs)
      • From: Ondra Cada <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs (From: Glen Low <email@hidden>)
 >ObjC method syntax (was: Re: cocoa-dev digest, Vol 2 #3738 - 11 msgs) (From: Allan Odgaard <email@hidden>)

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