My WordPress-GSoC Idea

Post by: bingorabbit
Published on April 1st, 2009
Filed under: GSoC, WordPress
Tags: , , , , ,

I have been thinking for 2 weeks or so – actually it was since I published WordCampEgypt.com -, what if we can have a Code Editor in the WordPress Admin Panel Plugin/Theme Editing pages? I’m bored of logging into my FTP account, grab the file and edit it locally and then re-upload it just because I can’t be comfortable editting it online though the admin panel with this grayesh color all over the code. Even if I’m just adding one line or two, sometimes I can’t reach exactly the point I need because I get lost – even with my glasses -.

So, I thought of this idea, is to have a code syntax highlighter that can facilitate this this, with adding some other features like identation to these pages which will make it look better. The very first version of the project will only support the Syntax Highlighting thing, with the Identation Support and Line Numbering.

I’m going to propose the idea to Lloyd and see if WordPress will like it. But if you have more features that can be added, we can start discussing them here. Till now I thought about:

  • Working on multiple files using tabs.
  • Creating new files.
  • Auto saving online hands-on files.
  • Auto complete feature
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Syntax Validation

Till now I dunnu even how it can be implemented, but mostly it will be using JavaScript, a lot of JavaScript :D, Something like TinyMCE but for code. I will start looking around for similar implementations and update you with what I have found.

..or you may would like to check other posts that can be useful..

  1. Not accepted in GSoC 2009
  2. Wordpress Hack
  3. WordPress is Participating in GSoC 2009
  4. Bespin
  5. phpBB styles

5 Responses to “My WordPress-GSoC Idea”

  1. MMF says:
    April 1, 2009 at 5:41 PM

    Nice ,
    me3ak ya ryes :)

    Reply
  2. Beau Lebens says:
    April 2, 2009 at 3:18 AM

    The current editor (in WP 2.8) includes a new (pretty basic) syntax highlighting module, so that part is already taken care of. It also has some code lookup functionality to help people find documentation for the code they’re working on.

    Some of your more advanced ideas there sound interesting. I’d personally be interested in seeing some things like:

    – jump to line function
    – “find”
    – “find and replace” (perhaps with Regex support?)
    – Preview (for the theme editor) would be neat (albeit tricky)

    I implemented some of these via JavaScript in webpad (http://dentedreality.com.au/projects/webpad/)

    HTH, and don’t forget to submit your formal application via the GSoC website for consideration!

    Beau (one of the mentors)

    Reply
  3. Jake Spurlock says:
    April 2, 2009 at 6:17 AM

    Love the idea, honestly though… Cyberduck plus TextWrangler can be pretty quick if you have it set up for quick edits…

    Reply
    • bingorabbit says:
      April 2, 2009 at 1:23 PM

      I’m gonna check this, the thing that really matters now that I figured out that it will be added in 2.8 so I’m going to check how does it look like now..then see what can be done :)

      Thanks for passing by.

      Reply

Leave a Reply