913998 - Developer Tools as Add-on SDK IDE

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(DevTools :: General, enhancement)

Description

[arky [:arky]]

Here is suggestion for making Add-on SDK development easier with devtools. This can be implemented as part of devtools or as addon for scratchpad.


1. Open Scratchpad
2. Select 'Create a new addon' from SDK menu item. Scratchpad creates simple addon in a (pre-selected) empty directory.
4. Once the basic addon is created, scratchpad adds new submenu item SDK > Files > [Lib/Data etc]
3. Select SDK > Files > Lib > main.js menu item
4. Write some code
5. Save
6. Execute SDK > Run

Comment 1

[Jeff Griffiths (:canuckistani) (:⚡︎)]

Hey!

Generally, we are working towards much better add-on developer tools in the browser. The first item however is changing how Firefox loads SDK-based add-ons to make it easier and simpler to develop use a folder. Your spec covers this but we don't have a solid plan yet for the other implied work, in particular using scratchpad to edit add-on code. 

Wouldn't it be better just to use your own editor, then reload the extension in Firefox? I already have a workflow like this using Wladimir Palant's 'Extension Auto-installer' extension.

Comment 2

[arky [:arky]]

(In reply to Jeff Griffiths (:canuckistani) from comment #1)
> Hey!
> 
> Wouldn't it be better just to use your own editor, then reload the extension
> in Firefox? I already have a workflow like this using Wladimir Palant's
> 'Extension Auto-installer' extension.

Thank you for the response Jeff. Good to hear that we are making progress. I haven't tried the Extension Auto-installer work-flow yet. It seems to certainly improve the work flow for add-on developers. 

My vision is to use Add-on SDK as duct-tape quick fixes for everyday internet annoyances. When you encounter
a problem in web page: investigate it, write a quick function and turn it into an add-on without ever leaving the browser. 

This would also encourage people to learn and contribute to Mozilla Firefox. Perhaps developing Firefox Add-on 
would be first step towards becoming Firefox core contributors.

Comment 3

[Jeff Griffiths (:canuckistani) (:⚡︎)]

(In reply to arky [:arky] from comment #2)

> My vision is to use Add-on SDK as duct-tape quick fixes for everyday
> internet annoyances. When you encounter
> a problem in web page: investigate it, write a quick function and turn it
> into an add-on without ever leaving the browser. 

I think you'd be really interested in Matteo's demo from the last work week - he implemented an add-on that did essentially this, for CSS only. need'infoing him.

Comment 4

[Paul Rouget [:paul]]

We want project management + file edition for app developers too. If you guys move forward here, let's make sure we sync up.

Comment 5

[Matteo Ferretti [:zer0] [:matteo]]

(In reply to arky [:arky] from comment #2)

> My vision is to use Add-on SDK as duct-tape quick fixes for everyday
> internet annoyances. When you encounter
> a problem in web page: investigate it, write a quick function and turn it
> into an add-on without ever leaving the browser. 

Hi Arky, during the last work week, my demo was exactly something like that: it is currently limited to stylesheet only, the idea I worked around was that you could go in a website, and "record" the changes you make via the devtools to the page (Style Editor, Rules Editor…). So for instance you could use the inspector to point an element, changes the style for that element, and continues until the page looks as you wish. At that point, you can export those changes as add-on that can be shared.

I'm currently working to transform the prototype I made during the work week in something usable. I will keep you updated!

> 
> This would also encourage people to learn and contribute to Mozilla Firefox.
> Perhaps developing Firefox Add-on 
> would be first step towards becoming Firefox core contributors.

Comment 6

[Jan Honza Odvarko [:Honza] (always need-info? me)]

Scratchpad has been deprecated, closing.

Honza