Perhaps I'm crazy or a visionary.

[Pixel_Outlaw]

Take this thought with a grain of salt. I often become very frustrated when writing graphic functions in the compiler. I wish there was a way to show what I was doing. I wish that there was visual commentary. This sounds crazy but please hear me out.


How do I let the code viewer know what side of a cube side A is in my code?
What is segment AB?
What am I processing visually?

There are many times that I can't adequate explain a visual concept in ASCII text based code. Am I the only person who has this problem? It would be cool if a compiler had a built in little vector based diagram maker. The vector based diagrams could be inserted into the source in a comment block within some tags or something. Is this just a terrible idea?

[Shockwave]

So you could insert your own little sketches into your listings you mean?

That could be useful for quite a number of things, I had never thought about it myself.
Anyway, no matter what development language you use, there always seem to be independant editors available to write the code so there would be nothing stopping you from coding your own IDE for your favourite language if you were really determined, or maybe even modifying an open source one.

You never know, the idea of diagrams within source code might catch on

[Pixel_Outlaw]

The syntax would be amusing. I'd imagine something like HTML tags within the commentary block. How would the image be stored within the source though? Some abstract binary line? It could be pages long and would look hideous in compilers not set to construct and show the image. It would not be practical to have a load of image files associated with the source either. How would the diagram data be embedded?

/*
[drawing="cube.vct"]

[/drawing
*/

This function colors side a of my cube. Ah but we have 6 faces all of which could be side A!

This little image would help the reader understand. Also it explains what edge AB is. If you were reading code wouldn't it be nice to know what the programmer was referring to visually?

[combatking0]

You could have a vector graphic rather than a bitmap, just to save space.

[zawran]

Using BlitzMax, you get the source to the IDE, so it would be possible to make changes to the code that handles the source to allow for images.

[taj]

You arent crazy, this is a great idea. I know a few programmers (ie life long professionals) who want the same thing. I have no deia why nobody builds an IDE with a built in sketch tool...infact start by trying to find a sketch tool...its not so easy! By sketch I mean something where you draw freehand, it cleans up for you and you quickly produce diagrams. I dont mean xfig or cad systems and I dont mean pixel art drawing and I dont mean drag and drop flow charts or such. Its crazy that nobody is doing this in an IDE.

[Shockwave]

What Taj said, and the diagrams could be collapsable. Maybe a little gadget to click on next to the line of code to view the visual comment, or maybe just move the mouse over the line to display the visual comment.

[rain_storm]

It would be sweet if the sketches I doodle in a notepad could actually be useful to the code I type. I sometimes spend quite a bit of time drawing out what I want to create. An IDE that could use this feature would save me so much time

[Pixel_Outlaw]

I still think this is a good idea but I have not the patience or time to impliment this into an IDE myself. More of a discussion and thinking thread really.

[Rbz]

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7eGypGOlOc

[Jim]

Interesting!  Today I got this link too
http://kotaku.com/gaming/clip/excite-your-office-colleagues-with-a-wii-whiteboard-marker-332252.php

Jim

[Rbz]

This is soooo cool, that's what I call - revolutionary idea

"Microsoft Surface" have a big trouble now 

[Shockwave]

Amazing idea!

I like that you could use it to make a cheap graphics tablet.. That is such a clever idea.