For example as a google summer of code project, I think it would be cool to have a plugin for a few development environments like VS.NET, Eclipse, Anjuta, Emacs, GEdit and Vim to have code completion and LXR-like cross referencing that uses web services like google codesearch.
Like for example showing the implementation of a method when hovering over it (in the hint), or simple things like a popup-menu item when right-clicking on it that says: do a google codesearch on this function. Or a full pane in your development environment that in the background loads search results of the function near where your cursor is currently located. And many other such features.
I know this sounds like total overkill. Frankly, as a developer I really really don’t care how much bandwidth, memory and CPU my development environment uses. If that helps me develop applications better and faster, then yes I want it.
Privacy issues aside maybe a team could use statistical data from Google codesearch to get information about what developers have difficulties with, and based on that information develop interesting development tools or write documentation.
Have you actually tried this? Say I was on gtk_widget_show and the auto-codesearch kicked in. The hits are in order:
– avahi 0.6.12
– gnome-libs 1.4.2
– a libart_lgpl embedded in mozilla
– txbuild
– vlc
– gtk! (yay!) 1.3.2 (oh well)
– f-spot
– wxWidgets
– gimp-print
– gtk-server
That is all of page one. I got up to page 13 looking for a reference to a recent version of GTK+ with no luck before getting bored.
You are right on that Ross, but I’m guessing that it’ll be just a matter of time for google to optimize codesearch’s results.
Even if the google search algorithm was perfect, this will give you the source to gtk_widget_show(). Which isn’t what you want, as you want the API documentation for gtk_widget_show().
This is why devhelp’s integration into Emacs rocks.
I agree. However. Whenever I start using google codesearch, I’m interested in code samples and existing softwares that used or did something that looks like what I’m doing at that moment.
As in: not reinventing the wheel, reusing concepts and ideas, etcetera.
Codecompletion might not be the right wording. I’d rather say, the integration with an IDE would be nice to have the examples immediately at the left or the right of your editor (say you have a big google screen at your office) while developing stuff.
It’s of course just an idea. I agree that API documentation is equally important.