Integrating Jedi Autocomplete With FoxDot An Enhancement Proposal
Hey everyone! I'm super excited to share my progress on integrating Jedi, a powerful autocompletion library, with FoxDot, the interactive environment for live coding music. I've been diving deep into this project to bring you guys a seamless coding experience with autocompletion and docstring support right at your fingertips. Imagine typing in a FoxDot function and having all the details pop up instantly – that's the goal!
The Vision: Autocomplete and Docstrings in FoxDot
My main goal here is to enhance the FoxDot IDLE by incorporating Jedi's autocompletion capabilities. Autocomplete is a game-changer, especially when you're in the flow of live coding. It helps you write code faster, reduces typos, and makes it easier to explore the library's functions and parameters. Plus, having docstrings readily available means you can quickly understand what a function does and how to use it without breaking your creative stride.
Think of it this way: you're in the middle of a performance, experimenting with different sounds and rhythms. You want to try a new FoxDot function, but you can't quite remember the exact syntax or the available options. With Jedi integration, you simply start typing, and a list of suggestions appears, along with helpful documentation. No more frantic searches through the manual – everything you need is right there in the editor.
This integration isn't just about convenience; it's about empowering musicians and coders to explore the full potential of FoxDot. By making the library more accessible and intuitive, we can encourage experimentation and creativity. It's like having a knowledgeable assistant who's always ready to offer suggestions and guidance.
My Progress So Far
I've made some significant strides in getting Jedi and FoxDot to play nicely together. I've managed to achieve a functional level of autocompletion and docstring support. It's still a work in progress, but the core functionality is there, and it's already making a difference in my own coding workflow. The image I've shared gives you a glimpse of what I've accomplished – you can see the autocompletion suggestions popping up as I type.
However, as you can probably tell from the screenshot, there are still some adjustments needed. The autocompletion list might not be perfectly formatted, or the suggestions might not always be the most relevant. That's where I'm hoping to get some feedback and collaboration from the FoxDot community.
The Road Ahead: Refining the Integration
My next steps involve refining the autocompletion logic, improving the presentation of suggestions, and ensuring that the integration is robust and reliable. I want to make sure that the autocompletion works seamlessly in all situations, whether you're writing simple scripts or complex live coding routines.
One area I'm particularly focused on is performance. Autocompletion needs to be fast and responsive; otherwise, it can become more of a hindrance than a help. I'm exploring different ways to optimize the Jedi integration to minimize any performance impact.
Another key aspect is customization. I believe it's important to give users control over how autocompletion works. For example, some users might prefer to see more detailed docstrings, while others might want a more concise view. I'm thinking about adding options to configure the autocompletion behavior to suit individual preferences.
A Question for the Community: Feature Inclusion
This brings me to my main question for the FoxDot community: would it be possible to add this functionality to the main FoxDot distribution? I envision it as an optional feature, similar to how FoxDot[midi] is handled today. This would allow users to install the Jedi integration if they want it, without adding unnecessary dependencies for those who don't.
I believe this integration could significantly enhance the FoxDot experience for many users. Autocomplete and docstrings are essential tools for modern coding, and bringing them to FoxDot would make the environment even more powerful and user-friendly.
Adding it as an optional feature seems like a good way to strike a balance between providing advanced functionality and keeping the core FoxDot package lean and focused. This approach would also allow us to iterate on the integration and refine it based on user feedback.
Call for Collaboration: Let's Make This Happen
I'm reaching out to you guys, the FoxDot community, for your thoughts and feedback. Do you think this Jedi integration would be a valuable addition to FoxDot? Are there any specific features or improvements you'd like to see?
If there's enough interest and support, I'm happy to adjust my code and submit a pull request. I believe this is a collaborative effort, and I'm excited to work with the community to make this integration the best it can be.
I'm also open to suggestions on how to best package and distribute the integration. Should it be a separate package, or should it be included as an optional dependency in the main FoxDot package? These are the kinds of questions I'd love to discuss with you guys.
Addressing the Visuals: Fine-Tuning the User Experience
As you can see from the image, the current implementation is still a bit rough around the edges. The visual presentation of the autocompletion suggestions needs some work. I'm planning to explore different ways to format the suggestions to make them more readable and visually appealing.
This includes things like:
- Highlighting the matching text in the suggestions.
- Using different colors or icons to indicate the type of suggestion (e.g., function, variable, class).
- Displaying the docstring snippet alongside the suggestion.
I want the autocompletion to feel like a natural extension of the FoxDot environment, not a clunky add-on. This means paying attention to the details and ensuring that the user experience is smooth and intuitive.
Diving Deeper: Technical Considerations
For those of you who are interested in the technical details, here's a bit more about how the Jedi integration works. I'm using Jedi's powerful static analysis capabilities to understand the structure of FoxDot code. This allows Jedi to provide accurate and relevant autocompletion suggestions.
The integration involves several key steps:
- Parsing the FoxDot code to build an abstract syntax tree (AST).
- Using Jedi to analyze the AST and identify potential completions.
- Filtering and sorting the completions to show the most relevant suggestions.
- Displaying the suggestions in the FoxDot IDLE.
One of the challenges I've faced is dealing with FoxDot's dynamic nature. FoxDot uses some advanced Python techniques that can make static analysis tricky. However, Jedi is surprisingly robust, and I've been able to work around most of the issues.
Long-Term Vision: Beyond Autocomplete
While autocompletion and docstrings are my primary focus right now, I see this Jedi integration as a foundation for even more advanced features in the future. For example, we could potentially use Jedi to provide:
- Code navigation: Jump to the definition of a function or variable.
- Refactoring tools: Rename variables and functions safely.
- Static analysis: Detect potential errors and bugs in your code.
These features would further enhance the FoxDot coding experience and make it an even more powerful tool for live coding and music creation.
Final Thoughts: Let's Build the Future of FoxDot Together
I'm incredibly passionate about this project, and I believe it has the potential to make a real difference in the FoxDot community. I'm excited to hear your thoughts and work together to bring this vision to life.
So, what do you think, guys? Let me know your feedback, ideas, and suggestions. If you're interested in contributing, please don't hesitate to reach out. Together, we can make FoxDot even better!