Nana IDE - an IDE for C++

This project aim, is to build an IDE for "modern C++", using only free tools. The aim is to use free compilers, and libraries, using C++14 or 17.

The IDE will use as a build system CMake and will support conan. That means that developers using this IDE will not have to deal with low level integration of packages - just like modern languages do (like Go, Rust, Python and Java using Gradle/Maven).

History

I always tend to write "desktop" GUIs in Qt. However - it feels too bloated, and not going to the same direction as standard C++ is. Qt was designed when C++ did not even have STL - and much of its ideas are around it.

I started writing a GUI for an IDE (how original) kept going. How long can I go?

Toolchain supported by the IDE

The build system tested mainly is GCC, just because its available. I also test using Clang on Linux. I also aim to use ccache by default, even on windows, to speed up compilation. So - the IDE will:

if $BUILDIR not available
    mkdir $BUILDIR
    conan install
    cmake -S $SOURCE -B $BUILDIR

cmake -B $BUILDIR

Which means that the user of the IDE will need to edit CMakeLists.txt - and connanfile.txt and the code will just flow. Just like in modern languages.

Tasks

1. Layout/GUI
   1. I need to be able to put buttons on the right on the toolbar. I am no using a regular toolbar. (DONE, reach the basic limit of Nana) http://nanapro.org/en-us/forum/index.php?u=/topic/1349/gghelp-with-layout-design
   2. When adding an editor from the list box click handler, the tabs are displayed but no editor is available. It goes out of scope and dies? (FIXED) http://nanapro.org/en-us/forum/index.php?u=/topic/1352/ggadding-a-new-page-to-tabbar-from-a-click-handler
   3. On startup - I zoom the window after its shown. How to do this before? How to save/restore geometry?
   4. We need a good editor. I am unsure if Nana has something usable
   5. I am not against old fashio menus - but they are obsolete. The app should have an option to display the menus - but by default, on menus will be visible.
2. IDE's build system
   1. Nana needs to be built as a shared object/DLL. This fails on build. cnjinhao/nana#601
   2. On Windows - I am unable to build png and jpeg libraries. Again - all these need to be shared.
   3. Need to investigate how to use clang on Windows.
   4. Identify how to use mingw-makefiles, this fails to work.
   5. Integrate https://github.com/TheLartians/Format.cmake into project default
3. Missing APIS
   1. Filesystem: add standard directories as Qt has.
   2. Sub shell running: need a class to start, stop (pause?) sub-proces, and read stdout/stderr - write stdin (needed?)
   3. How to detect the main target from a CMakeFile?
   4. On Linux - use native open file/directory dialogs
4. IDEs features
   1. Save open tabs
   2. New project wizard
   3. It would be nice to have markdown editor, we can use a small HTML library for rendering: https://github.com/litehtml/litehtml
   4. Project wide search
   5. Git integration
   6. We need to integrate all the cool new clang tools: format and tidy.
   7. Intgrate a language server: https://clangd.llvm.org/installation.html, https://github.com/MaskRay/ccls
   8. Integrate a debugger, gdb/lldb
   9. Set run environment: PATH, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and command line arguments for application being developed
5. Usage/installation documentation
   1. It would be nice if on runtime that would detect what needs to be installed, and would install it on demand (you are missing CMake, CCache and a compiler -> click here to install them).