Integrating Jedi Autocomplete With FoxDot Discussion
Hey everyone! 👋 I've been diving deep into integrating Jedi, the awesome autocompletion and static analysis library for Python, with the FoxDot IDLE. My goal? To bring you guys a seamless autocomplete experience and function docstrings right at your fingertips while you're jamming with FoxDot. 🎶
The Quest for Autocomplete in FoxDot
For those of you who aren't familiar, FoxDot is a fantastic live coding environment for Python, especially popular in the algorave scene. It lets you create music in real-time using Python code, which is super cool. However, one thing that's been missing is robust autocompletion. Imagine typing P and having all the FoxDot Player names pop up, or hitting a key and seeing the available methods for a specific object. That's the dream, right?
Why Jedi? Well, Jedi is known for its accuracy and ability to understand Python code deeply. It's used in many popular editors and IDEs, so it's a solid choice for bringing autocompletion to FoxDot. The journey hasn't been without its bumps, but I've managed to get something functional, and I'm pretty stoked about it. 🤩
My Progress So Far
I've managed to get Jedi working within the FoxDot environment to the point where it provides autocompletions for FoxDot functions and objects. This means that when you're typing code, you'll get suggestions for available functions, methods, and attributes, making the coding process much smoother and faster. No more guessing or constantly referring to the documentation! 🎉
Here’s a sneak peek at what I’ve achieved:
As you can see in the image, the autocompletion suggestions are popping up, which is a huge step forward. However, it's not perfect yet. There are still some adjustments needed to make it truly polished and user-friendly. For instance, the presentation of the suggestions could be improved, and I need to fine-tune the context in which completions are offered to avoid cluttering the screen with irrelevant options.
Challenges and Adjustments
One of the main challenges I've faced is ensuring that Jedi understands the dynamic nature of FoxDot. FoxDot uses some advanced Python techniques to create its live coding environment, which can be tricky for static analysis tools like Jedi to follow. This means I've had to do some tweaking to help Jedi understand FoxDot's code structure and provide accurate suggestions.
Here are a few areas that still need some love:
- Suggestion Filtering: Sometimes, Jedi provides too many suggestions, including things that aren't relevant in the current context. I need to implement better filtering to show only the most useful options.
- Docstring Integration: I want to make it so that when you select a suggestion, you also see the docstring for that function or method. This would be super helpful for quickly understanding how to use different parts of FoxDot.
- Performance: Autocompletion needs to be fast and responsive. I'm keeping a close eye on performance to make sure the integration doesn't slow down the coding experience.
The Big Question: Should We Integrate This? 🤔
This brings me to the main point of this post: I'd love to get your feedback on whether this Jedi integration is something the FoxDot community would find valuable. Would you guys be excited to have autocompletion and docstrings in FoxDot?
A Modular Approach
I'm thinking that this functionality could be added as an optional feature, similar to how the FoxDot[midi] extra is handled today. This means that users who want autocompletion can install the necessary dependencies (like Jedi) and enable the feature, while those who don't need it can stick with the core FoxDot installation. This keeps the core package lean and avoids adding unnecessary dependencies for everyone.
Why an Optional Feature?
- Flexibility: Not everyone needs autocompletion. Some users might prefer a minimal setup, while others might want all the bells and whistles.
- Dependencies: Jedi and its dependencies can add to the installation size. Making it optional allows users to choose whether they want to install these extra packages.
- Maintenance: An optional feature can be maintained separately, allowing for more focused development and updates.
Call for Feedback and Collaboration 🤝
I'm really keen to hear what you guys think about this approach. Would an optional Jedi integration be a good fit for FoxDot? Are there any other features or improvements you'd like to see?
If this sounds like a worthwhile addition, I'm happy to continue working on it and submit a pull request (PR). But before I do, I want to make sure it's something the community wants and that I'm heading in the right direction.
Next Steps: The Pull Request Path 🚀
If the consensus is positive, my next step would be to polish the integration, address the challenges I mentioned earlier, and prepare a pull request for the FoxDot repository. This would involve:
- Cleaning up the code: Making sure the code is well-organized, readable, and follows FoxDot's coding style.
- Adding tests: Writing unit tests to ensure the autocompletion feature works correctly and doesn't introduce any regressions.
- Improving the user experience: Fine-tuning the autocompletion behavior, docstring display, and overall responsiveness.
- Documentation: Adding clear instructions on how to install and use the Jedi integration.
Contributing to FoxDot: A Community Effort
I believe that open-source projects like FoxDot thrive on community contributions. This Jedi integration is just one example of how we can work together to make FoxDot even better. If you're interested in contributing to FoxDot, whether it's through code, documentation, or feedback, I encourage you to get involved! 🎉
Let's make FoxDot the best live coding environment out there!
Final Thoughts: Let's Make Some Music! 🎶
So, what do you guys think? Is Jedi integration a go? Let me know your thoughts, suggestions, and any concerns you might have in the comments below. I'm excited to hear your feedback and hopefully bring this feature to FoxDot soon!
Thanks for reading, and happy coding (and music-making)! 🎵💻
