newbie question - how do you set up a GUI IDE for QB64?

[madscijr]

Hi everyone

I would like to finally start using a more full-featured GUI IDE for developing QB64 programs.

For one thing I've been doing a lot of coding with user defined types,
and would like IntelliSense when using those variables.
For example if we have

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. Type MyWidgetType
2.     name As String
3.     color As Long
4.     height As Long
5. End Type
6. Type MyType
7.     name As String
8.     widget As MyWidgetType
9. End Type
10. Main
11. Sub Main
12.     Dim MyVar As MyType
13.     MyVar.name = "bob"
14.     MyVar.widget.name = "gimble"
15.     'etc...
16. End Sub ' Main
17.  

when we're editing our code inside a scope where a UDT variable is declared,
when we type the variable's name followed by a ".",
at that point the editor should provide a dropdown of the members of that type.
If we choose a member that is also a UDT, when we type ".",
the editor should provide a sub-dropdown for the child members, etc.

I would also want to be able to press F5 to compile & run my program, just like in the QB64 editor.
A nice to have would be the ability to set breakpoints and step through code
with F8 for line-by-line or F5 for continue to next breakpoint (like in Visual Studio or VBA).

Can anyone recommend a good free Windows editor or IDE capable of this,
and explain how to configure it to do the above with QB64?
I am kind of a dummy when it comes to setting that stuff up.

In the past I have used Visual Studio - not much recently but I know the community edition is free,
and there is Visual Studio Code, which I _think_ can be configured to work with a compiler/debugger?
(Not sure.)
I use Notepad++ as a text editor, not sure if it can be configured to compile/debug?
I would probably like to stick to those since I trust those apps, but I would be open to other suggestions.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated... Thanks.

[FellippeHeitor]

I use Notepad++ as a text editor, not sure if it can be configured to compile/debug?

Yes, it can.

Check out RhoSigma's package to setup Notepad++ to be used with QB64: https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php?topic=809

[madscijr]

Yes, it can.

Check out RhoSigma's package to setup Notepad++ to be used with QB64: https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php?topic=809

Thank you sir, I will give that a try.

[TempodiBasic]

I use Notepad++ as a text editor, not sure if it can be configured to compile/debug?

Yes you can!
To compile I have found 2 ways:
1. set as windows path the path of QB64.exe and use the menu command RUN or press F5 in the mask type this
    1.1

QB64.exe  $(NAME_PART)

and you'll get the QB64IDE with file loaded into it! Then press F5 in QB64ide to see
          run the code
    1.2 

QB64.exe  -c $(NAME_PART)

and you'll get  a console window that output the phases of compiling but no run
           the code (like F11 of QB64 IDE)

2.download and install the plug-in  NPPExec
   go into Plugin menu and select NPPExec
   configure checking on Show Console, Console Command History  and Follow options
   go to Execute item of NPPExec plugin  (or press F6) and you'll get the window to type command to execute!
    copy this text or type it into the window

NPP_SAVE
 X:\XXX\qb64.exe  -c "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"  -o "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"
 NPP_RUN  $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)  && $(NAME_PART) &&".exe"

at the place of X:\XXX\ you must type your path of QB64.exe or as alternative you must set as enviroment variable the path of QB64.exe, in this last case you must type only

QB64.EXE  -c "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"  -o "$(FULL_CURRENT_PATH)"

I think that you can find useful these informations... but as Fellippe said you must configure Notepad++ for QB64 language, and you can perform this task using the package made by RhoSigma.

Good Luck!

And if you have catched the point you can set Notepad++ also to use gcc and g+ compilers into internal folder of QB64.

[Aurel]

NPP_RUN  $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)  && $(NAME_PART) &&".exe"

hmm i have problem with this method in my version of QB64 editor...

compilation console invoked and work fine with CurrentDir but resulting .exe is not called

[TempodiBasic]

@Aureal
yeah I have tried again and with that script

NPP_RUN  $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)  && $(NAME_PART) &&".exe"

the file has been compiled and then it opens the folder in which there is the .EXE
while with this you'll get running the .EXE

NPP_RUN  $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)\$(NAME_PART).exe

Thanks for feedback!