MS Paint IDE leverages the familiar simplicity of Microsoft Paint to create a surprisingly functional code editor and execution environment. Users write code directly onto the canvas using the text tool, which is then parsed and executed. The output, whether text or graphical, is displayed within the Paint window itself. While limited by Paint's capabilities, it supports a range of programming features including variables, loops, and conditional statements, primarily through a custom scripting language tailored for this unique environment. This project demonstrates the surprising versatility of MS Paint and offers a playful, unconventional approach to coding.
This blog post details how to implement custom syntax highlighting in Emacs using tree-sitter. The author demonstrates creating a minor mode for highlighting TODO items and FIXMEs in comments within C++ code. This involves defining specific queries that target the comment nodes in the tree-sitter parse tree and then associating faces (colors and styles) with the captured nodes. The example provides a practical illustration of leveraging tree-sitter's structured code understanding to achieve more precise and context-aware highlighting than traditional regular expression-based approaches. The post also briefly covers how to incorporate these queries into a theme for broader application and includes a troubleshooting tip for ensuring tree-sitter highlighting is active.
HN commenters largely praised the integration of tree-sitter into Emacs, highlighting the significant improvements in syntax highlighting accuracy and performance. Some expressed excitement over the potential for more advanced features like semantic highlighting and code navigation enabled by tree-sitter's deeper understanding of code structure. A few users shared their personal experiences with setting up and using tree-sitter in Emacs, offering tips and workarounds for common issues. One commenter noted the wider adoption of tree-sitter across various editors and its positive impact on the developer experience. Others discussed the technical details of tree-sitter's implementation, comparing it to traditional regular expression-based highlighting. A couple of comments touched on the potential for future improvements, such as asynchronous parsing and better support for more obscure languages.
Zed, a code editor, has introduced Zeta, an open-source large language model (LLM) designed specifically for predicting code edits. Zeta powers a new "Suggest Edit" feature within Zed that anticipates the user's next change and offers it as a suggestion, potentially streamlining the coding process. Trained on a massive dataset of edits from real-world projects, Zeta understands context and offers increasingly relevant suggestions as you type. This model is available for anyone to download and use, fostering community development and customization for various programming languages and workflows.
Hacker News users generally expressed enthusiasm for Zed's new edit prediction feature powered by the Zeta model. Several praised the speed and accuracy of the predictions, noting its potential to significantly improve coding workflow. Some discussed the implications of open-sourcing the model, hoping it would foster community contributions and adaptations for other editors. A few questioned the licensing details of the open-sourced components and how they relate to Zed's overall business model. Others drew comparisons to existing AI-powered coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, speculating on Zeta's potential competitive advantages and disadvantages. Finally, some expressed interest in how the model handles complex edits beyond simple completions, like refactoring and debugging.
Zeminary Arrays offers an experimental web app providing infinitely expanding horizontal and vertical arrays of text editors. Each editor can be used for coding, writing, or note-taking, and supports Markdown rendering. Users can create new arrays, add or delete individual editors within them, and navigate the grid seamlessly. The application aims to provide a flexible and expansive workspace for managing various text-based tasks concurrently.
HN users generally praised the clean UI and unique approach of the infinite horizontal array of text editors. Several commenters questioned the practical use cases, wondering what problems it solves beyond novelty. Some suggested potential applications like managing code snippets, comparing different versions of text, or outlining long documents. A few users experienced minor glitches, like unexpected behavior with the backspace key. There was also discussion about the technical implementation, particularly regarding memory management with large arrays and the potential benefits of using a different data structure. One commenter appreciated the editor's mobile-friendliness. Overall, the reception was positive, with curiosity about its potential applications driving the conversation.
Even in a world of advanced IDEs, Sublime Text holds its own due to its speed, simplicity, and extensibility. The author appreciates its snappy performance, distraction-free interface, and powerful customization options via plugins and keybindings. While acknowledging the benefits of more feature-rich alternatives like VS Code, they find Sublime Text's minimalist approach ideal for focused coding and quick edits, particularly for tasks involving multiple languages or remote servers where a lightweight editor shines. Its enduring popularity speaks to its effectiveness as a powerful yet uncluttered coding tool.
Hacker News users generally agreed with the author's preference for Sublime Text, praising its speed, simplicity, and extensibility. Several commenters highlighted its performance advantages, particularly for large files and complex projects, where other editors can become sluggish. The robust plugin ecosystem and keyboard-centric workflow were also frequently mentioned as key strengths. Some suggested that Sublime Text's appeal lies in its resistance to feature bloat and focus on core editing functionality, contrasting it with more resource-intensive IDEs. A few dissenting voices mentioned the lack of integrated debugging and other advanced features, but the overall sentiment was strongly positive towards Sublime Text's enduring relevance. The discussion also touched on the benefits of a perpetual license model and the value of mastering a single, powerful tool.
Hedy is a gradual programming language designed to make coding accessible to beginners. It introduces programming concepts incrementally, starting with a simplified version of the language and progressively unlocking more advanced features as the user progresses through lessons. This scaffolded approach aims to reduce the initial cognitive load and make learning to code less daunting. Hedy uses clear, concise syntax and provides helpful error messages to guide learners. It's available as a web-based editor and is open-source, allowing for community contributions and adaptations. The project aims to bridge the gap between block-based visual programming and traditional text-based coding.
Hacker News users discussed Hedy's approach to teaching programming, generally praising its gradual introduction of complexity. Several commenters compared it to Logo, highlighting the similarities in using a simplified environment to build foundational concepts. Some expressed skepticism about its long-term effectiveness, questioning whether the simplified syntax would hinder the transition to "real" programming languages. Others raised concerns about the target audience, wondering if the constrained environment might be too limiting for more advanced learners. The creator of Hedy also participated, responding to questions and clarifying the design choices behind the language. There was a thread discussing the importance of visual feedback and how Hedy could potentially incorporate it, along with suggestions for expanding the language's capabilities in the future.
Helix editor's pull request #11285 integrates a file explorer directly into the editor. This new feature allows users to browse and open files within their project workspace without needing external tools. The implementation provides basic file management operations like creating, deleting, renaming, and opening files and directories, enhancing the editor's self-sufficiency and streamlining the editing workflow. It leverages the existing tree-sitter infrastructure for efficient parsing and rendering of the file tree.
Hacker News users generally expressed excitement about the merged file explorer in Helix, praising its speed and integration with the editor's core functionalities. Several commenters appreciated the thoughtful design, particularly the ability to open multiple files simultaneously and the minimalist, non-distracting implementation. Some users compared it favorably to other editors' file explorers, noting its superior performance and smoother workflow. A few commenters discussed potential improvements, like the ability to rename files directly within the explorer and support for fuzzy finding. Overall, the reception was positive, with many looking forward to using the new feature.
After over a decade using Vim/Neovim, the author experimented with Zed, a new electron-based editor. While appreciating Zed's native performance, smooth scrolling, and collaborative features, the author found the Vim mode lacking compared to their highly customized Neovim setup. Specifically, plugins and keybindings didn't translate seamlessly, hindering their workflow. Although impressed by Zed's potential, particularly its speed and built-in collaboration, the author ultimately returned to Neovim, finding its flexibility and familiarity more valuable than Zed's current advantages. They remain optimistic about Zed's future and plan to revisit it as it matures.
HN commenters generally expressed interest in Zed, particularly its performance and native UI. Some compared it favorably to VS Code, highlighting Zed's speed and responsiveness. Several users questioned the viability of Zed's closed-source model and subscription pricing, especially given the strong presence of free and open-source alternatives. A few commenters noted the post author's seeming bias toward Zed, given their employment history. Others discussed specific features, such as collaborative editing, and the desire for Vim keybindings. The potential for vendor lock-in was also raised as a concern.
Parinfer simplifies Lisp code editing by automatically managing parentheses, brackets, and indentation. It offers two modes: "Paren Mode," where indentation dictates structure and Parinfer adjusts parentheses accordingly, and "Indent Mode," where parentheses define the structure and Parinfer corrects indentation. This frees the user from manually tracking matching delimiters, allowing them to focus on the code's logic. Parinfer analyzes the code as you type, instantly propagating changes and offering immediate feedback about structural errors, leading to a more fluid and less error-prone coding experience. It's adaptable to different indentation styles and supports various Lisp dialects.
HN users generally praised Parinfer for making Lisp editing easier, especially for beginners. Several commenters shared positive experiences using it with Clojure, noting improvements in code readability and reduced parenthesis-related errors. Some highlighted its ability to infer parentheses placement based on indentation, simplifying structural editing. A few users discussed its potential applicability to other languages, and at least one pointed out its integration with popular editors. However, some expressed skepticism about its long-term benefits or preference for traditional Lisp editing approaches. A minor point of discussion revolved around the tool's name and how it relates to its functionality.
Summary of Comments ( 10 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43265431
Hacker News users were generally impressed with the MS Paint IDE, praising its creativity and clever execution. Some found its impracticality charming, while others saw potential for educational uses or as a unique challenge for code golfing. A few commenters pointed out the project's limitations, especially regarding debugging and more complex code, but the overall sentiment was positive, appreciating the project as a fun and unconventional exploration of coding environments. One commenter even suggested it could be expanded with OCR to make it a "real" IDE, highlighting the project's potential for further development and the community's interest in seeing where it could go. Several users reminisced about past simpler times in computing, with MS Paint being a nostalgic touchstone.
The Hacker News post titled "MS Paint IDE" sparked a lively discussion with 29 comments exploring the novelty and potential practicality of using MS Paint as an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Several commenters appreciated the project primarily for its humor and creativity, acknowledging the absurdity of using a drawing program for coding. One commenter joked about the possibility of future "MS Paint Compiler Explorer" and "MS Paint powered CI/CD," highlighting the whimsical nature of the project.
A recurring theme was the unexpected nostalgia and fondness for MS Paint. Some users reminisced about their early experiences with the simple drawing tool, and the project resonated with them on a sentimental level. One commenter even shared a personal anecdote about using MS Paint to create "programs" as a child, drawing buttons and interface elements, demonstrating the enduring appeal of MS Paint for creative expression, even in unconventional ways.
Beyond the humor and nostalgia, some commenters delved into the technical aspects of the "MS Paint IDE." They discussed the limitations of using such a tool for serious software development, pointing out the lack of features essential for coding, such as syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging tools. However, others saw potential in exploring alternative ways of interacting with code, with one commenter suggesting it could be a fun educational tool for children or a unique way to visualize algorithms.
The discussion also touched upon the broader implications of using unconventional tools for coding. One commenter mentioned esoteric programming languages and the concept of "turing tarpits," where theoretically any system, even a simple one like MS Paint, could be used for computation, albeit with significant practical limitations.
A few commenters expressed skepticism about the project's usefulness, viewing it primarily as a novelty rather than a serious coding tool. However, even the skeptical comments acknowledged the creativity and ingenuity behind the project.
Overall, the comments on Hacker News reflected a mixture of amusement, nostalgia, and genuine curiosity about the "MS Paint IDE." While most recognized its limitations as a practical development tool, they appreciated the project's creativity and potential for inspiring unconventional approaches to coding and sparking discussions about the nature of computation itself.