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.
The popular Material Theme extension for Visual Studio Code has been removed from the marketplace due to unresolved trademark issues with Google concerning the "Material Design" name. The developers were requested by Google to rename the theme and all related assets, but after attempting to comply, they encountered further complications. Unable to reach a satisfactory agreement, they've decided to unpublish the extension for the time being. Existing users with the theme already installed will retain it, but it will no longer receive updates or be available for new installs through the marketplace. The developers are still exploring options for the theme's future, including potentially republishing under a different name.
Hacker News users discuss the removal of the popular Material Theme extension from the VS Code marketplace, speculating on the reasons. Several suspect the developer's frustration with Microsoft's handling of extension updates and their increasingly strict review process. Some suggest the theme's complexity and reliance on numerous dependencies might have contributed to difficulties adhering to new guidelines. Others express disappointment at the removal, praising the theme's aesthetics and customizability, while a few propose alternative themes. The lack of official communication from the developer leaves much of the situation unclear, but the consensus seems to be that the increasingly stringent marketplace rules likely played a role. A few comments also mention potential copyright issues related to bundled icon fonts.
Augment.vim is a Vim/Neovim plugin that integrates AI-powered chat and code completion directly into the editor. It leverages large language models (LLMs) to provide features like asking questions about code, generating code from natural language descriptions, refactoring, explaining code, and offering context-aware code completion suggestions. The plugin supports multiple LLMs, including OpenAI, Cohere, and local models, allowing users flexibility in choosing their preferred provider. It aims to streamline the coding workflow by making AI assistance readily accessible within the familiar Vim environment.
Hacker News users discussed Augment.vim's potential usefulness and drawbacks. Some praised its integration with Vim, simplifying access to AI assistance. Others expressed concerns about privacy and the closed-source nature of the plugin, particularly given its reliance on potentially sensitive code. There was also debate about the actual utility, with some arguing that existing language servers and completion tools already provided sufficient functionality. Several commenters suggested open-sourcing the plugin or using an open-source LLM to alleviate privacy concerns and foster community contribution. The reliance on a proprietary API key for OpenAI's models was also a point of contention. Finally, some users mentioned alternative AI-powered coding tools and workflows they found more effective.
Scripton is a Python IDE designed for data science and visualization, emphasizing real-time, interactive feedback. It features a dual-pane interface where code edits instantly update accompanying visualizations, streamlining the exploratory coding process. The tool aims to simplify data exploration and model building by eliminating the need for repetitive execution and print statements, allowing users to quickly iterate and visualize their data transformations. Scripton is available as a web-based application accessible through modern browsers.
Hacker News users discussed Scripton's niche and potential use cases. Some saw value in its real-time visualization capabilities for tasks like data exploration and algorithm visualization, particularly for beginners or those preferring a visual approach. Others questioned its broader appeal, comparing it to existing tools like Jupyter Notebooks and VS Code with extensions. Concerns were raised about performance with larger datasets and the potential limitations of a Python-only focus. Several commenters suggested potential improvements, such as adding support for other languages, improving the UI/UX, and providing more advanced visualization features. The closed-source nature also drew some criticism, with some preferring open-source alternatives.
Marco Cantu's blog post celebrates Delphi's 30th anniversary, reflecting on its enduring relevance in the software development world. He highlights Delphi's initial groundbreaking impact with its rapid application development (RAD) approach and visual component library, emphasizing its evolution over three decades to encompass cross-platform development, mobile, and now, even web and Linux. Cantu acknowledges challenges and missteps along the way but underscores Delphi's resilience and continued commitment to providing developers with robust and productive tools. He concludes by looking forward to the future of Delphi, anticipating further innovations and its ongoing contribution to the software landscape.
Hacker News users discuss Delphi's 30th anniversary, acknowledging its past dominance and questioning its current relevance. Some commenters reminisce about their positive experiences with Delphi, praising its ease of use, rapid development capabilities, and stability, particularly in the 90s and early 2000s. Others express skepticism about its future, citing its perceived decline in popularity and the rise of alternative technologies. The conversation also touches on the limitations of its closed-source nature and pricing model compared to newer, open-source options, while some defend Embarcadero's stewardship and highlight Delphi's continued use in specific niche markets. There's a sense of nostalgia mixed with pragmatic assessments of Delphi's place in the modern development landscape.
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.
VS Code's remote SSH functionality can lead to unexpected and frustrating behavior due to its complex key management. The editor automatically adds keys to its internal SSH agent, potentially including keys you didn't intend to use for a particular connection. This often results in authentication failures, especially when using multiple keys for different servers. Even manually removing keys from the agent within VS Code doesn't reliably solve the issue because the editor might re-add them. The blog post recommends disabling VS Code's agent and using the system SSH agent instead for more predictable and manageable SSH connections.
HN users generally agree that VS Code's remote SSH behavior is confusing and frustrating. Several commenters point out that the "agent forwarding" option doesn't work as expected, leading to issues with key-based authentication. Some suggest the core problem stems from VS Code's reliance on its own SSH implementation instead of leveraging the system's SSH, causing conflicts and unexpected behavior. Workarounds like using the Remote - SSH: Kill VS Code Server on Host... command or configuring VS Code to use the system SSH are mentioned, along with the observation that the VS Code team seems aware of the issues and is working on improvements. A few commenters share similar struggles with other IDEs and remote development tools, suggesting this isn't unique to VS Code.
Macintosh Allegro Common Lisp (MCL) was a popular Lisp development environment for the classic Mac OS. Developed by Franz Inc., it offered a full-featured implementation of Common Lisp, including an integrated development environment (IDE) with a compiler, debugger, and inspector. MCL leveraged the Macintosh interface, offering a graphical user interface and utilizing features like QuickDraw for graphics. It was known for its performance and robust capabilities, making it a favored choice for AI research and development on the Mac platform during the late 80s and 90s. Though no longer actively developed, it represents a significant chapter in the history of Lisp on the Mac.
Hacker News users discuss Macintosh Allegro Common Lisp, with several expressing nostalgia for the environment and its impressive capabilities for the time. One commenter recalls its speed and the powerful IDE, noting its use in AI research. Another highlights its foreign function interface, enabling integration with existing Mac Toolbox code. Some lament the closed-source nature and the eventual decline of MCL, while others suggest exploring modern open-source Lisp options like SBCL or CCL. The high cost of MCL is also mentioned. One user points out the existence of a free version with limitations. The thread overall expresses appreciation for MCL's historical significance in the Lisp and Mac communities.
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.
Actionate brings the power of GitHub Actions directly into JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA and PyCharm. It allows developers to run and debug individual workflow jobs locally, simplifying the development and testing process for GitHub Actions. This eliminates the need for constant commits and push cycles to verify workflow changes, streamlining development and providing a more efficient workflow within the familiar IDE environment. By leveraging the local development environment, Actionate helps catch errors early and accelerates the iteration cycle for creating and refining GitHub Actions workflows.
Hacker News users generally expressed interest in Actionate, finding the concept intriguing and useful for automating tasks within JetBrains IDEs. Some questioned the practical advantages over existing solutions like using the command line directly or scripting within the IDEs. Concerns were raised about performance overhead and potential instability due to relying on Docker. A suggestion was made to support background execution for improved usability. Others pointed out that IDE features like macros and built-in task runners could often fulfill similar automation needs. The security implications of running arbitrary code pulled from GitHub Actions were also discussed. Overall, while acknowledging the tool's potential, many commenters advocated for simpler solutions for common IDE automation tasks.
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.
Magenta.nvim is a Neovim plugin designed to enhance coding workflows by leveraging large language models (LLMs) as tools. It emphasizes structured requests and responses, allowing users to define custom tools and workflows for various tasks like generating documentation, refactoring code, and finding bugs. Instead of simply autocompleting code, Magenta focuses on invoking external tools based on user prompts within Neovim, providing more controlled and predictable AI assistance. It supports various LLMs and features asynchronous execution for minimizing disruptions. The plugin prioritizes flexibility and customizability, allowing developers to tailor their AI-powered tools to their specific needs and projects.
Hacker News users generally expressed interest in Magenta.nvim, praising its focus on tool integration and the novel approach of using external tools rather than relying solely on large language models (LLMs). Some commenters compared it favorably to other AI coding assistants, highlighting its potential for more reliable and predictable behavior. Several expressed excitement about the possibilities of tool-based code generation and hoped to see support for additional tools beyond the initial offerings. A few users questioned the reliance on external dependencies and raised concerns about potential complexity and performance overhead. Others pointed out the project's early stage and suggested potential improvements, such as asynchronous execution and better error handling. Overall, the sentiment was positive, with many eager to try the plugin and see its further development.
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.
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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.