Netbeanstcl (A netbeans plugin for Tcl) A GSoC (Google Summer of Code) Project by Michal Poczwardowski

Idea There exists a Tcl plugin for eclipse but with a commercial part There exists no plugin for netbeans only syntax highlighting (old version without itcl support) As there is an API in netbeans for building plugins try that Question of how to implement (which language) Should it be integrated using JTcl? Should JNI (Java native Interface) be used?

Decision Use java for the client part of the plugin (together with the provided API) Start Tcl as a sub process from the plugin using a socket for communicating JTcl has eventually problems with different Java versions JTcl is not on version 8.6 So no use of JTcl Use of Tcl [trace] and [info] command for implementing debugging Build a small Tcl socket server for communication

Implementation (1) Start with implementing a new version of syntax highlighting This was mostly ready until the official coding period started Started from scratch, as the existing one contained sun copyright New version is BSD licensed Implemented using antlr as parser Includes itcl syntax Includes option handling for coloring etc.

Implementation (2) ‏ Use of ProcessBuilder for starting a tclsh A Tcl script given as start script sets up the debug server Debug server is in its own namespace ::debug It sets up a socket server Netbeanstcl debug plugin opens source file(s) to debug Sends breakpoint information to debug socket server Debug script sets breakpoints using trace add execution commands Plugin sends start request for script to debug server Debug server runs until ::debug::main entry Now debugging begins

Implementation (3) Plugin drives debugging using: singlestep stepin stepover Stepout Debug server does the appropriate traces Script runs till next breakpoint Trace script sends answer to plugin Plugin asks for: variables and their values callframe info level info

Implementation (4) Plugin shows that info in different tab windows Plugin sends next request to debug server etc.

Status ‏ Plugin is running with Tcl and Tk scripts Time frame March to August 2011 Written in Java with Tcl/Tk parts for debug server Some smaller problems with handling Itcl No support for TclOO as traces for methods don't work there

Todos ‏ Fix Itcl problems Look for solution for TclOO More testing Eventually add auto completion when editing Tcl sources Alpha version (1.0) Take care of feedback to that version Documentation in Tcl wiki is mostly done (enhancements ?) Demos?