Sunday, August 24, 2008

My Comment (the reason for this blog)

I tried in vain to post this comment on http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/freeware/0000/00/00/northgate-coda/#comments. But there seems to be something wrong with the comment submission process/software, so here it is:

I've been experimenting with Google Gears, in particular their hello world sample. I wanted to change the name of the database table that was being used and I was using SeaMonkey Composer to edit the javascript/html--it was only somewhat superior to Notepad.

Northgate Coda seems to work a lot better--I noticed an odd looking Gears api call is flagged as an error (and it is not,) but the color coding and the syntax checking of a javascript aware editor are a real pleasure.

Overall and at first cut, recommended.


Interested? I found it at http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/freeware/dir/15490/Download-Northgate-Coda.htm.

--pjm


Giveaway.com description of the software

"Coda is a first class JavaScript/HTML/XML/XHTML development environment with full syntax parsing. This fully featured editor checks the validity of code as you type, highlighting errors as you develop rather than after you publish.

"Coda uses a technique called 'full block syntax parsing' (FBSP) to quickly analyse the structure of the file and its current state. Unlike other color keyword highlighting editors, Coda has an intimate knowledge of the languages it supports and displays errors or incomplete code in real-time. IF you chose to enable auto complete, Coda's intimacy with the semantics of the language empowers Coda to guess your next move, completing your statements and saving you time. This is a great learning aid if you are new to JavaScript or HTML.

"FBSP supports files that have multiple language content. For example in a Dynamic HTML file with server-side and client-side JavaScript, Coda will identify the HTML and JavaScript separately and parse each block according to its own rules.

"To save more time, Coda includes Code Snips that automate the most common typing tasks. Code Snips intelligently insert code fragments into the structure of your document so you don't have to reformat your code.

"Coda is also an ideal introduction into the world of server-side JavaScript integrating with Northgate's Concerto Application Server. Coda now becomes an integrated debugger for server-side JavaScript will full scope; call stack, expression watching, and variable
introspection. Animate your code to find problems while examining the state of your application through program flow.

"Coda comes with an integrated browser so you can preview your work, be it Server-side JavaScript, Client-side JavaScript or a mixture of both. Coda even applies its FBSP technology to check the validity of the generated page output - partially useful if your dynamic pages emit client-side JavaScript.

"A MUST download for professional and would-be JavaScript and HTML developers."