Difference between revisions of "NESCDT- An editor for nesC in Eclipse"

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This is a short description of how to ''use'' and ''develop'' the ''nescdt'' plugin.
 
This is a short description of how to ''use'' and ''develop'' the ''nescdt'' plugin.
It is an editor for working with ''nesC'' code within Eclipse (as an alternative to other editors). Fundamentally, you just create a new project in Eclipse and link those folders from your TinyOS installation and your application tree that are needed. The plugin then scans the linked source code and uses this for auto-completion purposes (ie. hwen a user press CTRL + SPACE after having partially typed a word). Built-in keywords (which you can change (see Development section)) are used for syntax highlighting.
+
It is an editor for working with ''nesC'' code within Eclipse (as an alternative to other editors). Fundamentally, you just create a new ''nescdt'' project in Eclipse and link those folders from your TinyOS installation and your application trees that are needed. The plugin then scans the linked source code and uses this for auto-completion purposes (ie. when a user press CTRL + SPACE after having partially typed a an identifier). Built-in keywords (which you can change (see Development section)) are used for syntax highlighting.
The plugin ''does not touch'', nor does it compete with your build system: you still build your applications with ''make'' in whatever way you do it today. Here it is:
+
The plugin ''does not touch'', nor does it compete with your build system: you still build your applications with ''make'' in whatever way you do it today.
  
[[Image:Nescdt-at-a-glance.png]]
+
<gallery>
 +
Image:Nescdt-at-a-glance.png|Windows XP
 +
Image:Nescdt-at-a-glance-xubuntos.png|Xubuntos
 +
</gallery>
  
 
==Using the ''nescdt'' TinyOS plugin for Eclipse==
 
==Using the ''nescdt'' TinyOS plugin for Eclipse==
Line 15: Line 18:
 
===Installing===
 
===Installing===
 
The source is included in the plugin jar file, and it is possible to refine it (see the Development section). To install the plugin:
 
The source is included in the plugin jar file, and it is possible to refine it (see the Development section). To install the plugin:
* '''Version 0.0.15''': First download the ''nescdt_0.0.15.jar'' file [[http://nxtmote.sf.net/nescdt_0.0.15.jar here]]
+
* '''Version 0.0.22''':  
* Save it in the root of Eclipse plugin directory (where the other (jar) plugins also reside), and delete the previous version of this plugin if you have it. It would usually be c:\eclipse\plugins on a Windows machine.
+
**Either download the ''nescdt_0.0.22.jar'' file [[http://nxtmote.sf.net/nescdtupdate/plugins/nescdt_0.0.22.jar here]],
 +
**or use the update site url [http://nxtmote.sf.net/nescdtupdate http://nxtmote.sf.net/nescdtupdate] in the Eclipse update manager.
 +
* Then save it in the Eclipse plugin directory (where the other (jar) plugins also reside), and delete the previous version of this plugin if you have it. It would usually be ''/opt/eclipse/plugins'' on a Linux machine (like the [[Running_a_XubunTOS_Virtual_Machine_Image_in_VMware_Player|Xubuntos distro]]) or ''c:\eclipse\plugins'' on a Windows machine
 
* Restart Eclipse (perhaps verify for yourself that it is installed: ''Help->About Eclipse SDK->Plug-in Details'')
 
* Restart Eclipse (perhaps verify for yourself that it is installed: ''Help->About Eclipse SDK->Plug-in Details'')
 +
 +
[[Image:0-plugin-details.png]]
  
 
===Using the Plugin===
 
===Using the Plugin===
* Associate the *.nc files with this editor: ''Windows->Preferences->General->Editors->File Associations''
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-fileassosi.png]]
 
 
* Create a new empty ''nescdt'' project  
 
* Create a new empty ''nescdt'' project  
  
Line 28: Line 33:
 
[[Image:B2-new-nescdt-project.png]]  
 
[[Image:B2-new-nescdt-project.png]]  
  
and name it what you want to (for example ''nescdtsampleproject''). The default location is not important as we will use linked folders for the project. The project location just stores the eclipse specific project files. The project is marked as an ''nesC'' project (it later determines which projects in the Eclipse workspace is scanned for auto-completion purposes). It looks like this:  
+
and name it what you want to (for example ''nescdtsampleproject''). The default location is not important as we will use linked folders for the project. The project location just stores the eclipse specific project files. The project is marked (internally) as an ''nesC'' project (it later serves to determine which projects in the Eclipse workspace are scanned (for auto-completion purposes) by the nesC scanner); externally it's project folder is decorated with a ''nC'' icon. Your new empty ''nescdt'' project looks something like this:  
  
 
[[Image:B3-decorated-project-folder.png]]
 
[[Image:B3-decorated-project-folder.png]]
Line 40: Line 45:
 
*When you open some ''.nc'' file it will be syntax colored (according some some predefined rules in the plugin):
 
*When you open some ''.nc'' file it will be syntax colored (according some some predefined rules in the plugin):
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-editorsyntax2.png]]
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-editorsyntax2.png]]
*There is auto-completion for keywords, types, and all other word found when then plugin scanned the .nc files in the linked folders. Press CTRL + SPACE to get the suggestions.
+
*There is auto-completion for keywords, types, and all other words found when then plugin scanned the ''.nc'' files in the linked folders. Press ''CTRL + SPACE'' to get the suggestions.
 +
*When an interface name is types and the . character is typed, then a list of interface functions is suggested.
  
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-keywordcompletion1a.png]]
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-keywordcompletion1a.png]]
Line 49: Line 55:
  
 
=== Side notes ===
 
=== Side notes ===
**The ''nescdt'' plugin is < 50 kB
+
*The ''nescdt'' plugin is < 100 kB
**(Experimental) If it detects ''safe'' code (looking for ''@safe'', ''*COUNT'', ''*SIZE'', or ''*SAFE'') a rhombus shape is added to the icon. A ''safe'' module could look like this [[Image:Nxtmote-safedemo.png]] in the file navigator (note that a little rhombus has been added to the module icon).
+
*(Experimental) If it detects ''safe'' code (looking for ''@safe'', ''*COUNT'', ''*SIZE'', or ''*SAFE'') a rhombus shape is added to the icon. A ''safe'' module could look like this [[Image:Nxtmote-safedemo.png]] in the file navigator (note that a little rhombus has been added to the module icon).
**If the CVS [http://www.eclipse.org/articles/Article-Decorators/decorators.html decorators] annoy you (if, for example, another CVS client than Eclipse is being used), then turn them off from ''Window->Preferences->General->Appearance->Label Decorations''.  
+
*If the CVS [http://www.eclipse.org/articles/Article-Decorators/decorators.html decorators] annoy you (if, for example, another CVS client than Eclipse's is being used), then turn them off from ''Window->Preferences->General->Appearance->Label Decorations''.  
**I suggest the standard [[http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html Eclipse Public License]] for the source code as it makes it easy to re-use patterns from many other plugins
+
*I suggest the standard [[http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html Eclipse Public License]] for the source code as it makes it easy to re-use patterns from many other plugins
**You can also consider downloading the CDT plugin for editing header files and perhaps ''C'' files in Eclipse. Enter the [http://download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa http://download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa] as a new ''Remote site'' in the Eclipse update manager and choose the CDT main plugin:  
+
*You can also consider downloading the CDT plugin for editing header files and perhaps ''C'' files in Eclipse. Enter the [http://download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa http://download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa] as a new ''Remote site'' in the Eclipse update manager and choose the CDT main plugin:  
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-cdtdownload.png]]
 
[[Image:Nxtmote-cdtdownload.png]]
  
 
==Developing/Debugging on the NESCDT Plugin==
 
==Developing/Debugging on the NESCDT Plugin==
The last section was about using the plugin. To develop, customize, or debug the ''nescdt'' plugin, you can follow the guide below. In a best-case scenario it would be completed in 15-30 min.
+
The last section was about using the plugin. To develop, customize, or debug the ''nescdt'' plugin, you can follow the guide below. In a best-case scenario it would be working in 15-30 min.
 
 
The immediate places for personal enhancement/customization of the ''nescdt''plugin are:
 
*Change keywords coloring (go to ''INescColorConstants.java'')
 
*Add or remove items in the keywords list (go to ''NescKeywords.java'')
 
*Control which words included in the auto-completion scanner (go to the method ''parseLine'' in ''NescParser.java'')
 
*Change the icons used for nc files and type visualization (go to the icons folder)
 
  
 +
===Extending and Customizing the Plugin===
 +
The immediate places for personal enhancement/customization of the ''nescdt'' plugin are:
 +
*Change the keywords coloring (go to ''INescColorConstants.java'')
 +
*Add or remove items in the keywords list (go to ''NescKeywords.java''). A keyword is for example ''module'' which is colored purple in the editor
 +
*Control which words (in addition to the keywords) are included in the auto-completion scanner (go to the method ''parseLine'' in ''NescParser.java'')
 +
*Change the icons used for ''.nc'' files and type visualization (go to the icons folder)
  
 
===Importing the Plugin into Eclipse for Development===
 
===Importing the Plugin into Eclipse for Development===
Here we start with a blank Eclipse workspace. You can get a new workspace (if you want to) by creating a shortcut and starting Eclipse with a command line similar to this:
+
Here we start with a blank Eclipse workspace. You can get a new workspace named ''workspace-plugintest'' (if you want to) by creating a shortcut and starting Eclipse with a command line similar to this:
  C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe -consolelog -data C:\Dokumenter\eclipse\workspace-plugin
+
  C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe -consolelog -data C:\Dokumenter\eclipse\workspace-plugintest
 
The '''consolelog''' makes it possible to see '''System.out.println''' from the plugin itself (it is cheating, but useful during development).
 
The '''consolelog''' makes it possible to see '''System.out.println''' from the plugin itself (it is cheating, but useful during development).
  
Line 102: Line 108:
 
[[Image:5c-Dev-debug-ok.png]]
 
[[Image:5c-Dev-debug-ok.png]]
  
To create a new version of the plugin please double click on the ''plugin.xml'' file in the project. Then select the ''Export Wizard'':
+
To create a new version of the plugin please double click on the ''plugin.xml'' file in the project. Then select the ''Export Wizard''. (Consider changing the provider entry to indicate that you maintain this fork of the plugin):
  
 
[[Image:6-Dev-start-export.png]]
 
[[Image:6-Dev-start-export.png]]
Line 111: Line 117:
  
 
===Exporting===
 
===Exporting===
Then export the plugin to the ECLIPSEHOME/plugin directory (it will run next time Eclipse is restarted). It is best to delete the old plugin file (such as ''nescdt_0.0.12.jar'') and change the increment the version number of the new plugin :
+
Then export the plugin to the ECLIPSEHOME/plugin directory (it will run next time Eclipse is restarted). It is best to delete the old plugin file (such as ''nescdt_0.0.12.jar'') and increment the version number of the new plugin:
  
 
[[Image:7-Dev-export.png]]
 
[[Image:7-Dev-export.png]]

Latest revision as of 02:08, 9 November 2009

This is a short description of how to use and develop the nescdt plugin. It is an editor for working with nesC code within Eclipse (as an alternative to other editors). Fundamentally, you just create a new nescdt project in Eclipse and link those folders from your TinyOS installation and your application trees that are needed. The plugin then scans the linked source code and uses this for auto-completion purposes (ie. when a user press CTRL + SPACE after having partially typed a an identifier). Built-in keywords (which you can change (see Development section)) are used for syntax highlighting. The plugin does not touch, nor does it compete with your build system: you still build your applications with make in whatever way you do it today.

Using the nescdt TinyOS plugin for Eclipse

A basic nesC editor plugin for TinyOS-2.x using Eclipse with syntax highlighting and .nc file content detection for the follow types (the same symbols are used as in nesdoc):

  • Inter.gif interface,
  • Mod.gif module,
  • Genmod.gif generic module,
  • Conf.gif configuration, and
  • Genconf.gif generic configuration

Installing

The source is included in the plugin jar file, and it is possible to refine it (see the Development section). To install the plugin:

  • Version 0.0.22:
  • Then save it in the Eclipse plugin directory (where the other (jar) plugins also reside), and delete the previous version of this plugin if you have it. It would usually be /opt/eclipse/plugins on a Linux machine (like the Xubuntos distro) or c:\eclipse\plugins on a Windows machine
  • Restart Eclipse (perhaps verify for yourself that it is installed: Help->About Eclipse SDK->Plug-in Details)

0-plugin-details.png

Using the Plugin

  • Create a new empty nescdt project

B1-new-nescdt-project.png

B2-new-nescdt-project.png

and name it what you want to (for example nescdtsampleproject). The default location is not important as we will use linked folders for the project. The project location just stores the eclipse specific project files. The project is marked (internally) as an nesC project (it later serves to determine which projects in the Eclipse workspace are scanned (for auto-completion purposes) by the nesC scanner); externally it's project folder is decorated with a nC icon. Your new empty nescdt project looks something like this:

B3-decorated-project-folder.png

  • Create a new folder in the project (right-click on the project) and name it what you want to
  • Import and link to the part of the TinyOS tree or your own code(right-click on the nescsampleproject folder and press import)

Nxtmote-folderlink.jpg

  • Choose the Link to folder in the file system option and proceed (this will not change your TinyOS code at all and it will not copy any files on your computer)
  • Repeat the steps above until you have linked all the folders you need for application development
  • When you are done the Eclipse IDE could look something like this (note that the content of the files have been analyzed and that the icons reveal that we have some configurations, generic configurations, modules, and generic modules in the mica2 folder):

Nxtmote-editor.png

  • When you open some .nc file it will be syntax colored (according some some predefined rules in the plugin):

Nxtmote-editorsyntax2.png

  • There is auto-completion for keywords, types, and all other words found when then plugin scanned the .nc files in the linked folders. Press CTRL + SPACE to get the suggestions.
  • When an interface name is types and the . character is typed, then a list of interface functions is suggested.

Nxtmote-keywordcompletion1a.png

Then select a word and press ENTER to insert the word.

Nxtmote-keywordcompletion2.png

Side notes

  • The nescdt plugin is < 100 kB
  • (Experimental) If it detects safe code (looking for @safe, *COUNT, *SIZE, or *SAFE) a rhombus shape is added to the icon. A safe module could look like this Nxtmote-safedemo.png in the file navigator (note that a little rhombus has been added to the module icon).
  • If the CVS decorators annoy you (if, for example, another CVS client than Eclipse's is being used), then turn them off from Window->Preferences->General->Appearance->Label Decorations.
  • I suggest the standard [Eclipse Public License] for the source code as it makes it easy to re-use patterns from many other plugins
  • You can also consider downloading the CDT plugin for editing header files and perhaps C files in Eclipse. Enter the http://download.eclipse.org/tools/cdt/releases/europa as a new Remote site in the Eclipse update manager and choose the CDT main plugin:

Nxtmote-cdtdownload.png

Developing/Debugging on the NESCDT Plugin

The last section was about using the plugin. To develop, customize, or debug the nescdt plugin, you can follow the guide below. In a best-case scenario it would be working in 15-30 min.

Extending and Customizing the Plugin

The immediate places for personal enhancement/customization of the nescdt plugin are:

  • Change the keywords coloring (go to INescColorConstants.java)
  • Add or remove items in the keywords list (go to NescKeywords.java). A keyword is for example module which is colored purple in the editor
  • Control which words (in addition to the keywords) are included in the auto-completion scanner (go to the method parseLine in NescParser.java)
  • Change the icons used for .nc files and type visualization (go to the icons folder)

Importing the Plugin into Eclipse for Development

Here we start with a blank Eclipse workspace. You can get a new workspace named workspace-plugintest (if you want to) by creating a shortcut and starting Eclipse with a command line similar to this:

C:\eclipse\eclipse.exe -consolelog -data C:\Dokumenter\eclipse\workspace-plugintest

The consolelog makes it possible to see System.out.println from the plugin itself (it is cheating, but useful during development).

1-Dev-Blank-Eclipse.png

Assuming that you have downloaded and installed the plugin (see start of this wiki page) it is now the time to import it into Eclipse for development. Press Import:

2-Dev-Import.png

Select Plug-ins and Fragments:

3-Dev-pluginselect.png

Important: Choose Projects with source folders:

4-Dev-withsource.png

Select the nescdt plugin in the version you happen to have:

5-Dev-select.png

Debugging

To show how easy it is to change it, look at the following example. It is code that splits the contents of a .nc file line into string tokens:

5a-Dev-coding-example.png

Try to place a breakpoint by double-clicking on the bar to the left of the code that you want to inspect (see red arrow below). Then click on the menu to debug an Eclipse Application. It is a second Eclipse instance that will be launched running the imported version of the plugin (not the plugin you downloaded into the ECLIPSEHOME/plugin folder. Eclipse automatically deactivates the permanent plugin in the launched debugging instance of Eclipe):

5b-Dev-debug-start.png

It will then look like this when you have the two instances of Eclipse running. As a side-note you can see the completion processor has started to scan the .nc source code (red arrow):

5c-Dev-debug-ok.png

To create a new version of the plugin please double click on the plugin.xml file in the project. Then select the Export Wizard. (Consider changing the provider entry to indicate that you maintain this fork of the plugin):

6-Dev-start-export.png

Check the src folder for export when doing a binary build (so you export the source code with the plugin and makes it possible for others to do what you are doing now):

8-Dev-src-build.png

Exporting

Then export the plugin to the ECLIPSEHOME/plugin directory (it will run next time Eclipse is restarted). It is best to delete the old plugin file (such as nescdt_0.0.12.jar) and increment the version number of the new plugin:

7-Dev-export.png

Finally verify that the plugin jar file is in the plugin directory as expected:

9-Dev-plugin-eclipse-dir.png

Contact

If you have some light-weight suggestions: rup.inf(at)cbs.dk