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9 Features Bolt Must Have

2009 May 18
tags: CFEclipse · ColdFusion · ColdFusion Builder · Eclipse
by Mike Henke

This list is features I feel are very important for a ColdFusion IDE.

1. Mylyn Bridge

I use Mylyn daily for work because it helps me multitask and track my time. Currently for ColdFusion files in CFEclipse, Mylyn is defaulted to a file view which is nice, but Bolt needs to have a bridge to get even more out of the Mylyn. See the statement below for more of detail. Also the new bug/issue tracker for Bolt/Centuar needs to have a connector to Mylyn for easy entry of ideas and bugs for Bolt through Eclipse.

"Mylyn requires a bridge to all the tools and languages you work with (such as Ruby and JSPs). If you lack a bridge specific to the programming language or other file type that you work with, Mylyn still provides focusing down to the file level … but won't have the fine-grained declaration filtering (for example, in the Outline view), the automatic folding of declarations in the editor, or advanced features such as task Context Test Suites." more


2. ColdFusion Explorer similar to Ruby Explorer

The default Navigator view and Outline view is nice but Bolt needs to take it a step further by combining the views into a ColdFusion Explorer view similiar to the Ruby Explorer view from RadRails. Single-click an element in Outline view or Ruby Explorer will take you to the line of code within the file. A must have :-)

Ruby Explorer top and Outline view of a rb file  

Navigator View top and Outline of cfc file
 

3. Respect and do not conflict with Eclipse shortcuts

Don't get tricked up with default Eclipse shortcuts like Ctrl-3 is actually an Eclipse shortcut for a quick search. Also remember other common Eclipse shortcuts like Ctrl-shift-l. A friend, Ryan Stille, suggested "They should keep the common CFEclipse shortcuts for convention and ease of adoption."

4. All Bolt Preferences should be searchable

This is simple but a must for any Eclipse plug-in since preference setting are sometimes hard to find. Bolt needs to put all editable preferences into the filter and ctrl-3 search.

Example of a filter in perferences.


5. Code Formatting

Please have ctrl-shift-f format/indent my code (I am lazy but need nicely formatted code, one less thing for me to do). I missed this feature when I initially switched to CFEclipse, but I would hope Bolt will have it.


6. Don't become too overbearing

Another simple but important user experience when using Eclipse. Aptanta is thought of by some users as annoying with their "My Aptana/Message Center". Their messages become spam-like within Eclipse, not good.


7. Don't blur Eclipse features with Bolt features

Adobe needs to stress the foundation is Eclipse for Bolt users. This is where additional power of knowing Eclipse comes into play such as "Working with local history." See My post about Top 6 underused Eclipse shortcuts.


8. Implement ideas from Eclipse Platform and Java's Tips and Tricks

Bolt needs to keep pushing forward by implementing and advancing the ColdFusion IDE with ideas and new features added to Eclipse and Java Tips and Tricks. Both links are must read for any Eclipse developer.


9. Bolt Toolbars/Menu details easily hidden

Our workspace is limited, why take up valuable real estate with toolbars and menus, you don't use.

How to customize the toolbars/menu icons.

Notice the Menubar details and Toolbar details sections in the screenshot below to remove elements.



Feel free to comment with any Must Have features you feel Bolt needs.

9 Features Bolt Must Have

10 Responses leave one →
  1. Ouz Demirkap1
    Ouz Demirkap1 PERMALINK
    May 18, 2009 at 7:52 PM

    Good to see a great post. Thanks.

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    May 18, 2009 at 8:02 PM

    Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

  1. Freelance Web Development
    Freelance Web Development PERMALINK
    May 18, 2009 at 8:21 PM

    Must have... a native Mac OS X version.

  1. Jim Priest
    Jim Priest PERMALINK
    May 18, 2009 at 8:41 PM

    Great post. It will be interesting to see what they roll out for version 1.0.

    I'd add: Linux support, and a reasonable price tag :)

  1. Mike Henke
    Mike Henke PERMALINK *
    May 18, 2009 at 9:01 PM

    LOL, they need to go above and beyond if Adobe wants to charge (My feelings only). I like CFEclipse. I think they will have both, support for Linux and Mac OS X

  1. Christopher Vigliotti
    Christopher Vigliotti PERMALINK
    May 18, 2009 at 11:31 PM

    +1 for not becoming another Aptana. The message center idea is a bad one.

  1. Andy Jarrett
    Andy Jarrett PERMALINK
    May 19, 2009 at 3:48 AM

    another +1 for NO message centre. I want an IDE not a RSS reader. I also agree with the "above and beyond" comment as CFE is a good editor now. When/If they charge for a CFEclipse user the price will have to worth the new features alone as they have an IDE they're already comfortable with and have built an environment around

  1. Lola LB
    Lola LB PERMALINK
    May 19, 2009 at 7:08 AM

    Another must-have . . . be able to run it on a PPC Mac. Some of us can't afford to upgrade to an Intel Mac.

  1. Mike
    Mike PERMALINK *
    May 19, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    Looks like cross OS is more important then I initially thought.

  1. jules gravinese
    jules gravinese PERMALINK
    May 19, 2009 at 5:50 PM

    I just hope that if they do go cross browser, it won't be a klunky java app. I loathe those. It would be awesome if they took notes from Coda on the Mac to make a really nice Mac experience.

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