GDL Syntax Highlight for VSCode

[Miha Nahtigal]

I've just published a VSCode Extension for GDL highlighting (it's free). It is a first release so it is a bit rough. I'll try to update it regularly.

You can download it from VSCode marketplace or install it directly from VSCode->Extensions (search for GDL).

[DGSketcher]

@Peter Baksa Six months is a long time in software development; is there any change in GS policy direction with regards internal scripting either being deprecated or possibly upgraded?

As has been mentioned by others, I also would be reluctant to take my scripting outside Archicad, as my primary objects are closely tied with CALL functions and MVO values. How do you check these things are communicating correctly if you don't have access to those values?

The saving process from VSCode and testing in AC would need to be seamless if this is the way forward. Personally, I think the AC GDL interface could be significantly improved with a few cosmetic changes and save us all the grief of trying to adopt & understand the VSCode workflow.

The goal of GDL was a simple language like BASIC that could be adopted & understood by many.

GS investing time in VSCode is just a distraction from the core library part development tool which is needed by many to create unique solutions in AC to their particular problems. Would it really be that difficult to refresh the AC GDL user interface with line numbers, syntax highlighting etc?

[zcgt21]

Thanks

[Peter Baksa]

There is some progress about this, GS treats the upgrade of the GDL editor with high priority among planned features.

In its current form it suits beginners and the vscode extension is targeted for handling large libraries, the segment between the two needs the best of both.

Internal scripting will definitely stay, the project environment is very important for testing the scripts (attributes, labeled objects, model information...)

[William Yan]

Great! Will the new improved GDL editor be in AC 26? 27?

[DGSketcher]

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@Peter Baksa wrote:

There is some progress about this, GS treats the upgrade of the GDL editor with high priority among planned features.

In its current form it suits beginners and the vscode extension is targeted for handling large libraries, the segment between the two needs the best of both.

Internal scripting will definitely stay, the project environment is very important for testing the scripts (attributes, labeled objects, model information...)

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Thank you Peter, this is reassuring news!

[Peter Baksa]

Not in AC26, please ask again in six months if it will make it into AC27.

[MetalFingerz]

Hello @Peter Baksa ,
I was reading this thread and stumbled upon your message. Any news about a GDL editor update for AC27 ? 🙂

[Peter Baksa]

Hi,

development is almost ready, it is very probable that it will be in the next version.

[William Yan]

Cool！

[_c_]

Hello,

do I gather that can we expect soon a direct communication between Visual Studio Code and Archicad? This is very good, I began learning GDL and was shocked to read that there is no communication between the Editor and AC. What is that good for?

I come from Vectorworks development (Pascal, Python). There you can just use any editor and test your objects while scripting. The communication between script files and AC is seamless. Moreover, the include system is fully developed both in Pascal and in Python. This allows a great efficiency and flexibiltiy in your development.

For this reason nobody wants to use the internal editor any longer (which has been modernised recently from the '80s).