From: "Paul Fellows" Newsgroups: comp.editors,comp.sys.transputer Subject: Re: Folding editors Date: 3 Nov 1998 10:31:21 GMT Organization: BT Internet Message-Id: <01be0713$af9fa180$LocalHost@default> References: <36374B57.168B9492@pact.srf.ac.uk> <71aj0c$oc$1@fangorn.moria.de><6r1znq7264.fsf@belhaven.spider.com> <3639BEFD.2CC25E3C@esgem.com><6r4ssm59ay.fsf@belhaven.spider.com> Xref: ukc comp.editors:32042 comp.sys.transputer:8902 I have read these discussions about folding editors with interest. I used various flavours of folding editors back in 1989-1994. Mainly my impression of them was that they were a good thing, so long as one also was aware of the overall software development process. One thing that is clearly bad, is to have a single file containing all the source code, even if it is all neatly folded away. So like most engineering solutions, one should adopt a compromise that meets the environmental factors (software dev system, O/S, Make tool, debugger, ....) Trying to be objective: Folding Strengths : * Rapid Navigation * Good for prototyping the structure * Encourages comments (fold lines), almost self documenting * Helps new programmers on the project get up to speed quickly * Is glass/lcd display orientated rather than laser printer orientated. * Eases modification (cut and paste of folds) Folding Weaknesses: * No one took it up as a mainstream focussed business opportunity > other good stuff from the outside world did not permeate into the folding editors > support issues (moving to new O/S's etc...) * Easy to abuse > using folds rather than functions > enormous files * Vandalism : Non folding editor users could inflict severe damage to the folding structure (not the program itself though) > I actually witnessed some non folding programmers take great pleasure in intentionally damaging the fold markers on purpose for a laugh! > This often precludes the use of folding in large multi-programmer projects. It is extremely difficult to wean a programmer off his/her favourite editor. Features and particular key mappings are extremely important to each individual. * Can encourage sloppy programming practices The technique has found its way into the mainstream commercial arena in the guise of outline modes in Office software such as WORD and PowerPoint. The vandalism problem does not occur due to the binary nature of the binary nature of the file. So in summary I would say that folding is in principle a jolly good idea, but some issues need to be solved before it can be accepted mainstream. Anyone every thought about using hyperlinks as an alternative to folding? P.S. Thanks to Ken Heddings for setting up http://www.inmos.com -- Paul Fellows.