The language server

[JnRouvignac]

The Language Server protocol is used between a tool (the client) and a language smartness provider (the server) to integrate features like auto complete, goto definition, find all references and alike into the tool.

Source https://github.com/Microsoft/language-server-protocol

Visual Studio Code provides rich language support for many programming languages. Support for a particular programming language is powered by a language server that has a deep understanding of that language. VS Code communicates with these servers to enable rich editing capabilities like 'Errors & Warnings', 'Refactor', and 'Go To Definition'.

Source: https://code.visualstudio.com/blogs/2016/06/27/common-language-protocol

If you’re designing a language or building IDE features for an existing language (a server), you can use LSP to make your work consumable by different tools.

Source: https://typefox.io/the-language-server-protocol-in-java

I wonder if AutoRefactor should become a language server to expose its functionalities to other tools?

[JnRouvignac]

See a java language server implementation based on Eclipse:

java-language-server is a server implementation that provides Java language smartness. The server adheres to the language server protocol and can be used with any editor that supports the protocol. The server utilizes Eclipse JDT, M2Eeclipse.

[yossigil]

Hmmm. Interesting. We may enjoy cooperate with Spartan/Auto. What do you think?

[JnRouvignac]

That could be interesting indeed.

I have not looked into details for the language server, however it seems like a feature Spartan/Auto would want to implement. Do you have an idea on what you want to do and how to collaborate?

[yossigil]

Can we do telegram or google chat?