[FireMonkey] External Editing

[DrakeTDL]

As per this: https://github.com/erosman/support/issues/258#issuecomment-744073222

I think what erosman should actually do, if he decides to support it, is build an application with native messaging that communicates to FireMonkey. Then he can link that application with the EDITOR so that any save triggers content update and save. This way

1. only this specific application can access a specific webextension in Firefox so that you can disable accessibility API for security and prevent unauthorized 3rd party access.

2. erosman doesn't need to maintain an alternative interface in FireMonkey.

I've decided to create a dedicated issue and voting for it to be implemented.

[ZashIn]

A simpler approach would be to track local file changes of an installed script (opened file://*.user.js tab), like Violentmonkey does:

• documentation: How to edit scripts with your favorite editor?
• relevant code:
  • trackLocalFile()
  • recent change: commit feat: use FileSystemObserver for tracking local files

This would make the workflow of developing user scripts with an external editor certainly easier/faster:

• FireMonkey: F5+Enter (script file tab) + F5 (target page) after every change (and switching tabs with e.g. 2x Ctrl+Tab)
• Violentmonkey: only F5 on the target page, after the first script (re)install and confirmation of tracking file changes

[erosman]

The Violentmonkey method requires the installation of a web-server on the user's computer which is not straight forward for everyone. After the installation of a web-server, auto-update can be used since as far as the extension is concerned, it is the same as a userscript on Greasy Fork or GitHub, etc.