Update the main asciinema clip

[the-mikedavis]

The jumbotron asciinema recording at https://helix-editor.com/ is a little dated at this point: there are some changes in the UI that are missing in the video. At some point we should re-record the clip to show off some newer flashy features like soft-wrap.

[sudormrfbin]

Some nice to haves that could be included in the new clip:

• Tree-sitter powered features (select function, next argument, etc)
• Diagnostic picker
• More multi-cursor-fu
• Surround functionality and textobjects
• LSP code actions

Something like a small popup on the edge of the clip announcing the current feature being demoed as the video progresses would also be nice since it's hard to understand what's happening on first watch.

[goyalyashpal]

Something like a small popup on the edge of the clip announcing the current feature being demoed

that's a nice suggestion... but this would require some kind of additional place. that additional place can be:

mode	method	comments
video	post-production	not in house, not doable in one go, needs lots of additional work
video	additional window or split while recording	still not totally in house, depends on additional software
ascii	using bufferline to show feature name	totally in house, doable in one go, best way in my opinion

Details:

• Multiple buffers can be opened which contain the names of feature they'll be showcasing
• After showcasing the feature of current buffer, activate the next buffer and so on...

This can be criticised in following way:

• Can't be used for showcasing how different features combine unless that workflow has a proper name

One way to overcome that can be:

• have multiple symlink files to same file,
• name them differently (with feature names) and open all those (same as above)
• now, after showcasing feature in one buffer, save it and activate next buffer...
• Only caveat being, u'd have to additionally go to same line and do it a li'l bit fast

[goyalyashpal]

For opening multiple files, the regex star wildcard * can be used... Is the order of opening of the files using * defined/deterministic? if yes, then good.

The first buffer can be sort of a cover page, so, the following for e.g.

The first command showcased can be: set bufferline multiple

            HELIX FEATURE SHOWCASE
             V22.12 on 2023.02.04




 

[archseer]

Kakoune uses a carousel/separate sections to highlight different features (http://kakoune.org/). Perhaps we could put an image in the header, then display features below

[goyalyashpal]

that makes sense in the long run, saves from demanding recurerrence of such outdations.

the way i suggested can be used for showcasing the features for "whats new" release videos.

[goyalyashpal]

which feature should the header image show?

i guess

• something related to autocompletion
• with a diagnose message in top right (or wherever)

that will showcase LSP, popup support, diagnostics (called virtual text?), gutter indicators - all in single frame

[goyalyashpal]

the screenshot took from the current showcase video itself is a apt example, checks all the points i mentioned

(taking from that above "mentioned in" issue)

[goyalyashpal]

oh wait i can select the text in that video?? waowww!!

so, it really issss asciinema. i always wondered why it was always called that and not just video. awesome.

i had no idea there was a dedicated player around asciinema - i thought it (edit: it was asciicast) was only limited to terminals for debugging (as that's only where i saw it), but yeah, it makes sense someone made a player around it

---

• This also uses asciinema: https://cs50.harvard.edu/x/2023/problems/6/bank/#demo
• I also remember being able to select and even change the code in a player used in Khan Academy lecture (yes, lecture with voiceover and what not) about Javascript. you could even run it live from there. that was such an amazing mind blowing feeling - like i was tottally blown away by that.