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Add a language comparison page

Open sonnyp opened this issue 1 year ago • 5 comments

Similar to the "Extensions" window, we should have a "Languages" window with a comparison table and links.

Similar to https://developer.gnome.org/documentation/introduction/languages.html but with a bit more focus on Workbench and developer experience

This will have 2 objectives

  1. Help newcomers decide which language to use in Workbench
  2. Encourage language maintainers to implement features

Here is an example

Formatter Linter Library demos Support Recommended for
JavaScript Yes Yes 100 100% Beginners
Vala No Yes 90 80% Intermediate
Rust Yes No 90 80% Intermediate
Python No No 0 50% Beginners

Support would refer to UX, APIs and features, for example

  • https://github.com/sonnyp/Workbench/issues/110
  • https://github.com/sonnyp/Workbench/issues/125
  • https://github.com/sonnyp/Workbench/issues/120
  • https://github.com/sonnyp/Workbench/issues/630
  • workbench.build

Note that these aren't Vala specific anymore.

sonnyp avatar Oct 21 '23 11:10 sonnyp

Design wise we should have a little description for each language and an intro that says "Use what you are familiar with".

sonnyp avatar Oct 21 '23 11:10 sonnyp

@bragefuglseth would you be interested in designing something like this?

sonnyp avatar Oct 21 '23 11:10 sonnyp

Yeah! I think this should be in the already existing Extensions window, though, below the list of installed extensions. Seems like this is the place where it would be most relevant.

bragefuglseth avatar Oct 21 '23 11:10 bragefuglseth

If you can find a way to merge both dialogs that's not confusing - I'm happy to :)

Remembers the Extensions window is currently used for "user attempts to do something they don't have the sdk for".

For the Languages window I had in mind to make it accessible via an info button here

image

and from the Library window "About Languages" or something.

But yeah there is a lot of overlap.

sonnyp avatar Oct 21 '23 14:10 sonnyp

I feel like there should also be links to the language API documentation.

gregorni avatar Oct 30 '23 23:10 gregorni