Java Playground makes Java more accessible than ever by running in the browser and supporting code snippets and example templates. This is great for learning, experimenting, demonstrating, sharing - exactly what Java needs to attract and keep users and showcase Java in the best possible light.
However, much of what makes Java compelling is the platform and tools, not just the language. Showing Java via simple JavaScript tools can be self-defeating: it hides much of the platform, shows Java in a limited and less engaging way and implies that the best way to write Java is with another language.
Java Playground needs to add a basic set of 'standard modern IDE features' - and it needs to be implemented in Java itself, so this new site shows Java as powerful, flexible, exciting and makes it easy to write code. After all, modern tooling was invented in Java and it is much of what keeps developers excited.
I'm suggesting that dev.java consider changing the foundation of Java Playground to use SnapCode, a free in-browser code editor, written entirely in Java - running in the browser. It has these modern features already:
- Full code completion
- Support for balancing and highlighting paired chars (quotes, parens, brackets, etc.)
- Support for highlighting instances of selected symbols (variables, method names, etc.)
- Support for inline error reporting
- Support for in-browser UI coding (buttons, sliders, textfields, lists, tables, trees, etc.)
- Support for in-browser command line and chatbot processing (System.in / Scanner)
- Support for advanced charting (line, contour, 3D, etc.)
- Support for turtle/pen graphics, vector graphics and 3D programming in Java
- Support for quick access to documentation and library source
- Support for external library dependencies
- Support for UI building
- Support for debugging
- Support for graphics profiling (frame rate, painted region highlighting, etc.)
- Support for quick share of code snippets with encoded URL
- Support to show code as "Puzzle pieces" for visual drag-and-click code editing
- Ability to run on the desktop
- Much more!
Click to run SnapCode: https://reportmill.com/SnapCode/app/
I know the reaction might be "this is beyond our scope". But it's "Java Playground", not "Java Toy". Playgrounds are expansive, full-featured and inspiring - the limitation should be user imagination, not the tool. And I would love to help out.
Jeff at ReportMill
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