Vanilla or Spice - the Choice is Yours
Why isn't tRev the default script editor for Revolution?
As the creator of tRev, I hear or see this question (or suggestion) quite a bit in emails, phone calls, or tweets—many times a month. These may even take the form of a post to the Rev forum, like the following:
This just goes to show that folks are picky about their editors. Opinionated. Almost religious. My genuine, thoughtful response to making Revolution's script editor tRev by default might just surprise you. I don't think it should be the default out of the box. And this article is about why.
1. Revolution script editor is a fine script editor.
There are parts of tRev upon which I cannot work using tRev itself. So, I use the Revolution built-in script editor like most people do. I do this nearly every day. I know how Rev's script editor works, and it does its job just fine. Reliable, consistent, etc. It does what a lot of editors do. It does what's expected of it and it does it well.
2. tRev is not a vanilla editor. It's a little spicy.
It has "personality" and here are some of its traits:
- tRev is an object browser by default.
- When only the browser is showing, tRev displays links to news articles about itself at top right.
- When you look at your code, it has web-like links to handlers in it.
- tRev tells you at the bottom of its single window when you've got updates.
- It operates outside of the Rev IDE as a separate app. If you crash Rev, tRev's still there with your code.
- It lives as a counterpoint to the Rev script editor.
tRev is not about scripts. It's about handlers. It organizes them. Links to them. tRev has handler folders and comments in the handler list. Has a scratch pad where you can store handler links. It's handler-obsessed.
It's as if tRev and the Rev script edtior are from opposite sides of the Atlantic. Which they are. Moreover, tRev is not even from the US. It's from Texas. (OMG!)
3. Not everyone wants a spicy editor by default.
Like most editors, the Revolution standard script editor focuses on your object's entire script. It's about the script. Typing it correctly. Compiling it. It believes that your script is your code. This is a key distinction, because tRev thinks your code is made out of handlers, not just text. Rev script editor is not handler obsessed. Some users aren't either, yet a surprising number are—even new users as noted in the post above.
If someone has been using another coding environment for development, they will feel at home in the Revolution script editor. It tries hard not to have too much personality. It's humble and quiet. It will stay in the background until needed. Rev script editor is a real team player. It plays well with the other tool components of the Rev IDE and keeps you there, in the IDE.
4. Creating a truly innovative script editor requires time and risk-taking.
That time required will come from somewhere. Or cost somebody some money.
I like what Revolution is doing with their products. Look at what the Rev dev team is working on:
- App dev platform for three different desktops (Mac, Windows, Linux)
- Plugin platform for browsers on those platforms.
- A web CGI platform for web and desktop apps.
- A mobile platform for iPhone, iPad, Windows, Maemo
I do not want them to spend time on making a script editor that goes the extra mile. I'd rather have revMobile get out of pre-alpha faster. I'd rather have fields with columns. I'd rather have a 100% reliable web plugin.
And I think Revolution has an really good price. A fancier script editor will either raise that price or divert resources away from the good stuff, IMO.
Spice is extra
I say, let the people choose, once they've had a chance to really know what this little editor from Texas is all about. Fortunately, my friends from Scotland agree. (But they're a little "iffy" about this Texas thing.)
The upshot? Rev users will discover a 7-day trial copy of tRev already installed in the Rev 4.5 final release. tRev will be there as an option for folks who want to try out an editor that goes the extra mile. If they buy tRev during their trial period, they get 20% off.
So, Revolution or Revolution picante. Pretty good deal.
And meanwhile—back at the revSelect ranch, you can download a trial version of tRev right now. No registration code required. You got seven days from its first launch to find out if you want to keep it.
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