Application to Plugin

Look at "IntelliJ Plugins Development" here:
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WebHome
and also the openapi docs distributed with IDEA. I can't answer your first
question directly but I would look at the source for other app -> plugin
like the IdeaJad plugin.

"Pat" <metsoc30@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:14767611.1056723829476.JavaMail.itn@is.intellij.net...

Hey all,
Is there an easy way to modify a stand-alone application to make it an

IDEA plugin? Also, does anyone know any good resources on making IDEA
plugins? Thank
>

-Pat

First, you'll have to configure you PC to work on plugin.

See here :
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginTesting

I advise you follow the variation mentionned on that page, where you
duplicate the full IDEA_HOME dir.
That way, when you launch the 2nd instance of IDEA, it will only
load the plugin you chose to test, and not all those that you are using
in you working IDEA;




Second, you'll have to download the source of an existing plugin.
I don't know if there a complete one (containing a ready to launch
complete project, including deployment targets).

(I'll send you directly a copy of a running one, that works on 833.)



You'll find some info here
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IntellijPluginDocumentation
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/PluginDocumentation

, but the best way to learn is to look at existing plugins. Start with
simple/small ones. Don't dive into PSI directly :)

Some time ago, someone mentionned the workspace plug-in as a well
written and good learning example :
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WorkspacesPlugin


Alain

In response to your first question: Depending on how the stand alone
application is written, it can be as simple as creating a "wrapper"
plugin. I have created a couple of plugins for personal use in this
way. Basically these plugins allow me to invoke a program on a
file...much like the 'external tools' feature of IDEA. However, to
truly make a robust integrated plugin one must learn the plugin API.

IMHO, the best way to learn the plugin API is to start with the plugin
WIKI (http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IntelliJPluginsHome).
There is tons (or is it tonnes) of info there. Also I learn quickly
from reading source, so I would also recommend downloading some of the
plugin sources and take a look at how others have coded things.

Good luck,
JM


Pat wrote:

Hey all,
Is there an easy way to modify a stand-alone application to make it an IDEA plugin? Also, does anyone know any good resources on making IDEA plugins? Thank

-Pat

J Mosser wrote:
> ..can be as simple as creating a "wrapper" plugin.

A very simple example is the ColorChooserPlugin :
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/ColorChooserPlugin

Alain

Hello,

Here is predefined project for IntelliJ for plugins. But it for older
builds, maybe you fix it for new build :)

http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/ProjectPluginTemplate

Follow, before you start, try to search for samples in:
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IntelliJPluginsHome
And
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IntelliJPluginArchive

Then you finished your plugin please follow instructions on
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IntelliJPluginsHome
for adding new plugin topic into www.intellij.org

My plugins here:
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/FileAssociations
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/SystemProperties


Thanks!

--
Alexey Efimov, Software Engineer
Sputnik Labs,
http://www.spklabs.com
"Pat" <metsoc30@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:14767611.1056723829476.JavaMail.itn@is.intellij.net...

Hey all,
Is there an easy way to modify a stand-alone application to make it an

IDEA plugin? Also, does anyone know any good resources on making IDEA
plugins? Thank
>

-Pat