Libraries need work. Already planned?

Ian Zabel wrote:

In the Project Properties -> Main Module, I think a bit of work needs to
be done on the whole concept of Libraries.

It was at least partially intuitive in previous versions of IntelliJ IDEA,
but in the EAP, it's very confusing and counter-intuitive, IMHO.

Check next build. At least module-level libraries will be much better.

Friendly,
Dmitry

Is work already planned on improving this before 4.0's release? Or is the
current state as good as it's gonna get? I will enter a feature request if
appropriate.

Quickly, a few issues:
1) Can't edit a library unless you go into the "Add" button. Should be
able to edit directly from the main window. 2) Add Global|Project Library
should be moved into Libraries tab. (I've actually already entered a
feature request on this, but it's not open.
http://www.intellij.net/tracker/idea/viewSCR?publicId=19861 ) 3) What is
the points of the Named Library in the Libraries tab if you've got Project
and Global Libraries in the Order tab?? This is so confusing!

Thanks!
Ian.

--
Dmitry Lomov
IntelliJ Labs / JetBrains Inc.
http://www.intellij.com
"Develop with pleasure!"

Ian Zabel wrote:

In the Project Properties -> Main Module, I think a bit of work needs to be done on the whole concept of Libraries.

It was at least partially intuitive in previous versions of IntelliJ IDEA, but in the EAP, it's very confusing and counter-intuitive, IMHO.

Is work already planned on improving this before 4.0's release? Or is the current state as good as it's gonna get? I will enter a feature request if appropriate.

Quickly, a few issues:
1) Can't edit a library unless you go into the "Add" button. Should be able to edit directly from the main window.

I agree. I would suggest putting the library configuration UI into the
project properties dialog as a new section. It should allow editing of both
project global libraries.

You should also be able to edit global libraries without having any projects
open. A new section in the IDE properties dialog would seem appropriate for
this.

2) Add Global|Project Library should be moved into Libraries tab. (I've actually already entered a feature request on this, but it's not open. http://www.intellij.net/tracker/idea/viewSCR?publicId=19861 )

I agree with this too. This was discussed a long time ago, but was never
done because that whole part of the UI was expected to change with the
introduction of multi-module support. Now that we've seen an initial cut of
the multi-module UI and it seems likely to remain similar to the existing
UI, I think this change should be made ASAP.

3) What is the points of the Named Library in the Libraries tab if you've got Project and Global Libraries in the Order tab?? This is so confusing!

It's poorly named, but a named library is specific to a module: its
definition is stored in the module file and it can't be added to other
modules. I think a name change is needed to clarify this ("Module library",
perhaps?).

Vil.
--
Vilya Harvey
vilya.harvey@digitalsteps.com / digital steps /
(W) +44 (0)1483 469 480
(M) +44 (0)7816 678 457 http://www.digitalsteps.com/

>It's poorly named, but a named library is specific to a module: its
>definition is stored in the module file and it can't be added to other
>modules. I think a name change is needed to clarify this ("Module library",
>perhaps?).


Hmm ok, so where do I find a Module primer, because I have no idea what the point of the Modules is, and what I gain from it.

Thanks,
Ian.

Ian Zabel wrote:
>>It's poorly named, but a named library is specific to a module: its
>>definition is stored in the module file and it can't be added to other
>>modules. I think a name change is needed to clarify this ("Module library",
>>perhaps?).

Hmm ok, so where do I find a Module primer, because I have no idea what the point of the Modules is, and what I gain from it.

I noticed there was nothing on the www.intellij.org wiki about modules yet,
so I've added a quick summary to the Unofficial Aurora FAQ. The url for it
is
http://www.intellij.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/UnofficialAuroraFAQ#WhatAreModules

Hope that helps.
Vil.
--
Vilya Harvey
vilya.harvey@digitalsteps.com / digital steps /
(W) +44 (0)1483 469 480
(M) +44 (0)7816 678 457 http://www.digitalsteps.com/

Vilya,

Thanks a million for finally bringing a little clarity to what the modules will eventually be in their full incarnation. Question: where are you supposed to configure these modules from?

Tools->Edit modules