I’d like to use embedded IronPython as a way of allowing users to script / extend my app. Running the scripts is easy enough, but I also need to provide some sort of IDE or editor as well – this is the bit I’m not sure how to do.
As far as I can see I have only a few options:
- Write myself a complete script editor, complete with syntax highlighting and a way of testing the code, however rely on attaching 3rd party debugging tools to provide debugging support.
- As above, however also write myself a debugger
- Somehow use an external IDE for editing my scripts.
The trouble with options 1. and 2. is that obviously they are a lot of work! (And will most likely be far inferior to “real” IDEs) – I was kind of hoping that someone else might have written an IronPython IDE that I could extend and embed in my app, but I’ve had no such luck.
Option 3. would be my preference – I’d imagine that I would save my script to a temporary file and then start the IDE with the path to my file as a parameter. The problem is that in order to be able to test / run the scripts, I need to set up some environmental objects beforehand – this makes testing and debugging the scripts from an external IDE rather cumbersome.
I don’t mind insisting that only certain IDEs are supported (i.e. Visual Studio) and so I was kind of thinking I could write out a custom MSBuild file that ensured that the environment was all set up correctly when someone pressed F5, but then I realised I was starting to be silly. The other option I considered was if there were any open source IDEs that I could canibalise into embedded script editor.
Or alternatively is there another soltion that I’m missing?
The MonoDevelop IDE is open source, and it already has support for Python (but not IronPython AFAIK), so I imagine that might get you pretty close to what you want, with some modifications. Licensing is pretty liberal (LGPLv2 and MIT).