Sean Heber
People rag on Xcode all the time, but every time I try to use VS.Code I'm just... infuriated. I guess I just don't get it. Maybe I'm not a real developer.
Feb 8 at 7:19pmWeb
Show threadSean HeberFeb 8

It's like.. I'll want to just press a run button - but no, apparently you have to setup launch scripts or something? I dunno. And to do that involves commands in a text box? What is this, 1980? WHERE'S MY BUTTON?

And the key binding for running is apparently F5. Sorry, but my Mac keyboard hides F5 behind function keys. What is this? Windows?!

Anyway, yes, I'm sure.. this is probably all fixable and I'm dumb. Cuz what I wanted when trying something out is to spend 2 hours configuring my editor.

Show threadDaniel DurransFeb 8

@bigzaphod You're not alone. It's as if they took all the bad things from the command line (like having to remember what command you want) and shoved them into a UI that then nags you to install extensions.

I just want some useful text editing things on the menu bar and tool bar.

Show threadChristopher MastoFeb 8
@bigzaphod As someone who primarily does web app development, I find it pretty great. But “run” for me is a separate terminal.
Show threadDominic HoptonFeb 8

@bigzaphod One of the most enduring, persistent, and pervasive aspects of software development is "you're holding it wrong" and the right of passage / paying your dues of crawling through hot shards of broken glass to prove your worthiness.

related: https://www.codevoid.net/ruminations/2022/04/12/demoralized-by-complexity.html

PS see the current 'skill issue' refrain when one has a substandard experience with the robots

Demoralized by complexity – a rant

Sometimes, software development gets you down. Sometimes a rant about it helps.

Thoughts, Ruminations, & Pontifications
Show threadSean HeberFeb 8
@grork yes.. software development has increasingly become a place where excitement goes to die.
Show threadJason BeckerFeb 8
@bigzaphod depending on what kind of programming you do, it is fixable, but VS Code and the like are more like "build your own IDE" than "batteries included". And like many things, some people love that and some people hate it.
Show threadMonty Hayter 🇨🇦Feb 8

@bigzaphod Have you ever used Android Studio? Sure it’s powerful and there are some nice things it can do (and it’s *way* better than using Eclipse 😬 like you used to have to do) but ooof…

For all its faults, whenever I switch back to Xcode it’s like coming home.

Show threadAmethyst 🌸Feb 8

@bigzaphod > is this windows?

Yeah, the default key bindings were literally picked because that’s what they were in the original Visual Studio on windows 😹

Show threadMiguel ArrozFeb 8
@bigzaphod Yes, I have the exact same experience and feeling. I use VS Code for electronic stuff (Arduino, etc) and infuriating is the right word. I installed whatever AI assistant that thing supports and use it all the time to ask how do I do things that are basic in other IDEs.
Show threadDavid Beck Feb 9
@bigzaphod totally agree. I use several IDEs and when I’m using Xcode I’m frustrated it doesn’t have all the functionality of the others and when I use the others I’m frustrated they aren’t as “nice” as Xcode.
Show threadbunnyheroFeb 8
@bigzaphod same!
Show threadDaniel SmithFeb 8
@bigzaphod I liked VS Code a lot in the early days, but my enthusiasm for it has dwindled considerably. The only reason I use it anymore is that it feels like the “editor of least resistance” for a lot of stuff
Show threadTyler BindonFeb 8
@bigzaphod I’ve been using it at work a couple years because they stopped supporting IntelliJ. It’s still frustrating.
Show threadsanguishFeb 8
@bigzaphod coercion. You get made a ccocd got the other?
Show threadGrahamFeb 8
@bigzaphod Honestly Xcode wouldn’t be so bad if tabs worked in a sane way. 😅
Show threadMichael CookFeb 8

@ghalldev There’s an option to fix that. Boy it’s annoying. It didn’t always work the way it does now, I don’t think.

The trick is pinning tabs. You can do it manually or have it set up to pin anything you open or edit. There may be one other option.

Show threadGrahamFeb 8

@foobarsoft Even that doesn't work quite how I expect it to, unless I'm missing something. It should only pin a tab if I make changes to the file.

It's really not the end of the world for me, I mostly work in Nova 😅

Show threadMichael CookFeb 8

@ghalldev That’s one of the options available, my sentence wasn’t terribly clear.

I agree it feels a little off, I’m mostly used to JetBrains stuff. I’m just happy I figured out how to get it to stop using a single tab for everything constantly making me where I was.

Show threadGrahamFeb 8

@foobarsoft Oh maybe that’s a newer option? I don’t remember seeing that before.

Thanks!!

Show threadMichael CookFeb 8
@ghalldev I literally found it in the last week or so. It may be very new for all I know.
Show threadGrahamFeb 9

@foobarsoft Not sure if you'd be interested, but I found this set of keybindings for Xcode. 🙂

https://gist.github.com/tranquan/b15a4502930e4c8649bc1dab5c1d2173

Xcode KeyBindings as VSCode

Xcode KeyBindings as VSCode. GitHub Gist: instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

Gist
Show threadMichael CookFeb 8

@bigzaphod No, it’s nuts. I think you need severe I’m-Used-To-Microsoft-Design-Koolaid to like it.

I can’t stand it. I’ve used Eclipse and use IntelliJ every day.

I tried VS Code and bounced off it HARD.

Show threadDimitri BouniolFeb 8
@bigzaphod I refuse to use VSCode, and will happily shill @panic’s Nova as a _much_ better alternative!
Show threadDavid HepworthFeb 9
@dimitribouniol @bigzaphod @panic That’s what I use, too! https://nova.app/
Nova

The beautiful, fast, flexible, native Mac code editor from Panic.

Show threadtwodFeb 8
@bigzaphod yeah I've tried a few times and it boils down to a complexity problem. In order to do anything in vscode it seems like you need to install some plugin and then you're stuck with having to learn the magic incantations that go with it. Maybe it's a bad take but the experience feels like emacs or vim dresses up with a new skin and slightly longer commands.
For disclosure I'm currently using intellij and pycharm, but they still frustate me when they get bloated.
Show threaddmdFeb 8

@bigzaphod Every time I try to clone a GitHub project and open it in VS Code, it's like: "Do you personally know and completely trust each and every one of these developers? Because there could be malware hiding in here, and nobody would know!” And I'm like, uhhhh… n-no? And then it's like “Entering punishment mode. Until you change your mind, no developing fun times for you. Good luck figuring it out, jerk”

Punishment mode involves a lot of passive-agressive red squiggly underlines

Show threadPhillip UptonFeb 8

@bigzaphod

You are not alone

(I use Sublime Text)

Show threadmcgFeb 8
@bigzaphod Generic IDE(vsc) vs very specific use case IDE(Xcode). Try using Xcode for non-Apple toolchain stuff and it would probably also be painful?
Show threadRussell IvanovicFeb 8
@bigzaphod Xcode is really bad. VS Code I think is worse? I wouldn't call that an IDE though, it's just a glorified text editor? The intelli-j series of IDEs are to me best in class.