[cc-general] editor window design

[Joseph M. <mo...@st...>]

I was talking about this project with my "boss" and he suggested a 
method of handling editing and control in the editor window.

Give the abiliy to section off control to the document. Basically you 
would "check out" a chunk of code to work on (ex: line 100 - 140 at the 
time of checkout), and then you can send updates at will (by maby 
pressing an update button or some combination of control or shift) to 
the other developers when you are ready to show your work. That way 
everyone can work collectivly on a document and not have to sit and wait 
until someone gives up document control before you can contribute. In 
the left side of the document there would be a list of line numbers. if 
you click on a line number you start your selection, click on and end 
line number and your chunk is "checked out". We'd obviously check to 
make sure only one person checks out a line at a time, and when you are 
selecting lines it will block updates so you don't loose your place if 
someone sends an update (keep a stack of incoming updates durring a lock 
like this and update when the lock is opened (when the person is done 
selecting their block)). Also, if you try to select someone elses line 
it will notify both of you so maby the other person will give up control.

This will definilty make making the editor window more difficult, but it 
think it could be a tremendous improvement.

Its hard to say what types of features would be annoying or helpful when 
you are actually using the program. Unfortunately its going to take some 
trial and error, as well as thurough testing.

Let me know what you think of this idea.

- Joe