Enhanced Settings System Design A Modern Code Editor With Settings

Hey guys! Let's dive into a design proposal for an enhanced settings system in our modern code editor, Apollo. This is super crucial because we want to give our users the customization power they expect while keeping things organized and scalable. Think of this as leveling up our editor to compete with the big players like Monaco. So, let’s break it down and see how we can make this happen.

The Need for Enhanced Settings

When we talk about enhanced settings, we're not just talking about adding a few toggles here and there. We're looking at a fundamental upgrade to how users interact with and personalize their coding environment. This includes everything from keybindings to font sizes, and even showing line numbers. The goal? To create a seamless and intuitive experience that caters to individual preferences. Right now, the settings modal is like a messy drawer – things are just piled in there. We need a system that keeps things tidy and easy to manage, especially as we add more features. Plus, a solid settings system opens the door for cool stuff like feature flags and experimental groups, which are pretty standard in modern editors.

Keybindings and Basic Settings

One of the immediate needs is to improve keybindings. Right now, it’s a bit clunky, and we want to make it smoother. But it doesn't stop there. Basic settings, like font size and line numbers, are must-haves for any modern editor. Imagine a user who wants to bump up the font size for better readability or quickly toggle line numbers for easier navigation. These are the little things that add up to a great user experience. The amount of settings isn't going to decrease. We have to create a system that will scale well over time, accommodating both basic and advanced configurations without becoming a nightmare to manage.

User Customization

User customization is the heart of a modern code editor. Everyone has their own way of working, their own preferences. By giving users the ability to tweak settings to their liking, we're empowering them to create an environment that truly works for them. This isn't just about making the editor look pretty; it's about boosting productivity and making the coding experience more enjoyable. Think about it – a developer who can customize their keybindings to match their muscle memory is going to be way more efficient than someone fighting the default settings.

The Motivation Behind the Upgrade

The motivation here is simple: we want to deliver a code editor that rivals the best in the business. To do that, we need to match the functionality that users expect. A robust settings system isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. It increases user customization, making Apollo a more versatile and user-friendly tool. By addressing this, we're not just adding features; we're investing in the long-term usability and appeal of our editor.

Expected Functionality

Modern code editors aren't just about writing code; they're about crafting an environment that fits the developer's workflow. Users expect to be able to tweak everything from the appearance of the editor to the way it handles code analysis. We need to meet these expectations to keep Apollo competitive. This means diving deep into the settings landscape and figuring out how to offer a rich, customizable experience without overwhelming the user. Think of it as offering a tailored suit instead of one-size-fits-all clothing.

Increasing User Customize Ability

The more users can customize, the more they can make the editor their own. This leads to a stronger connection with the tool and, ultimately, greater satisfaction. Customization isn't just about aesthetics; it's about optimizing the coding process. For example, a user who prefers a specific color theme or indentation style should be able to set it and forget it. The more flexible we make Apollo, the more it will resonate with a diverse range of developers.

Design Proposal: A Modular Approach

Our design proposal centers around a modular approach. We recognize that settings often group themselves around specific domains of functionality – the editor itself, code analysis, theming, and so on. By organizing settings this way, we can create a more logical and manageable structure. The key is to avoid a monolithic settings modal that becomes unwieldy over time. We need a system that allows us to add and manage settings globally without creating a tangled mess.

ISettingsService

The core of our proposal is the ISettingsService<T> interface. Each domain of functionality would implement this interface, where T represents the specific settings model for that domain. This gives us strongly typed C# properties to work with, making the code cleaner and easier to maintain. For instance, the editor domain might have a EditorSettings model with properties like FontSize and ShowLineNumbers. This approach ensures that settings are not just stored as arbitrary values but as well-defined properties with clear types.

Custom Attributes for UI Decoration

To make the settings UI more user-friendly, we'll use custom attributes to decorate the properties in our settings models. Things like Order and Description can guide the UI in how to display settings logically. The Order attribute could specify the order in which settings appear in the modal, while the Description attribute provides helpful tooltips or explanations for each setting. This keeps the UI intuitive and prevents users from getting lost in a sea of options. Only the settings modal will likely care about these properties, so we need a way to make them accessible without cluttering the core settings logic.

ISettingsProvider or SettingsState

To bridge the gap between the settings models and the UI, we'll introduce a wrapping type – either an ISettingsProvider interface or a SettingsState class. This component will be responsible for grabbing all the ISettingsService<T> implementations from our dependency injection (DI) container. It will then inspect the attributes on the settings properties and use that information to build the UI. Think of it as the conductor of the settings orchestra, making sure everything plays in harmony. This also centralizes the logic for managing settings, making it easier to add new settings or modify existing ones.

Persistence with Local Storage

Ideally, we'd want to persist these settings in local storage, much like we do with theme settings today. This ensures that users' preferences are remembered between sessions. We can standardize this process even further, creating a consistent way to save and load settings across the application. This not only enhances the user experience but also simplifies the codebase by providing a unified approach to persistence. Imagine the frustration of setting up your editor just the way you like it, only to have to do it all over again the next time you open it – we want to avoid that.

Basic Example: Making the Font Size Bigger

Let’s walk through a basic example to illustrate how this system would work. Imagine a user wants to make the font size bigger. They would open the settings modal and search for