How to use an external editor like VScode and GitHub Copilot for Delphi 11 Alexandria?

[Al T 12]

I'm trying to figure out if this is even possible.

 

It seems that GitHub Copilot only works with a select few editors.

 

Which external editor would work best with Delphi so that GitHub Copilot could be used?

 

Any ideas?

 

 

 

[Lars Fosdal 1793]

Any text editor can be used to edit .pas files. It is when configuring projects and editing frames/forms that you are stuck with using the Delphi IDE.

 

CoPilot supported editors are listed here: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/getting-started-with-github-copilot

 

VS Code works with DelphiLSP and CoPilot - so that is a clear candidate.

[omnibrain 15]

4 hours ago, Lars Fosdal said:

VS Code works with DelphiLSP and CoPilot - so that is a clear candidate.

What extensions would you recommend? Is Delphi Extension Pack - Visual Studio Marketplace a good start?

[Lars Fosdal 1793]

Before DelphiLSP, I used the OmniPascal extension in VS Code.

I've not tried the one you linked.

[Al T 12]

Thank y'all!

 

I was able to get DelphiLSP working with VScode only after I deleted my serial numbers and registered them again.

 

[plamenjm 1]

Delphi/pascal file in IntelliJ IDEA and Copilot suggestions.

With I-Pascal plugin for IntelliJ (available for versions before 2022.1) - https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/7340-i-pascal

 

In the editor on the left side - suggested auto-complete
On the right side - copilot panel with multiple suggestions

 

Without hint

 

With hint (the comment on the first line)

[JonRobertson 72]

I've never heard of the Delphi IDE "using" an external editor. The integration between the editor and the rest of the IDE (designer, object inspector, tool palette, etc) would likely need a heavy refactor or rewrite. But as  @Lars Fosdal mentioned, you can edit Pascal source in any text editor. The project below is a Delphi plug-in that adds a command to the Tools menu to open the current unit in Visual Code. With a little configuration, you could switch between Delphi and Visual Code at will, taking advantage of features in Visual Code such as Copilot.

 

EditInVsCodeDelphiPlugin

[Lars Fosdal 1793]

If the form designer of Delphi could be called out-of-process, it could be paired with VSCode, and personally, I really like VSCode.

Then again, the shortcuts in the BDS IDE are engrained in my muscle memory...

[FreeDelphiPascal 19]

On 3/29/2023 at 9:35 AM, Lars Fosdal said:

CoPilot supported editors are listed here: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/getting-started-with-github-copilot

That article only mentions Visual Studio Code. Probalby was changed???

[FreeDelphiPascal 19]

I have found these 3 plugins for "chat":

 

https://github.com/AliDehbansiahkarbon/ChatGPTWizard/blob/main/README.md

https://github.com/Code4Delphi/Delphi-AI-Developer

https://github.com/FMXExpress/CodeDroidAI

 

But none has a level of integration similar to Copilot.

_____

 

This is not a plugin but just a guy that says that Copilot can generate Delphi code:

 

Edited August 19 by FreeDelphiPascal

[FreeDelphiPascal 19]

I tried Cursor this week.

The program is still early beta. Realy early beta. Strange things are happening there.

But when it would be ready, for non Delphi programmers (those HTML/JS coders without a true IDE), it is promising.

 

In some cases it will output good ideas/code, in other cases, absolutely monumental garbage, like

        TListBox.Items[0].Visible:= false; (wishful thinking?)

In the end I the time spent on garbage equalized the time when it produced good code/ideas. I think it would be rather useful to produce ideas instead of code.

But considering that you need to understand and review other's code.... I ended up with a negative score.

 

But the end conclusion is that unless it is integrated into Delphi IDE it will not help a well seasoned Delphi programmer. It will rather disturb you.

I am not even mentioning, that you can only use it on PAS files that have no DFM associated since Cursor cannot edit your DFM files!

 

Edited September 12 by FreeDelphiPascal