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

[Al T 5]

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 1732]

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 14]

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 1732]

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

I've not tried the one you linked.

[Al T 5]

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 39]

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 1732]

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...