E4/Modeling

Modeling the Workbench and the Things in It

• DOM/CSS
  • we need a simple uniform model API that can be styled much like is possible DOM and CSS
• Provider style API
  • we need some type of uniform API for imposing a view structure on a model instance, i.e., a unification of ILabelProvider, IContentProvider, IFontProvider, and so on.
• Event Bus
  • we need to make it easier to register listeners in a central location
• Commands
  • we need a uniform mechanism for changing state
• Tools for Modeling
  • we need high level tools to make it easy to develop models
• Data binding
  • we need a mechanism for mapping a model of the data onto a model of the user interface
• Constraints
  • we need ways of enforcing consistency

Current Eclipse GUI Artifacts

• Workbench Window(s) (sizing frame, sys menu, min/max/close button?)
  • Main Menu (visible?, items)
    • Items/Sub-Menus
  • Trim
    • Top Trim
      • CBanner (visible?, split/tiled?
        • Main TB
          • Toolbars(groups) (chevrons?), Sub-Menus
        • Perspective Switcher
          • Menu Button (action, context menu)
          • Perspective Buttons (radio set, chevron?)
    • Left Trim
      • Minimized Stack
    • Bottom Trim
      • StatusLine (items...)
      • Stuff (FVB, Progress...)

• Client Area (what's left over after the trim has been arranged)
  • Global Views (currently called 'sticky' views)
• Perspective
  • Detached Windows for the active persp
  • Main Layout (ViewSashContainer)
    • Editor Area (Visible?, state)
      • EditorSashContainer
        • EditorStack(s) (chevron)
      • Sticky Right (ViewStack)
      • ViewStack(s)
        • ToolBar
        • CTabFolder (Site..., min/max handling 'supportsState'
          • items (label, image, active?, selected?)
          • tool area
          • msg area

• Activation
  • Shell->WBW->Perspective->(View/Editor)
  • Editor Area (last active has no shading)
  • Active part (Help)
  • Menu/TB contents/state (including views)

• What you don't (sometimes):
  • Detached Windows for inactive persps
  • ShellPool
  • Context menus
  • views open in other persps
  • pages(?) for non active persps
  • ContainerPlaceHolders
  • ViewPlaceHolders (preferred location)
  • Trim in the activation chain