52 replies to this topic

[IsmAvatar]

I don't use external editors for reasons that should be corrected:
1) I don't use an external image editor because sometimes I want to use GM's built in one, and sometimes I want to use an external editor. It's annoying to have to go hunt down that option every time just to switch it up. The ideal would be to have, say, 2 sprite editor buttons, maybe have both of them configurable (e.g. one as the internal, and one as a specified external -- or both as different externals).
2) I don't use an external code editor because it has no way of picking up resource names and the function list for highlighting. I would love to be able to, because I can think of quite a few editors that add a number of awesome features that GM's lacks, but I just can't use them without resource name and function highlighting.


Also, if you have to pause GM while the editor is going so you know when editing is stopped, you might consider an alternative method which LateralGM uses: a threaded file listener. I know this introduces some problems (when to stop listening, what to do if the image/sprite is modified, etc), but LGM has figured a way around them and implemented it pretty well. You might take a look at their source code (it is open source) and get some ideas (no direct code porting, though, as that is license infringement).

Edited by IsmAvatar, 24 January 2011 - 08:51 PM.

[Polar Productions]

I use external editors for nearly everything. Rarely do I use the sprite editor (only to make quick adjustments or placeholder graphics). However, as others have said, the option to use external editors that is built in is just too clunky. I am much more content to just have separate processes running in the background while I work on one particular task.

[Andy]

I use an external editor for everything but GML coding.

[GStick]

I don't use the external editor features. I do use other programs for editing graphics and sounds, or whatever else though. Starting up extra programs from within Game Maker just isn't really worth it for the time it takes. I also do a lot of the outside work at different times from when I'm actually coding, so Game Maker isn't even always open when I'm working on things. Also, with external resources, it's a bit pointless to load Game Maker just to open them in another program.

All of the coding is within Game Maker though. No real reason to use any other editor. I've tried some in the past, and they just didn't work for me. I've thought about trying Notepad++ on occasion, but I feel like it would mess with my GM work flow.

[Andy]

At the moment, I'm not so concerned with ways to improve the feedback from external to GM itself, as we have bigger plans to improve this anyway. I'll start a topic on this much later, once our own thoughts on it are more concrete.

My main concern is do folk even us it? And from the responses it seems most will have a package going in the background and update the resource/code, although some of you do appear to use the actual "external editor" feature.

So, while it's interesting to see the problems folk have with it as what we think, it means we can't just remove the feature from future updates to 8.x. Like I said... we have plans to improve all this, but I don't know when it's likely to appear, so I don't want to cover it just yet.

Also... You don't need a thread to monitor directorys, most OSs have a callback system to notify you of directory changes, saving disk access. But long LONG term.... we will do somthing like this.

Yes I should clear that up, I set my external programs in the preferences, and I don’t just have them in the background. I would be sad without the option to set my external editors.

[Camman]

I don't use the external editors feature, but I could understand how some people would find it useful. I usually have Photoshop running alongside GM, and then load the resources back into GM after I have finished messing around with them.

[Venomous]

I don't use the external editor feature.
I make a lot of my graphics in the built in sprite editor. If I need something better, I load up Gimp, save the image then load it into GM. Setting Gimp as the external graphics editor would not work well, because of the painful loading time.
An external code editor wouldn't really work unless you don't care about color-coding.
As for sound, I use Audacity if I need a sound edited, then save the file and load it into GM.
The only external editor I'd even consider setting is Audacity(or something else) for sound.

Edited by XtraButter, 24 January 2011 - 10:40 PM.

[Revel]

Where is the option for not using any external editor feature? Without that option, the rest of the poll results are pretty much useless.

Edited by Revel, 24 January 2011 - 10:27 PM.

[CloudWolf]

Apart from the built-in code editor (for which the auto-complete makes work so much easier), I don't use the built-ins, nor do I use the external editor option. I normally, like some others here, I have the external editor (Audacity, LMMS, GIMP etc.) open and then save and re-import. What would be good is if GM had a asset handling system, similar to that of Unity3D. That would save a lot of time and be a useful feature for many. The external editor option just doesn't fit into my workflow easily.

[2DLuis]

I personally do not use this feature, because I believe that the built in code editor will suffice. I do however, use paint and photoshop for the creation of assets, but I do not launch them from inside GM, I launch them externally. Now, I do not think this option should be removed because I am sure there are some people that do take advantage of this.

As many others have mentioned, the internal code editor is real nice, and I do not see myself anytime soon using an external code editor for the simple reason that the GM editor has the auto complete function, and is all "contained" into the application, no need to run another application to type a simple script.

[Smarty]

I don't use it. The reasons are two-fold:

I don't use external editors for sprite, background and sound editing because it just doesn't fit my workflow - I would have created such assets before embarking on the actual game development itself, or I would be using placeholders and concentrate on those later. I prefer to focus on one task at a time.

I don't use an external editor for scripts because the built-in one is better integrated. Sure, there are perfectly fine external editors available, and they may be configured to GML syntax-highlighting, but it can't do so for resource names and for functions coming from extensions. And it certainly can't be taught to syntax-check my scripts on the spot. Besides this a full-blown editor is a bit of overkill - GML scripts needn't, and shouldn't, be all too lengthy.

[Orbitguy]

I honestly never knew this preference was there. =P
Seeing as I've never had the need to search for such an option within Game Maker, I probably wouldn't use it anyway, except with mabye notepad because I'm a notepad fan. But yeah, I think I'll try it now that I know it's there. =D

[ev149]

Yep, Sound/MP3/MIDI all go to Adobe Soundbooth. I should probably set my code editor to Dreamweaver and image editor to Photoshop, too.

[Andy]

The externals I use are:
- Image editing: MS Paint 6.1
- All audio editing: WavePad Sound Editor

[nickydude]

I use external editors (Paint.NET & Audacity) but don't use the 'external editor' options in GM, I have them running in the background.

Edited by nickydude, 25 January 2011 - 12:41 AM.

[Revel]

Where is the option for not using any external editor feature? Without that option, the rest of the poll results are pretty much useless.

Actually... the number of folk that don't use it is irrelavent here. If any folk use it then it has to stay, which was the whole point. If there were no votes in a column then we could consider removing something... but to be honest, the number of folk that like this kind of option means they should all stay, just in case.

Did you think one of them would receive 0 votes?

Also, you shouldn't consider removing them, you should consider upgrading them as some people might not use them because they have almost useless functionality (especially the external code editor).

Edited by Revel, 25 January 2011 - 12:57 AM.

[Rugos]

I use an external code editor, and if I want to remember a certain function, I just open up the help. U\I use paint, as I HATE the transparent background of 8.0. 7.0 was much better.

[slayer 64]

i think the external editor option is useless. too slow to use.