stack ide integration service

[krgn]

stacks approach to handling packages and the dependency tree breaks (all?) existing tools that rely on cabal for providing mechanisms such as code completion, extract type at point and go-to definition to name a few.
Hence I propose to integrate a json web service that exposes this type of information. The command could be called stack boot and could include a -w flag* to enable watching for changes in the cabal file/source code.

[*] this flag could also be made global and exposed as a hook in different parts of the application to support other behavior proposed here

[snoyberg]

I know I'd like to see something like this. There's also a related issue at #232 for ide-backend-client support.

@chrisdone and @mgsloan, do either of you have thoughts on this one?

[gregwebs]

Don't the tools that run cabal just need to be configured to run stack? Ultimately they both use Cabal and GHC

[snoyberg]

That's entirely possible. Let me go on record as saying I know next to nothing about how those tools work since I don't use them myself (yes, I know I should start using them.... I'm lazy :) ). So take anything I say here with a big grain of salt.

[chrisdone]

@krgn

the dependency tree breaks (all?) existing tools that rely on cabal for providing mechanisms such as code completion

@gregwebs

Don't the tools that run cabal just need to be configured to run stack? Ultimately they both use Cabal and GHC

With haskell mode I just run stack exec ghci-ng and I still have type information and go to definition, etc. so that still works fine.

However, moving forward, integrating with ide-backend, either via ide-backend-client or directly via a plugin e.g. stack ide-backend or whatever would be ideal. This issue duplicates #232 so it should probably be closed.

[snoyberg]

Again, speaking from ignorance: is there a reason why someone would specifically want to use an existing tool instead of the work we're planning on doing with ide-backend-client?

[chrisdone]

hdevtools and ghc-mod already have Emacs, Sublime and Vim integration and for those who've gotten it working they're likely to want to keep using it. I think it's a small portion of the community, though, compared to the mass of people coping with a dumb "edit, recompile' workflow.

[krgn]

I'd be happy to give a hand with this if a consensus emerges which service to integrate with. It would be neat if such a service could be integrated with stack itself, as this makes things considerably easier for users without an intricate knowledge of the available tooling in the haskell ecosystem. Without having looked at ide-backend-client in great detail (and having looked at some alternatives) it seems it could be the way forward. If so, this issue should probably be closed.

[krgn]

Ah sorry, I just read the other related ticket and realized somebody is already on it. Closing.