IDEs, plugins and tools for Ext JS 2.0

February 1, 2008 by Jack Slocum

The Ext 2.0 API is very extensive and remembering all of the functions, properties or configs available is virtually impossible. The API documentation is very thorough, but it would be nice if IDEs would provide code assist options in JavaScript as they do in other languages such as Java and C#. Luckily, there are some IDEs and plugins available that do just that — and also have direct support for Ext 2.0.

Aptana Studio
When it comes to IDEs for JavaScript development, Aptana is definitely hard to miss. I personally use it daily for Adobe AIR development. However, the version of Ext (1.1) bundled with Aptana for code assist is a little outdated.

Markus Schmidleitner has created an Ext 2.0 Aptana plugin that works very well. To install it:

Download and install Aptana Studio.
Open up your Aptana application directory (for me that is C:\Aptana) and copy the jar file into the plugins folder.
Restart Aptana.
Go to Window -> Preferences -> Aptana -> Editors -> JavaScript -> Code Assist and select Ext 2.0 (you may need to deselect Ext 1.1).

Aptana Studio with Ext 2.0 code assist

Spket Eclipse Plugin & IDE
The Spket IDE has by far the most superior code assist for Ext 2.0. It uses the Ext .jsb project file and embedded script doc to build code assist that includes options inherited from base classes and full documentation.

It doesn’t have much for editing other types of files though (e.g. CSS), so my preference is to install it as an Eclipse plugin in Aptana. To install the plugin in Aptana:

Download and install Aptana Studio (includes Eclipse).
Start Aptana and navigate the application menu to: Help → Software Updates → Find and Install… → Search for new features to install → New remote site…
Name: “Spket”, Url: “http://www.spket.com/update/”
Restart Aptana
Watch this Spket IDE Tutorial to see how to easily add Ext code assist (you can point it at the latest /src/ext.jsb to keep code assist up to date with the latest Ext version). The steps are basically:
- Window → Preferences → Spket → JavaScript Profiles → New
- Enter “ExtJS” and click OK
- Select “ExtJS” and click “Add Library”, then choose “ExtJS” from the dropdown
- Select “ExtJS” and click “Add File”, then choose the “ext.jsb” file in your “./ext-2.x/source” directory
- Set the new ExtJS profile as the default by selecting it an clicking the “Default” button on the right-hand side of the “JavaScript Profiles” dialog.
- Restart Aptana
- Create a new JS file and type: Ext. and you should get the Ext Code completion options.

Since you will have installed it as a plugin in Aptana, chances are Aptana will still be your default JS editor. So to try Spket, you need to right click on a file and select Open with -> Spket JavaScript Editor.

Spket in Aptana with full documentation and code assist

Komodo Edit
Komodo Edit has the strongest support for editing multiple types of files, including Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby and Tcl; plus support for browser-side code including JavaScript, CSS, HTML and XML. It’s also available on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.

To install Komodo with Ext support:

Download and install Komodo Edit.
Download the API catalog.
Go to Edit -> Preferences -> Code Intelligence and select the “Add an API catalog” button below the “API Catalog” section.
Select the ExtJS API catalog CIX file you downloaded above.

Komodo with Ext JS code intelligence

Dreamweaver
For those using Dreamweaver, there are two plugins available SpketDW (Dreamweaver MX 2004 or higher) and SpketDWCS (Dreamweaver CS3). Both are made by the same team (Spket) as the Eclipse plugin above, so both are very accurate and thorough. One nice feature available in the Dreamweaver plugins is support for config option code assist.

Config option code assist

Members code assist

To download and install, please visit their site.

Other IDEs
There is support for other IDEs, such as IntelliJ and Visual Studio 2008 being actively worked on by the community.

Summary
When working with Ext 2.0, there are quite a few tools available to help boost your productivity. Be sure to check them out. If you know of any other tools we’ve missed, please post a comment and let us know!

This entry was posted on Friday, February 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pm and is filed under Ext JS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Gary Gilbert says:

February 1, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Thanks a lot for the tip Jack, I have a hell of a time trying to remember all the methods for all the functions, actually I don’t remember any of them, my brain is full! The eclipse plugin will help with that.

ps what cool AIR apps are you working on and when can we see em

Daniel Schmitz says:

February 1, 2008 at 2:07 pm

its possible add a Ext Outline on Aptana ?

Jack Slocum says:

February 1, 2008 at 3:49 pm

Daniel, the Aptana outline will work with Ext.extend() in all cases except a direct Ext.extend(Class, {overrides}) with no constructor.

Gary, we will have something out real soon including an application sandbox friendly version and some new APIs.

mdm-adph says:

February 1, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Hey, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you’ve been reading my blog… (No, I know — lots of us are using Aptana now.)

Just started using Aptana and the Ext 2.0 Plugin within the past month — seriously, it’s like a whole different world actually programming in an IDE made with JavaScript in mind.

prophet says:

February 1, 2008 at 8:56 pm

Excellent!

Eric Suen says:

February 1, 2008 at 11:32 pm

Very nice, I just want to say that since version 1.6.6, Spket IDE also support code completion for Adobe AIR APIs, take a look at http://www.spket.com/ext-air-tutorials.html see how to using Ext and Adobe AIR at same time…

Frank says:

February 2, 2008 at 2:37 am

Translation support for Chinese User is available. I post it on a Java forum where Ext is hot in China mainland.
http://www.javaeye.com/topic/161161

February 2, 2008 at 11:08 am

Thanks for the tip Eric, I didn’t know about support for the AIR APIs as well.

jiasz says:

February 2, 2008 at 9:50 pm

呵呵，谢谢哈。有了这个东东，应该会更容易写。。。thank you!!

February 2, 2008 at 10:06 pm

很感谢！！！

chazmatazz says:

February 2, 2008 at 11:19 pm

Jack, the current version of Aptana (1.1.0) has Ext 2.0 support right out of the box. In the references panel, select global references and then Ext 2.0

heathbobby says:

February 4, 2008 at 12:19 am

I would greatly like to see the Ext style documentation generator released to the public.

renodino says:

February 4, 2008 at 1:32 pm

While Ext 2.0 is great, some (many ?) of us consider Eclipse based IDEs to be flying pigs. And the other options aren’t really IDEs, just smart edittors.

Given that Ext is all about writing “real” apps in browsers, are there any plans for a browser based IDE (“BBIDE”), ala TIBCO GI ? I’d consider that as a major killer app, and a great way to show exactly what Ext can do.

Jon Davis says:

February 4, 2008 at 2:28 pm

“Select ‘ExtJS’ and click ‘Add File’, then choose the ‘ext.jsb’ file in your ‘./ext-2.x/source’ directory”

Please be consice. By default, opening the open file browse button takes the user to My Documents (in Windows), so “./ext-2.x/source” is invalid, and at this time I don’t know where to track it down ….

Jon

February 4, 2008 at 2:38 pm

k got it.. the .jsb is in the ExtJS SDK, source directory

naxo says:

February 5, 2008 at 6:52 am

I found a little bug on Aptana Plugin.
At Samples View, when I try to preview sample (right click on a sample), I got a an alert message (‘Ext’ is not defined).

Any way, good work!!! and thanks!!!

February 5, 2008 at 7:12 am

hi,
checking code of project, I have realised the bug is the references to ext library on each sample.
I mean. e.g., at “forum” sample in forum.html file the reference to ext library is

and should be

February 5, 2008 at 7:22 am

hi, sorry about previous comment.
checking code of project, I have realised the bug is the references to ext library on each sample.
I mean. e.g., at “forum” sample in forum.html file the reference to ext library is
src=”../../adapter/ext/ext-base.js”
and should be
src=”lib/ext/adapter/ext/ext-base.js”

Cindy says:

February 5, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Hi Jack,

Thank you for your feedback. We’d like to post your comment on the Komodo Edit testimonial page. Would that be okay with you?

“Komodo Edit has the strongest support for editing multiple types of files, including Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby and Tcl; plus support for browser-side code including JavaScript, CSS, HTML and XML.”

In return, we’re happy to send you a t-shirt and a mug. Please let me know your t-shirt size, delivery address and phone number, and we’ll send the package along shortly.

February 6, 2008 at 1:54 am

Sure Cindy. I will send you an email shortly.

February 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm

Hi Jim, If you have problem install Spket, you can post your question at http://forums.spket.com, I tried Eclipse 3.2.1, and everything works fine.

February 11, 2008 at 3:38 am

Hi, for those who using Visual Studio 2008, you can downlad JavaScript Intellisense for Ext 2.0.1 here: http://www.spket.com/ext-intellisense-visual-studio.html

CB says:

February 11, 2008 at 11:04 pm

Hi I just installed Aptana IDE for extjs .. Really brilliant . Can someone help me in integrating the documentation to the IDE for extjs. Thanks in advance.