I've used emacs so far, though it's good at syntax highlighting. I would like something that can show glaring mistakes, like calling a function with the wrong number of arguments, or referring to a variable which hasn't been defined. Thanks.
Steve Yegge wrote a new js mode for emacs: <a href="http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/js2-mode-new-javascript-mode-for-emacs.html" rel="nofollow">http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/js2-mode-new-javascr...</a>
For finding those kinds of mistakes use jslint (<a href="http://jslint.com" rel="nofollow">http://jslint.com</a>), though it doesnt catch calling a function with the wrong number of arguments (which may be what you intended anyways). If you download the source you can easily write a custom command in vim or emacs to run the current buffer through jslint.
I use textmate which has some nice macros for js, jquery, YUI (all of which I use), plus most of the other toolkits. I round it out with jslint and firebug. If you're on a mac it's a pretty compelling package.
I could use some suggestions as well. I'm using VIM and doing most of the AJAX work manually (with JQuery). js is a pain though -- anyone know a better way to get this stuff done?
If I can be forgiven the self-link: <a href="http://www.danhulton.com/blog/2008/01/16/integrate-js-lint-into-komodo-edit/" rel="nofollow">http://www.danhulton.com/blog/2008/01/16/integrate-js-lint-i...</a><p>I use Komodo Edit, the free IDE from Activestate. (I'm not associated with them, I just love their editor. Okay, well, they quote me, but once again, because I love their editor.)<p>It supports javascript out-of-the-box, will read into your source files and update it's code hints based on YOUR functions, and can be told to parse the libraries you use and provide coe hints for THOSE functions, too.<p>The only thing I wish they had built-in was the ability to lint it, but I go over how to add that in my article above.<p>And in fact, you can go one step further and use Douglas Crockford's actual (much better) jslint, provided you have rhino installed. I'll have instructions on how to do that up on my blog eventually.
Have you tried Aptana (<a href="http://www.aptana.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.aptana.com/</a>)?. It's a full-fledged Web Development IDE. The JS Editor is especially good and allows for referenced js code lookups from inside html files. It's also available as a regular eclipse add-on.
Any of you know of good JS debugging plugins for gEdit ? Its also good for JS editing with automatic indention and syntax highlighting. Only thing I wish I had a built-in debugger. Yet I could cross over to Firefox to check with Firebug.
BTW Javascript functions accept a variable number of arguments so hopefully none of them will tell you when you've called a function with the wrong number of args.
Jetbrains' IDEA 7.0 has SUPER support for Javascript. With features like error highlighting, refactoring, code completion, code formatting, etc.<p>More info a <a href="http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/features/javascript_editor.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.jetbrains.com/idea/features/javascript_editor.htm...</a>
*ix = emacs.
win = syn text editor :: <a href="http://syn.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow">http://syn.sourceforge.net/</a>
I know you can use emacs in windows but somehow using emacs/cygwin etc. in that environment just feels wrong. Like spinning punk records at your upper class cousins wedding or something.
It seems Netbeans now has very good JS support [<a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=155670" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=155670</a>]
vim and firebug<p>How do you write your js?<p>I write a few lines and then test the functionality, reduces the scope of where I have to hunt down bugs.