As I found existing HLSL editors overly complicated (FX Composer), outdated (Render Monkey) or unavailable, I decided to make a Visual Studio Code Editor inspired HLSL Editor.
Now, I don't say FX Composer is bad, but it's just very complex. I wanted something lightweight that easily integrates into the programming process with nothing but the most obvious features: syntax colouring, code completion (the more the better), visualizing errors and maybe a simple test-on-sphere renderview.
It's been like only 15 hours of work so far so it's not finished yet but thanks to the great AvalonEdit it has my priority features in it already:
* syntax highlighting
* code completion using Alt+Space for intrinsic HLSL functions (could be much better, but that requires a lot of context-parsing work)
* compiling using DirectX 10 with error listing and marking errors in the code when double clicked.
* filewatcher: EffectEd detects when you modified the open file in another application
* opens files from commandline argument: when "*.fx" is correctly associated to EffectEd, opening an effect file from Explorer or VS.NET will automatically open EffectEd with the requested file.
EffectEd v1.0
As I don't want to spend time yet to integrate it into VS.NET, you can associate the .fx extension in Visual Studio Solution Explorer by right clicking any fx file and choose "Open with...". In there, you can configure EffectEd to be the default for .fx files.
All is still experimental but I thought I could share it as it is to get your thoughts and ideas. Or to find out if I'm making something that already exists (and is still available)
cheers.
