In FlexBuilder, they don't start appearing as auto-completion hints as you type.
You have to hit CTRL+SPACE. This is not a "mere" difference. You have to stop
writing code to get auto-completion. Even worse, it's not "live" which means it
breaks your natural flow.
In FlashDevelop, you can hit space, return, period, open parentheses, open
bracket, or any non-alphanumeric character and it will auto-complete. In
FlexBuilder (and AFAIK, FDT) only return works.
Here's a simple example:
var loader:Loader;
In FlashDevelop, you type these exact characters:
lo.l(
And it turns into this:
loader.load(
In Flex Builder, you have to type this:
lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN
That's 3 mental "breaks". FlashDevelop's auto-completion is a natural flow and
doesn't interrupt your typing, FlexBuilder's does three times.
Let's quickly look at Flex Builder's example again in detail so I can really
illustrate the mental break it causes.
lo CTRL+SPACE RETURN . l RETURN
First, you have to hit two keys to get the hint, and then one more key to accept
the hint. Then, you type the period and then have to hit return again to accept
the load function hint. That last return causes oad( to appear.
The important part of that completion is the open parentheses. You are expected
to type RETURN to type ( and that is a mental break. It's far more natural to
type open parentheses because that's what your mind knows goes after a method
name. Sure, SHIFT+9 is not as "easy" to type as ENTER, but that's hardly the
point. This is about your mental flow as you type. One makes you "think"
(three times), the other doesn't because it just makes sense.
FlashDevelop's auto-completion allows you to access arrays and such easily, too.
var array:Array = [];
FlashDevelop:
ar[
Ends up with
array[
FlexBuilder you have to type:
ar CTRL+SPACE ENTER [
Lame.
On top of that, if you make a typo in FlexBuilder or FDT, the hints go away. If
you press CTRL+SPACE and there's a typo you get no hints. In FlashDevelop,
typos are forgiven and code hints still show up, and again, "live" as you type.
When it comes to auto-completion, the undisputed winner is FlashDevelop. FDT is
in second place, and FlexBuilder a distant third.
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