Support For Http In Sourcidng External Documentation/ Defintion Files

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Introduction

As the development of the Second Life scripting environment continues to evolve, with the introduction of Luau-based scripting, the need for efficient and streamlined documentation and definition file management becomes increasingly important. In this article, we will explore the possibility of adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files, making it easier for users to manage and update their plugins.

Background

Second Life, a popular virtual world platform, is planning to add Luau-based scripting to its environment. This move is expected to bring significant improvements to the platform's scripting capabilities. To support this development, a project has been initiated to generate valid types for the Second Life scripting environment. However, manually downloading and updating these files can be a tedious and time-consuming process.

Current State

Currently, the Luau LSP plugin already supports fetching Roblox types and API docks. This functionality allows users to easily access and update their plugins without having to manually download and manage files. However, this feature is not yet available for external documentation and definition files added via the luau-lsp.types.definitionFiles and luau-lsp.types.documentationFiles settings.

Proposed Solution

To address this limitation, we propose adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files. This would enable users to specify URLs for their external files, making it easier to manage and update their plugins. The proposed solution would involve adding a new setting, similar to the existing luau-lsp.types.definitionFiles and luau-lsp.types.documentationFiles settings, but with a URL-based syntax.

Example Usage

Here is an example of how the new setting could be used:

"luau-lsp.types.definitionFiles": [
    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JohnnyMorganz/luau-lsp/refs/heads/main/scripts/globalTypes.None.d.luau"
],
"luau-lsp.types.documentationFiles": [
    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MaximumADHD/Roblox-Client-Tracker/roblox/api-docs/en-us.json"
],

In this example, the user is specifying two external files: a definition file from the Luau LSP repository and a documentation file from the Roblox Client Tracker repository. The https protocol is used to fetch the files from the specified URLs.

Benefits

Adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files would bring several benefits to users:

  • Easier management: Users would no longer need to manually download and update their external files, making it easier to manage their plugins.
  • Improved efficiency: With the ability to fetch files from URLs, users would save time and effort in managing their external files.
  • Increased flexibility: Users would have more flexibility in managing their external files, allowing them to easily switch between different versions or repositories.

Implementation

To implement this feature, the following steps would be required:

  1. Add new setting: Add a new setting to the Luau LSP configuration file, similar to the existing luau-lsp.types.definitionFiles and luau-lsp.types.documentationFiles settings.
  2. Implement URL-based fetching: Implement the ability to fetch files from URLs, using the https protocol.
  3. Handle errors: Handle errors that may occur when fetching files from URLs, such as network errors or file not found errors.
  4. Test and validate: Test and validate the new feature to ensure it works correctly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we proposed adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files for the Luau LSP plugin. This feature would enable users to easily manage and update their plugins by fetching files from URLs. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about this proposal.

Q: What is the purpose of adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files?

A: The purpose of adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files is to make it easier for users to manage and update their plugins. By fetching files from URLs, users would no longer need to manually download and update their external files, saving time and effort.

Q: How would this feature work?

A: The feature would work by adding a new setting to the Luau LSP configuration file, similar to the existing luau-lsp.types.definitionFiles and luau-lsp.types.documentationFiles settings. Users would specify the URL of the file they want to fetch, and the Luau LSP plugin would handle the rest.

Q: What types of files would be supported?

A: The feature would support fetching any type of file, including definition files, documentation files, and other types of files.

Q: How would errors be handled?

A: Errors that occur when fetching files from URLs would be handled by the Luau LSP plugin. If an error occurs, the plugin would display an error message to the user, indicating the nature of the error.

Q: Would this feature be optional or mandatory?

A: This feature would be optional. Users would have the choice to use the feature or not, depending on their needs.

Q: How would this feature be implemented?

A: The feature would be implemented by adding a new setting to the Luau LSP configuration file and implementing the ability to fetch files from URLs using the https protocol.

Q: Would this feature be backwards compatible?

A: Yes, this feature would be backwards compatible. Users who do not use the feature would not be affected, and users who do use the feature would be able to continue using it without any issues.

Q: What are the benefits of this feature?

A: The benefits of this feature include:

  • Easier management: Users would no longer need to manually download and update their external files.
  • Improved efficiency: With the ability to fetch files from URLs, users would save time and effort in managing their external files.
  • Increased flexibility: Users would have more flexibility in managing their external files, allowing them to easily switch between different versions or repositories.

Q: What are the potential drawbacks of this feature?

A: The potential drawbacks of this feature include:

  • Security risks: Fetching files from URLs could potentially introduce security risks, such as malware or viruses.
  • Dependence on internet connectivity: Users would need to have an internet connection to use this feature, which could be a problem in areas with poor internet connectivity.

Q: How would this feature be tested and validated?

A: The feature would be tested and validated by the Luau LSP development team, using a combination of automated testing and manual testing.

Q: What is the expected timeline for implementing this feature?

A: The expected timeline for implementing this feature is not yet determined, but it is expected to be implemented in the near future.

Conclusion

Adding support for HTTP in sourcing external documentation and definition files would bring significant benefits to users, making it easier to manage and update their plugins. By answering these frequently asked questions, we hope to have provided a better understanding of this proposal and its potential impact on the Luau LSP plugin.