The Flex Builder IDE is something I use for hours on end every day. Having used other IDE’s (Eclipse, IntelliJ, and VisualStudio) for various languages such as Java, C# as well as ActionScript… if Flex Builder was able to simply duplicate some of the features of these IDE’s and plug-ins then it could significantly increase developer productivity. Since the JetBrains (maker of IntelliJ) Resharper suite of extensions is the most intelligent list of IDE productivity enhancements… I’ll make use of it here to explain my wish list.
1. Code Templates : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/code_templates.html
2. Quick Fixes : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/code_analysis.html#Quick-Fixes
3. Better refactoring support : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/code_refactoring.html
4. Better Navigation : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/code_templates.html
5. Clickable stack traces in the console
6. Better Code Selection : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/coding_assistance.html#Extend/Shrink_Selection_full
7. Unit Testing Tool Support : http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/unit_testing.html
8. Unit Test Code Coverage Tool: Alex Uhlman is developing one (Adobe Consulting)
9. TODO/FIXME Plugin: http://www.jetbrains.com/resharper/features/navigation_search.html#ToDo_List_full
a. One was written by Dirk Eismann (used to work on the FB team @ Adobe) you can find it here: http://www.richinternet.de/blog/index.cfm?entry=06D9E73F-BF55-CE91-017BD895EBAAD5CB
10.Integrated support for WebORB’s data services (.NET, Ruby, PHP, Java)
11.Edit and Continue.. almost forgot 
12.And then all of the above… for JavaScript editing for AIR apps.
December 10, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Since Flex Builder 3 hasn’t been released yet, meybe we would be better to do some last minute wishing to get these features in there instead
I want #2 the most!
December 11, 2007 at 5:34 am
Numbers 3,9,10,11 are actually in Flex Builder 3! JavaScript editiong through an included plugin, Data Services (via new Web Services introspecting) and TODO handling (via the CFEclipse Plugin). Refactoring has been a huge addition to Flex Builder 3. Check out the newest beta of FB3 to be released in the next month or two!
December 11, 2007 at 9:53 am
Also too, Aptana does most of that stuff anyway and can be an Eclipse add-on used in Flex.
Aptana
December 11, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Hi,
Thanks for the list Clint! Yes, although Flex 3 hasn’t shipped yet, we are doing feature planning for the next Flex Builder already. Keep it coming.
Tim Buntel
Sr. Product Manager for Flex Builder @ Adobe
December 11, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Flex really needs an IDE not tied to Eclipse. I’m guessing that it is not about features only, but how well, subtle and integrated those featuers are implemented by a Jetbrains product as opposed to an IBM product off loaded to the OS community. Come on Adobe, get out of the locked in nature of the plugin, if you want more adoption open the editor to Intellij, Resharper, or even Netbeans.
December 11, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Steve,
It is open…
http://clintm.esria.com/2007/12/11/flex-builder-source-code-derived-from-eclipse-is-available/
December 11, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I added “edit and continue” to the list…
December 11, 2007 at 7:27 pm
[...] of the readers of my last post on my Flex Builder 4 wishlist commented that Flex Builder shouldn’t be built on Eclipse and Adobe should open it up to [...]
December 12, 2007 at 2:25 am
adding to Clint’s list…
13. Code Templates from (#1) with Live Code Generation (FDT).
http://fdt.powerflasher.com/uploads/Media/liveCodeGeneration.htm
14. Code Snippets, ability to save section of codes; as well as convert into code templates (#13)
for reuse to generate classes and methods (see #13 and #1).
15. Integration with Eclipse UML2 Tools to model and generate AS classes.
16. Visual view of class relationships.
http://springide.org/project/wiki/BeansGraph
17. Source formatter for both MXML and AS files.
18. Integration with CheckStyle, or a plugin base on CheckStyle but for MXML and AS.
http://checkstyle.sourceforge.net/
19. Organizing Imports for MXML files.
20. SWF / SWC explorer, ability to view linkage names, symbols, and ActionScripts.
21. ASDoc plugin/wizard. http://beust.com/doclipse/
22. Better Content Assist and Dynamic Help to show linked ASDoc either in the Help Panel,
or another Eclipse View in the Perspective
23. Better skin art importer (CS3 Kit), support for custom selectors. As well as filtering of symbol to import in the dialog window.
24. Better CSS support (SDK/Framework feature instead of Builder), such as descendant/contextual selectors.
25. Dynamic linking of CSS, selecting or clicking styleName in MXML or AS will bring up an
Eclipse View / Content Assist showing style definition in CSS file attached to the main Application.
December 24, 2007 at 11:28 am
Hm, IntelliJ IDEA does Flex too
January 13, 2008 at 4:59 pm
26. Auto-Format on paste.
27. User preferences for outline perspective:
- see inherited properties and functions
- default view to sort display
February 15, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Hey,
I’m just getting started using Flex Builder as my actionscript editor. I’m not seeing an auto format feature. Is there one?
J
February 20, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Hey Clint, how about a wish list for Flex SDK features? We are in the middle of Flex 4 planning now and can always use more input.
February 20, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Sure Joan…
Coming right up…
February 20, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Hey Josh… short answer.. nope… no code formatting…
I know this is probably on the list of features the flex builder team is planning to implement for Flex 4 however…
March 13, 2008 at 7:46 pm
code snippets, code snippets, code snippets!
July 17, 2008 at 2:36 pm
SOG knives…
Interesting ideas… I wonder how the Hollywood media would portray this?…
July 18, 2008 at 5:05 pm
[...] Flex Builder 4 Feature Wish List [...]
August 2, 2008 at 12:20 am
[...] of the readers of my last post on my Flex Builder 4 wishlist commented that Flex Builder shouldn’t be built on Eclipse and Adobe should open it up to [...]
November 25, 2008 at 6:53 am
I would love IntelliSense for E4X.