Me: Software developer for 30 years.

So perhaps this is old fashion, but I wanted to start using D by whipping together nice little personal utilities.

I tried installing MonoDevelop and Mono-D.  I can't even figure out the basics, such as adding references to a project.  There are no options in the context menus, and although it looks like drag an drop might work (a '+' sign appears by the cursor), dropping a file from the filesystem doesn't work either.

Although I dream of someday being able to add a reference to a project, I'm not really sure what I might drag in.  I managed to download and compile GtkD, since it seems like a GUI would be a nice place to start (again, old fashion).  I got three *.lib files out of it... Hmmmm... Maybe these are references??

I had installed the Visual Studio plugin, but I don't want to use this since I would like to eventually migrate away from Windows.

Let me cut to the chase.  I have no friggin' clue how to start, and I can't seem to find a tutorial anywhere...

What IDE should I use? I'm not big fan of Eclipse, although if I had to use it this wouldn't be a dealbreaker.  Give me something easy and lightweight, unless you've got a GUI builder (this is why I started with MonoDevelop, though this isn't working so well for me).

What Widget library should I use?  I started with GTKD, but since there are no tutorials does this mean nobody actually does this?  Should I use DWT?  What about QT?

I just want something simple and mainstream to start learning D with.

Any thoughts?

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 16:46:11 UTC, Ryan wrote:
> Me: Software developer for 30 years.
>
> So perhaps this is old fashion, but I wanted to start using D by whipping together nice little personal utilities.
>
> I tried installing MonoDevelop and Mono-D.  I can't even figure out the basics, such as adding references to a project.  There are no options in the context menus, and although it looks like drag an drop might work (a '+' sign appears by the cursor), dropping a file from the filesystem doesn't work either.
>
> Although I dream of someday being able to add a reference to a project, I'm not really sure what I might drag in.  I managed to download and compile GtkD, since it seems like a GUI would be a nice place to start (again, old fashion).  I got three *.lib files out of it... Hmmmm... Maybe these are references??
>
> I had installed the Visual Studio plugin, but I don't want to use this since I would like to eventually migrate away from Windows.
>
> Let me cut to the chase.  I have no friggin' clue how to start, and I can't seem to find a tutorial anywhere...
>
> What IDE should I use? I'm not big fan of Eclipse, although if I had to use it this wouldn't be a dealbreaker.  Give me something easy and lightweight, unless you've got a GUI builder (this is why I started with MonoDevelop, though this isn't working so well for me).
>
> What Widget library should I use?  I started with GTKD, but since there are no tutorials does this mean nobody actually does this?  Should I use DWT?  What about QT?
>
> I just want something simple and mainstream to start learning D with.
>
> Any thoughts?

Mono-D + dub (see code.dlang.org) is the easiest way to get things working quickly. Mono-D has builtin support for dub.

For learning D, see Ali's book: http://ddili.org/ders/d.en/index.html (from scratch) or Andrei's "The D Programming Language" (for the more experienced). Adam D. Ruppe's "D Cookbook" also has interesting examples of usage.

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 16:46:11 UTC, Ryan wrote:
> Me: Software developer for 30 years.
>
> So perhaps this is old fashion, but I wanted to start using D by whipping together nice little personal utilities.
>
> I tried installing MonoDevelop and Mono-D.  I can't even figure out the basics, such as adding references to a project.  There are no options in the context menus, and although it looks like drag an drop might work (a '+' sign appears by the cursor), dropping a file from the filesystem doesn't work either.
>
> Although I dream of someday being able to add a reference to a project, I'm not really sure what I might drag in.  I managed to download and compile GtkD, since it seems like a GUI would be a nice place to start (again, old fashion).  I got three *.lib files out of it... Hmmmm... Maybe these are references??
>
> I had installed the Visual Studio plugin, but I don't want to use this since I would like to eventually migrate away from Windows.
>
> Let me cut to the chase.  I have no friggin' clue how to start, and I can't seem to find a tutorial anywhere...
>
> What IDE should I use? I'm not big fan of Eclipse, although if I had to use it this wouldn't be a dealbreaker.  Give me something easy and lightweight, unless you've got a GUI builder (this is why I started with MonoDevelop, though this isn't working so well for me).
>
> What Widget library should I use?  I started with GTKD, but since there are no tutorials does this mean nobody actually does this?  Should I use DWT?  What about QT?
>
> I just want something simple and mainstream to start learning D with.
>
> Any thoughts?

I don't use an IDE, but MonoD seems to be the most recommended cross-platform option. It has a wiki page here if it helps: http://wiki.dlang.org/Mono-D

I recommend only using an IDE that uses DUB (http://code.dlang.org/about), which is becoming the de facto standard for building D projects, and is cross-IDE, allowing you to move between IDEs and to work with developers using other IDEs. MonoD probably uses this, as does DDT(Eclipse). I have no idea what interface MonoD or other IDEs offer for DUB, but DUB uses a 'dub.json' file where you specify libraries you use and their versions. DUB will automatically download the libraries when you compile the project. Available DUB packages (libraries/apps) are listed at http://code.dlang.org . That is probably also the best list of D libs we have at the moment, although many projects are not there yet.

Only use DWT if you like Java-style code. QtD is not in usable state yet. GtkD should be good, better for 'big' apps (i.e. more features), TkD for simple ones (simpler to use).


To learn about the language itself, this (free) book is really good:
http://ddili.org/ders/d.en/index.html

Thanks for both responses.  This is the information I was looking for.

I have DMD, GTK# (For MonoDevelop), MonoDevelop, MonoD, dubs, and GTKD installed.

I've got some things to compile... So the crux of my issue is that I can't figure out how to link lib files in MonoDevelop.  I wonder if there is a problem in the latest version or something.

Anyone know MonoDevelop?

Why is the "Edit References" context menu item missing.  I have it at the top (Project->Edit References...) but when I click it nothing happens. Grrr.

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 17:47:47 UTC, Ryan wrote:
> Thanks for both responses.  This is the information I was looking for.
>
> I have DMD, GTK# (For MonoDevelop), MonoDevelop, MonoD, dubs, and GTKD installed.
>
> I've got some things to compile... So the crux of my issue is that I can't figure out how to link lib files in MonoDevelop.  I wonder if there is a problem in the latest version or something.

I have no experience with GtkD, but with DUB you shouldn't need to mess with .lib files at all. DUB automatically downloads and compiles any libraries specified with dub.json, *and* links them with the compiled project.

(still, it'd be better if someone with GtkD/MonoD experience could clarify)

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 17:57:54 UTC, Ryan wrote:
> Anyone know MonoDevelop?
>
> Why is the "Edit References" context menu item missing.  I have it at the top (Project->Edit References...) but when I click it nothing happens. Grrr.

I couldnt figure it out either tbh (creating dub projects using MonoD)

I just fire up a command line, go to my workspace folder, and do
dub init <project name here>

Then, in monoD, File -> Open -> C:\Path\To\Project\dub.json

Then your good to go regarding MonoD.

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 18:12:25 UTC, Colin wrote:
> On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 17:57:54 UTC, Ryan wrote:
>> Anyone know MonoDevelop?
>>
>> Why is the "Edit References" context menu item missing.  I have it at the top (Project->Edit References...) but when I click it nothing happens. Grrr.
>
> I couldnt figure it out either tbh (creating dub projects using MonoD)
>
> I just fire up a command line, go to my workspace folder, and do
> dub init <project name here>
>
> Then, in monoD, File -> Open -> C:\Path\To\Project\dub.json
>
> Then your good to go regarding MonoD.


Yeah, I gave up on MonoD to try and figure out what is going on behind the scenes by compiling with text files... I had a little success compiling, followed by a failure to run because I don't have the right version of GTK+ on my system...

Then I thought I'd learn dub.  Well, this is NOT going well... I did a git clone of gtk-d, then tried to build with dub (renamed the package.json to dub.json), and it told me "Conflicting package multi-reference".... I have no clue and I've tried removing package references

I tried "dub remove gtk-d --version=*" but it just lists out excuses why it can't work... "no retrieval journal found for...", "Untracked file found"....

So then I try every variation of "dub remove-local" and "dub remove-path" I can think of.

I give up.  Why not just have a "dub -IFuckedUpSoLetsStartOverCleanSlated" option?

On Monday, 25 August 2014 at 20:37:16 UTC, Ryan wrote:
> Then I thought I'd learn dub.  Well, this is NOT going well... I did a git clone of gtk-d, then tried to build with dub (renamed the package.json to dub.json), and it told me "Conflicting package multi-reference".... I have no clue and I've tried removing package references
>
> I tried "dub remove gtk-d --version=*" but it just lists out excuses why it can't work... "no retrieval journal found for...", "Untracked file found"....

Why you try removing from dub something you have manually cloned? It is not even aware of local gtk-d copy if you just cloned with registering local path.

Expected approach is to create a new dub project and add gtk-d to dependencies - rest is up to how well-maintained gtk-d itself is.

Not sure how up your alley this is, but vim support for D is excellent.