Implement a server in the compiler that serves information about the compilation

[andrewrk]

This will not be LSP, but a custom protocol just for Zig. A third party project can act as a proxy between this and LSP for that use case.

This issue covers both the compiler process (e.g. zig build-exe --listen=-) acting as a server, as well as a meta-protocol exposed by the build system (i.e. zig build --listen=-). The latter will act as a multiplexer for the former.

Once the initial implementation of both of these is created, follow-up issues can be made for specific features.

[binary132]

Does it make sense to tie this to the self-hosting Issue (#89), or do you think separate pieces of the functionality required for LSP should be delegated into a pipeline of (caching?) components which perhaps the core compiler functionality would also rely on?

[andrewrk]

My plan is to solve this only in the self-hosted compiler.

[bb010g]

I'd be interested in investigating the differences between the LSP and what the Dart analyzer (API spec) provides, as JetBrains is actually able to use Dart's analyzer to fully power their Dart support due to the different features provided. Additionally, it looks like you can shim Dart's Analysis Server API to provide the Language Server Protocol without too much trouble.

[andrewrk]

I know @thejoshwolfe has some bones to pick with the language server protocol in particular. I think in the end we will likely support a custom protocol that is more powerful than LSP, and theoretically you could implement a proxy that consumes the former and provides the latter. Perhaps zig can support both.

I know @thejoshwolfe has some bones to pick with the language server protocol in particular.

No matter what, this will make working with zig so much easier 🥇

1. editor completion support but also the whole ecosystem

one more example:
really nice code navigation https://about.sourcegraph.com/blog/sourcegraph-is-now-open-source/