SublimeText as a minimal IDE for Scala

Well, the Coursera “Functional Programming Principles in Scala” class was a success. Both Tom Chappell and I really enjoyed it. However, I’ve never much liked Eclipse as an IDE. Here is how I am using Sublime Text 2 instead.

Syntax highlighting, error detection

1-Install Sublime Text 2

2- Now, let’s prepare our environment for Ensime (aka “ENhanced Scala Interaction Mode for Emac”) and its “sbt” plugin:

• Add to the end of ~/.sbt/plugins/plugins.sbt (or create it if needed):

addSbtPlugin("org.ensime" % "ensime-sbt-cmd" % "0.1.0")

• Add ensime to Sublime Text 2:

Preferences > Package Control > Install Package > Ensime or

git clone git://github.com/sublimescala/sublime-ensime.git Ensime

3-Install the Ensime server:

• Download it from https://github.com/sublimescala/ensime/downloads
• Command line:

tar zxvf to ~/Library/Application\ Support/Sublime\ Text\ 2/Packages/Ensime
mv 'ensime_xxxx' to 'server'

• Restart Sublime Text 2
• Start the Ensime server: {Cmd}{S}P Ensime: Startup or Tools > Maintenance > Startup

4-Let’s a couple templates for Scala projects:

• Install Conscript:

curl https://raw.github.com/n8han/conscript/master/setup.sh | sh

• Using Conscript, install giter8:

cs n8han/giter8

• g8 templates found at: https://github.com/n8han/giter8/wiki/giter8-templates:

“ymasory/sbt” is a good start for github; “typesafehub/scala-sbt” is total boilerplate 5-This is the interesting part. We can now create a project and prepare its template and Ensime server:

• Command line:

cd /your project home directory/
gr8 typesafehub/scala-sbt
sbt
ensime generate

• Run Subime Text 2:

subl .

• Display Ensime’s console window: Tools > Ensime > Development > Show Notes

Using the Scala REPL **

• Install SublimeREPL (instructions by fellow Coursera student Alexei Alekhin!)

We wish to install a version of SublimeREPL that support sbt; therefore, rather than using the main branch:

Preferences > Package Control > Install Package > Ensime > Package Control: Add repository

Add this path: https://github.com/laughedelic/SublimeREPL/archive/sbt.zip

Preferences > Package Control > Install Package > SublimeREPL

• Not working? Make sure that sbt or a link to sbt is found in /usr/local/bin/
• OPTIONAL: Install the companion app: LoadFileToRepl

Preferences > Package Control > Install Package > LoadFiletoRepl

**Building/Running **

• Create new build profile

{
"cmd": ["/usr/local/bin/sbt -Dsbt.log.noformat=true compile"],
    "file_regex": "^\\[error\\] ([.a-zA-Z0-9/-]+[.]scala):([0-9]+):",
    "selector": "source.scala",
    "working_dir": "${project_path:${folder}}",
    "shell": "true"
}

• Use /F4/ and /Shift//F4/ to navigate through errors

That’s it for now. I’ll be sure to add more info if I find wasy to provide even tighter integration.