I've been trying to build a web-based IDE for more than 10 years. The first one was a PHP script that had write access to change the files in its own directory.
I've started over completely, at least 6 times, trying entire new languages, entire new feature sets, entire new hosting paradigms.
Each time I try again, I get closer to something professional. Each time the hacks get a little too messy and realize I'm out of my depth.
But lately less and less changes with each rewrite. I am able to pull entire chunks of code in from a previous iteration and have them work well, with little modification.
The process of writing software that's beyond one's ability is fascinating.
I've started over completely, at least 6 times, trying entire new languages, entire new feature sets, entire new hosting paradigms.
Each time I try again, I get closer to something professional. Each time the hacks get a little too messy and realize I'm out of my depth.
But lately less and less changes with each rewrite. I am able to pull entire chunks of code in from a previous iteration and have them work well, with little modification.
The process of writing software that's beyond one's ability is fascinating.