Automating GNUStep from Notepad++

Question

I use GNUStep to compile Objective-C on Windows 7 using GCC and MinGW. I'd like to be able to automate the "make" instruction (with make files) from Notepad++ and have any complier errors reported to Notepad++s console window.

Edit: What I am trying to do is script GNUStep/Bash to login to the right directory, build the directory, then exit. Currently I have to type in the following:

sh -login -i
$ cd d:\directory
$ make

Does anyone have any experience with this?

Rich

Answer 1

The npp-plugins gives you most of what you are looking for. Install the plugin and:

• Press F6 to open the NppExec Execute window
• Type 'make' (you may also want to cd to the proper directory first) and click OK
• Output from make is shown in the notepad++ console

Another cool feature is that it will save the command if you restart notepad++, so you only need to type 'make' a single time.

You may need to make some tweaks to only show compiler errors, however.

Answer 2

I have done it, with considerable help from my friends.

1. Create a Bash script called 'nppmake'. I saved it in c:\GNUStep. The file should contain the following:

   #! /bin/bash

   cd $1 make

2. Create a DOS batch file called 'nppmake.bat', which again I saved in c:\GNUStep. This file contains the following:

   sh --login -i C:\GNUstep\nppmake %1

3. In N++, go to 'Plugins > NppExec > Execute' and type in the following:

   C:\GNUstep\nppmake.bat $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)

4. Hit 'Save' and call the script 'make'.

5. In 'Plugins > NppExec > Advanced Options...', create a menu item, which I called 'Build' and associate it to the script called 'make' (I'm a Visual Studio developer, so 'build' feels more natural to me). Make sure 'Place to the Macros submenu' is checked.
6. You may need to restart N++ at this point, but then all that is left to do is add the keyboard shortcut. Go to 'Settings > Shortcut Mapper > Plugin Commands' and find 'Build'. I assigned 'Ctrl-Shift-B', is it is the same as VS.

You're done. Now open up a file in a Objective-C project, that has a GNUmakefile, and hit 'Ctrl-Shift-B'. The NppExec window reports any errors, or hopefully a successful build!