[Idea]: building a better Node.js REPL

[kgryte]

Idea

The read-eval-print loop (REPL) is a fixture of data analysis and numerical computing and provides a critical entry-point for individuals seeking to learn and better understand APIs and their associated behavior. While a web browser's JavaScript console is a staple of debugging in web applications, the Node.js REPL is significantly underutilized--an occurrence largely attributable to its underdevelopment and lack of functionality.

This idea aims to implement a suite of enhancements to the stdlib REPL, which is an alternative to the Node.js REPL and analogous to Python's IPython. The overarching goal is to provide a compelling environment for interactive JavaScript computing to further establish Node.js as a platform suitable for numerical computing and data analysis.

Potential improvements include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Auto-completion previews for file paths, function names, and variables
• Fuzzy auto-completion extension
• Less/more documentation pager
• Pretty printing of tabular output
• Terminal syntax highlighting and bracket matching
• Bracketed-paste
• Custom key binding support
• Numerical computing workshops/tutorials using the built-in REPL presentation framework
• Multi-line editing

Expected Outcomes

REPL users will be able to leverage the stdlib REPL in a manner similar to a fully-featured IDE and have access to workshops and tutorials for an integrated interactive learning experience covering machine learning and statistical computing concepts.

Involved Software

No other software is necessary to implement this idea.

Prerequisite Knowledge

JavaScript, Node.js

Difficulty

Intermediate. Difficulties may arise due to escape sequences necessary for syntax highlighting and multi-line editing.

Project Length

350 hours.

Potential Mentors

@kgryte @Planeshifter @steff456

[kgryte]

Contributors interested in pursuing this project should also suggest their own improvements to the REPL.

[kgryte]

This project was completed by @Snehil-Shah during GSoC 2024.