Noisy and unreliable (de-)tangling

Noisy and unreliable (de-)tangling

[Rudolf Adamkovič]

Howdy!

So, I started (de-)tangling heavily, to get some "IDE" support, and
oh-my, what a buggy mess it is.  Not only are tangling comments
super-noisy, the `org-babel-detangle' function is *unreliable*.  If
multiple sections have the same title, such as "Implementation", it
leads to *data loss*.

I think we should rethink this functionality with *readability* and
*reliability* in mind.  The best solution, perhaps, would be to use IDs
for `:comments yes' if `org-id-link-to-org-use-id' is set.  Otherwise,
require `#+NAME', or some other reliable mechanism.  For example:

# >>> TANGLE: <id>
...
# <<< TANGLE: <id>

(Python '#' comments shown above.)

What do you think?

Also ... anyone with some spare time on their hands? :)

P.S. As a cherry on top, it would be also nice to have a minor mode that
highlights tangling comments, jumps back to the relevant Org heading,
etc.

Rudy
-- 
"The introduction of suitable abstractions is our only mental aid to
organize and master complexity."  --- Edsger Wybe Dijkstra, 1930-2002

Rudolf Adamkovič <rudolf@adamkovic.org> [he/him]
http://adamkovic.org

Re: Noisy and unreliable (de-)tangling

[Ihor Radchenko]

Rudolf Adamkovič <rudolf@adamkovic.org> writes:

> So, I started (de-)tangling heavily, to get some "IDE" support, and
> oh-my, what a buggy mess it is.  Not only are tangling comments
> super-noisy, the `org-babel-detangle' function is *unreliable*.  If
> multiple sections have the same title, such as "Implementation", it
> leads to *data loss*.

> I think we should rethink this functionality with *readability* and
> *reliability* in mind.  The best solution, perhaps, would be to use IDs
> for `:comments yes' if `org-id-link-to-org-use-id' is set.  Otherwise,

`org-id-link-to-org-use-id' should be respected once you use :comments link

> Also ... anyone with some spare time on their hands? :)

Usually, it is the person most annoyed by the lack of feature ;)

> P.S. As a cherry on top, it would be also nice to have a minor mode that
> highlights tangling comments, jumps back to the relevant Org heading,
> etc.

Maybe. But I'd prefer the more fundamental problems to be solved first.
See
https://list.orgmode.org/orgmode/20211017021707.Horde.p9ib-mMooANjOrUuCbc5EPl@www.vfemail.net/
https://list.orgmode.org/orgmode/87h6poqq75.fsf@localhost/
https://list.orgmode.org/orgmode/87bk8gk15d.fsf@ucl.ac.uk/

Here is a potential idea on how to make detangling more robust:
https://leo-editor.github.io/leo-editor/appendices.html#the-mulder-ream-update-algorithm

-- 
Ihor Radchenko // yantar92,
Org mode contributor,
Learn more about Org mode at <https://orgmode.org/>.
Support Org development at <https://liberapay.com/org-mode>,
or support my work at <https://liberapay.com/yantar92>