Smart-Dash

Smart-Dash redefines the dash key to insert an underscore within C-style identifiers and a dash otherwise.

The goal is to allow you to type the underscore_separated_identifiers that are common in C, Python or PHP as comfortably as you would type lisp-style-identifiers.

Usage

just type your code like you normally would, but stop pressing the shift key when you need an underscore inside an identifier.

If you need to type a literal dash right after an identifier (say, to type a cramped arithmetic expression like x-3), use Alt+- or the minus key on the number pad.

Will It Get in My Way?

TL;DR: no, not if you put spaces around "-" used for subtraction.

In creating Smart-Dash I've tried to make sure that it doesn't get in your way. For example, Smart-Dash uses the syntax information provided by the current language mode to always insert a dash inside strings and comments, and has special cases for common idioms in C-like languages (described below).

However, since its behavior is heuristic, it may not interact well with your particular coding style. If you are in the habit of putting spaces between your identifiers and your arithmetic operators as in "foo - 7" then you'll probably get along with Smart-Dash just fine. If, however, you frequently write close expressions like "x-3", Smart-Dash might not be the right fit for you.

Additional Features for C-Like Languages

C has two situations where almost all developers and style guides put a dash directly after an identifier. They are the -> struct access operator and the postfix -- post-decrement operator. In C-like languages that use these operators, Smart-Dash activates two workarounds.

The first is that if you type > after an underscore, the underscore will be replaced with a dash. The typical sequence of operations, then, looks like this:

The second is a little more complicated, but I've found that it works in all syntactically-valid scenarios. If you type a dash and the previous character is an underscore, both characters are replaced by dashes. That sequence looks like this:

This requires that if you want a double-underscore in your identifier in a C-like language, you will have to type it yourself. As for the rare case where you want to type __foo__--, Smart-Dash attempts to detect and handle it. It looks like this:

By default, these workarounds are activated for C, C++, Objective C, Java, JavaScript, and related languages. This list is customizable via the settings.

Extension Settings

• smart-dash.languages: The set of language modes for which to activate Smart-Dash
• smart-dash.cLikeLanguages: The set of language modes for which to activate additional C-specific features

Release Notes

1.1.0

Apply C fixups at all cursors

1.0.0

Initial release of Smart-Dash