Add positron.r.symbols.includeAssignmentsInBlocks setting
#8412
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E2E Tests 🚀 |
| }, | ||
| "positron.r.symbols.includeAssignmentsInBlocks": { | ||
| "type": "boolean", | ||
| "default": false, |
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| "default": false, | |
| "default": true, |
I am not a fan of this change, I'm afraid. 😬
I did some experimentation with realistic projects and the old treatment is preferable for everything I tried.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Situations where one would not want to include assignments within blocks in the symbols have got to be pretty rare, so let's make this new behavior opt in instead of opt out.
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I'd like to discuss this further because I think the point at which the outline becomes too noisy is likely very common.
In packages with a few short functions, as in the screenshots above, I agree it's not that bad. But
even in this best case scenario, is it really helpful to see local variables in the outline? Local variables are more likely to have vague and similar names, and thus more likely to distract rather than inform.
More importantly the main purpose of the outline is to show the structure of the document. The outline is especially important to get oriented in large files with many functions and methods. In these large files, I think local variables clearly distract from the general outline as you can see in the testthat examples brought up by Jenny and Davis who also feel that the current behaviour yields a noisy outline: posit-dev/ark#856 (comment). This will also be the case with e.g. large R6 classes with many methods, and other similar long file / many functions scenarios. Even in your example, I find it much easier to get the general picture of the document in the After screenshot.
It's also worth noting that Python does not show local variables either. Having a consistent experience across languages seems like a plus in a multilingual IDE.
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Here are some more examples from ellmer.
Numerous local variables in print.ellmer_prompt(), some with vague/nondescript names:
Long file where the general outline is obscured by local variables:
Screen.Recording.2025-07-25.at.12.49.12.mov
Same file with the new setting turned off. It's much easier to see the file structure, i.e. the outline:
Screen.Recording.2025-07-25.at.12.49.47.mov
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We chatted and we are going with the default that is more like RStudio and Jedi, and less like Pylance.
Branched from #8412 For #4886 Extension side of posit-dev/ark#866 Can be merged separately.
For #8330
Extension side of posit-dev/ark#859
Can be merged separately.