[atf-dev] accessing non-workspace resources

[Jacek Pospychala <jacek.p@xxxxxxxx>]

hi there,

there's an interesting bug in ATF queue:
285596: Adding a breakpoint impossible for files outside of Eclipse 
workspace
https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=285596

Most of time when debugging, we'd like to do some advanced things with 
resources not in our workspace, but are identified by some URL.
For example we'd like to put there breakpoints (markers) or examine URL 
content-type to open it in correct editor. From Eclipse APIs perspective 
this falls under Resources API, so we'd have to make that URLs look like 
workspace resources.
So here we come to questions:

1. Where should we take the resource information
a) perform HTTP requests
-> This can be risky because second HTTP request can be confusing to 
server and end up failing, ot we might get different data if file is 
generated on the fly.
b) query Mozilla cache/internals/API to get the file that is rendered 
without any extra HTTP requests
c) any alternative?

2. When do we update resources? Because they're not in workspace, we 
don't get any change notifications
a) listen to Mozilla to catch any refresh actions invoked by user and 
update resources accordingly
b) everytime when accessing resource
c) any alternative?

3. How do we make non-workspace being look like workspace resources?
a)  implement Eclipse File System (EFS)
b) create hidden project and cache resources there
c) any alternative?

So far, I've been experimenting with EFS and it's not very difficult to 
implement some simple filesystem there, however it has rather tiny 
documentation and here and there I'm finding new extra requirements. For 
example, to make EFS actually work you still have to create a project in 
workspace with location set to the same scheme as your virtual FS.

For now, I'm going to work on EFS approach (3a.) and try to get as much 
information as possible from Mozilla (1b. and 2a.), however if anyone 
has any opinions or sees better approach (e.g. other way to implement 
breakpoint, than via IMarker and IResource) - pls speak up.

thanks!


Jacek