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Comment by wgrover | Hacker News Reader

Now I want a 3D text editor. Syntax highlighting by depth? or Python indents in the third dimension!

Proof of concept for Z-dimension Python indenting (cross your eyes):

  for line in file:          for line in file:
  print line                  print line
  print "all done!"          print "all done!"

I didn't believe you at first, and then I tried it. Bravo.

Actually, I prefer the inner part of the loops negative z-indexed (but you can image how it could flip as you move the caret around):

  for line in file:          for line in file:
  print line                print line
  print "all done!"          print "all done!"

However, staring at an IDE cross-eyed while trying to program sounds like a punishment one might cook up for devs who bundle Browser Toolbar Adware with screensaver packages that my mum likes to install, and not something I'd choose for myself.

In university, I did some research into Multi-Level Displays (essentially a transparent LCD a few millimetres in front of a standard LCD screen), but what held the tech back for consumer applications was that we hadn't yet found a killer app. (In contrast, the gambling industry loved them, and I see them often in Casinos in Vegas).

But it seems like it would be a perfect application for fake 3d IDEs.

Maybe if you couple that with an Oculus/hololens it could be a viable display.

I guess you can mix that with color syntax highlighting. Or maybe have the IDE run timing analysis on your code and adjust z-indexing to reflect where most of the time is spent.

One of the best things about the MLD was that it is a 'real' 3D (well, 2.5-D) display. The real separation of screens means that there's no need for special eye-wear or projection, and there is no nauseating delay in dealing with head-motion, eye-saccades or any of the other problems that I've heard plague long-term use of the Oculus.

alright this is awesome.

This is so cool I want this so bad lol

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