Bramble is based on Brackets

Brackets is a modern open-source code editor for HTML, CSS and JavaScript that's built in HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Brackets is at 1.0 and we're not stopping there. We have many feature ideas on our trello board that we're anxious to add and other innovative web development workflows that we're planning to build into Brackets. So take Brackets out for a spin and let us know how we can make it your favorite editor.

You can see some screenshots of Brackets on the wiki, intro videos on YouTube, and news on the Brackets blog.

The text editor inside Brackets is based on CodeMirror—thanks to Marijn for taking our pull requests, implementing feature requests and fixing bugs! See Notes on CodeMirror for info on how we're using CodeMirror.

How to setup Bramble (Brackets) in your local machine

Step 1: Make sure you fork and clone Bramble. We do our work on the bramble branch, so make sure you aren't on master.

$ git clone https://github.com/[yourusername]/brackets --recursive

Step 2: Install its dependencies

Navigate to the root of the directory you cloned and run:

$ npm install

Step 3: run the build

You can build Bramble by running the npm build task:

$ npm run build

Step 4: Run Bramble:

The easiest way to run Bramble is to simply use:

$ npm start

This starts an http-server session on port 8000 for you to work with.

However, if you wish to run your own static server, there are several options available:

• Apache Webserver
• Host on github pages
• Python WebServer

Assuming you have Bramble running on port 8000. Now you can visit http://localhost:8000/src.

NOTE: Bramble expects to be run in an iframe, which hosts its filesystem. For local development, use src/hosted.html instead of src/index.html. To see how the remote end should host Bramble's iframe, see src/hosted.js.

Optional Extension Loading

Bramble supports enabling and disabling various extensions via the URL and query params. A standard set of default extensions are always turned on:

• CSSCodeHints
• HTMLCodeHints
• JavaScriptCodeHints
• InlineColorEditor
• JavaScriptQuickEdit
• QuickOpenCSS
• QuickOpenHTML
• QuickOpenJavaScript
• QuickView
• UrlCodeHints
• brackets-paste-and-indent
• BrambleUrlCodeHints
• Autosave
• UploadFiles
• WebPlatformDocs
• CodeFolding
• bramble-move-file

You could disable QuickView and CSSCodeHints by loading Bramble with ?disableExtensions=QuickView,CSSCodeHints on the URL.

In addition, you can enable other extra extensions:

• SVGCodeHints
• HtmlEntityCodeHints
• LESSSupport
• CloseOthers
• InlineTimingFunctionEditor
• JSLint
• QuickOpenCSS
• RecentProjects
• brackets-cdn-suggestions
• HTMLHinter
• MdnDocs
• SVGasXML

You could enable JSLint and LESSSupport by loading Bramble with ?enableExtensions=JSLint,LESSSupport on the URL

NOTE: you can combine disableExtensions and enableExtensions to mix loading/disabling extensions. You should check src/utils/BrambleExtensionLoader.js for the most up-to-date version of these extension lists.

---

After installation

After you have everything setup, you can now run the server you chose in the root of your local Bramble directory and see it in action by visiting http://localhost:8000/src.

Bramble IFrame API

Bramble is desinged to be run in an iframe, and the hosting web app to communicate with it via postMessage and MessageChannel. In order to simplify this, a convenience API exists for creating and managing the iframe, as well as providing JavaScript functions for interacting with the editor, preview, etc.

Loading the API

The hosting app must include the Bramble IFrame API (i.e., dist/bramble.js). Note: in development you can use src/hosted.html, which does this). This script can either be used as an AMD module, or as a browser global:

<script src="bramble.js"></script>
<script>
  // Option 1: AMD loading, assumes requirejs is loaded already
  require(["bramble"], function(Bramble) {
    ...
  });

  // Option 2: Browser global
  var Bramble = window.Bramble;
</script>

Bramble

The Bramble module has a number of methods, properties, and events. During its lifetime, Bramble goes through a number of states, including:

• Bramble.ERROR - Bramble is in an error state
• Bramble.NOT_LOADED - Initial state, Bramble.load() has not been called
• Bramble.LOADING - Bramble.load() has been called, loading resources has begun
• Bramble.MOUNTABLE - Loading is done and Bramble.mount() can be begin, or is safe to start
• Bramble.MOUNTING - Bramble.mount() is being called, mounting is in process
• Bramble.READY - Bramble.mount() has finished, Bramble is fully ready

The current state of Bramble can be obtained by calling Bramble.getReadyState(). There are also a number of events you can listen for (i.e., Bramble is an EventEmitter):

Bramble.once("ready", function(bramble) {
  // bramble is the Bramble proxy instance, see below.
});

Bramble.on("error", function(err) {
  // Bramble is in an error state, and `err` is the error.
})

Bramble.on("readyStateChange", function(previous, current) {
  // Bramble's readyState changed from `previous` to `current`
});

NOTE: in some browsers (e.g., Firefox) when the user is in "Private Browsing" mode, the filesystem (i.e., IndexedDB) will be inaccessible, and an error will be sent via the error event (i.e., err.code === "EFILESYSTEMERROR"). This is the same error that occurs when the filesystem is corrupt (see autoRecoverFileSystem below).

Bramble.getFileSystem()

The FileSystem is owned by the hosting application, and can be obtained at any time by calling:

var fs = Bramble.getFileSystem();

This fs instance can be used to setup the filesystem for the Bramble editor prior to loading. You can access things like Path and Buffer via Bramble.Filer.*.

Bramble.formatFileSystem(callback)

WARNING: this will destroy data, and is meant to be used in the case that the filesystem is corrupted (err.code === "EFILESYSTEMERROR"), or for when an app wants to allow a user to wipe their disk.

Bramble.on("error", function(err) {
  if(err.code === "EFILESYSTEMERROR") {
    Bramble.formatFileSystem(function(err) {
      if(err) {
        // Unable to create filesystem, fatal (and highly unlikely) error
      } else {
        // filesystem is now clean and empty, use Bramble.getFileSystem() to obtain instance
      }
    });
  }
});

NOTE: you can turn this recovery behaviour on automatically by passing autoRecoverFileSystem: true in the options to Bramble.load().

Bramble.load(elem[, options])

Once you have a reference to the Bramble object, you use it to starting loading the editor:

// Start loading Bramble
Bramble.load("#webmaker-bramble");

Bramble.once("error", function(err) {
  console.error("Bramble error", err);
});

The elem argument specifies which element in the DOM should be used to hold the iframe. This element's contents will be replaced by the iframe. You can pass a selector, a reference to an actual DOM element, or leave it blank, and document.body will be used.

The options object allows you to configure Bramble:

• url: <String> a URL to use when loading the Bramble iframe (defaults to prod)
• locale: <String> the locale Brackets should use
• useLocationSearch: <Boolean> whether to copy the window's location.search string to the iframe's url
• extensions: <Object> with the following optional properties
  • enable: <Array(String)> a list of extensions to enable
  • disable: <Array(String)> a list of extensions to disable
• hideUntilReady: <Boolean> whether to hide Bramble until it's fully loaded.
• disableUIState: <Boolean> by default, UI state is kept between sessions. This disables it (and clears old values), and uses the defaults from Bramble.
• autoRecoverFileSystem: <Boolean> whether to try and autorecover the filesystem on failure (see Bramble.formatFileSystem above).
• debug: <Boolean> whether to log debug info.

Bramble.mount(root[, filename])

After calling Bramble.load(), you can tell Bramble which project root directory to open, and which file to load into the editor. NOTE: the optional filename argument, if provided, should be a relative path within the project root. Bramble will use this information when it is ready to mount the filesystem. Use the "ready" event to get access to the bramble instance:

// Setup the filesystem while Bramble is loading
var fs = Bramble.getFileSystem();

Bramble.once("ready", function(bramble) {
  // The bramble instance is now usable, see below.
});

fs.mkdir("/project", function(err) {
  // If we run this multiple times, the dir will already exist
  if (err && err.code !== "EEXIST") {
    throw err;
  }

  var html = ""                    +
    "<html>\n"                     +
    "  <head>\n"                   +
    "    <title>Bramble</title>\n" +
    "  </head>\n"                  +
    "  <body>\n"                   +
    "    <p>Hello World</p>\n"     +
    "  </body>\n"                  +
    "</html>";

  fs.writeFile("/project/index.html", html, function(err) {
    if (err) {
      throw err;
    }

    // Now that fs is setup, tell Bramble which root dir to mount
    // and which file within that root to open on startup.
    Bramble.mount("/project", "index.html");
  });
});

Bramble Instance Getters

Once the Bramble instance is created (e.g., via ready event or Bramble.mount() callback), a number of read-only getters are available in order to access state information in the Bramble editor:

• getID() - returns the iframe element's id in the DOM
• getIFrame() - returns a reference to the iframe that hosts Bramble
• getFullPath() - returns the absolute path of the file currently being edited
• getFilename() - returns the filename portion (i.e., no dir info) of the file currently being edited
• getPreviewMode() - returns one of "mobile" or "desktop", depending on current preview mode
• getSidebarVisible() - returns true or false depending on whether the sidebar (file tree) is visible
• getLayout() - returns an Object with three integer properties: sidebarWidth, firstPaneWidth, secondPaneWidth. The firstPaneWidth refers to the editor, where secondPaneWidth is the preview.
• getRootDir() - returns the project root directory to which Bramble is mounted
• getTheme() - returns the name of the current theme.
• getFontSize() - returns the current font size as a string (e.g., "12px").
• getWordWrap() - returns the current word wrap setting as a Boolean (i.e., enabled or disabled).
• getTutorialExists() - returns true or false depending on whether or not there is a tutorial in the project (i.e., if tutorial.html is present)
• getTutorialVisible() - returns true or false depending on whether or not the preview browser is showing a tutorial or not.

NOTE: calling these getters before the ready() callback on the bramble instance won't do what you want.

Bramble Instance Methods

The Bramble instance has a number of methods you can call in order to interact with the Bramble editor and preview, all of which take an optional callback argument if you want to be notified when the action completes:

• undo([callback]) - undo the last operation in the editor (waits for focus)
• redo([callback]) - redo the last operation that was undone in the editor (waits for focus)
• increaseFontSize([callback]) - increases the editor's font size
• decreaseFontSize([callback]) - decreases the edtior's font size
• restoreFontSize([callback]) - restores the editor's font size to normal
• save([callback]) - saves the current document
• saveAll([callback]) - saves all "dirty" documents
• useHorizontalSplitView([callback]) - splits the editor and preview horizontally
• useVerticalSplitView([callback]) - splits the editor and preview vertically (default)
• find([callback]) - opens the Find dialog to search within the current document
• findInFiles([callback]) - opens the Find in Files dialog to search in all project files
• replace([callback]) - opens the Replace dialog to replace text in the current document
• replaceInFiles([callback]) - opens the Replace In Files dialog to replace text in all project files
• useLightTheme([callback]) - sets the editor to use the light theme (default)
• useDarkTheme([callback]) - sets the editor to use the dark theme
• showSidebar([callback]) - opens the file tree sidebar
• hideSidebar([callback]) - hides the file tree sidebar
• showStatusbar([callback]) - enables and shows the statusbar
• hideStatusbar([callback]) - disables and hides the statusbar
• refreshPreview([callback]) - reloads the preview with the latest content in the editor and filesystem
• useMobilePreview([callback]) - uses a Mobile view in the preview, as it would look on a smartphone
• useDesktopPreview([callback]) - uses a Desktop view in the preview, as it would look on a desktop computer (default)
• enableFullscreenPreview([callback]) - shows a fullscreen preview of the current file
• disableFullscreenPreview([callback]) - turns off the fullscreen preview of the curent file
• enableJavaScript([callback]) - turns on JavaScript execution for the preview (default)
• disableJavaScript([callback]) - turns off JavaScript execution for the preview
• enableInspector([callback]) - turns on the preview inspector (shows code for hovered/clicked element)
• disableInspector([callback]) - turns off the preview inspector (default)
• enableWordWrap([callback]) - turns on word wrap for the editor (default)
• disableWordWrap([callback]) - turns off word wrap for the editor
• showTutorial([callback]) - shows tutorial (i.e., tutorial.html) vs editor contents in preview
• hideTutorial([callback]) - stops showing tutorial (i.e., tutorial.html) and uses editor contents in preview
• showUploadFilesDialog([callback]) - shows the Upload Files dialog, allowing users to drag-and-drop, upload a file, or take a selfie.
• addNewFile([options, callback]) - adds a new text file, using the provided options, which can include: filename a String with the complete filename to use; contents a String with the new text file's data; ext a String with the new file's extension; basenamePrefix a String with the basename to use when generating a new filename. NOTE: if you provide filename, basenamePrefix and ext are ignored.
• addNewFolder([callback]) - adds a new folder.
• export([callback]) - creates an archive .zip file of the entire project's filesystem, and downloads it to the browser.

Bramble Instance Events

The Bramble instance is also an EventEmitter and raises the following events:

• "layout" - triggered whenever the sidebar, editor, or preview panes are changed. It includes an Object that returns the same infor as the getLayout() getter: : sidebarWidth, firstPaneWidth, secondPathWidth
• "activeEditorChange" - triggered whenever the editor changes from one file to another. It includes an Object with the current file's fullPath and filename.
• "previewModeChange" - triggered whenever the preview mode is changed. It includes an Object with the new mode
• "sidebarChange" - triggered whenever the sidebar is hidden or shown. It includes an Object with a visible property set to true or false
• "themeChange" - triggered whenever the theme changes. It inclues an Object with a theme property that indicates the new theme
• "fontSizeChange" - triggered whenever the font size changes. It includes an Object with a fontSize property that indicates the new size (e.g., "12px").
• "wordWrapChange" - triggered whenever the word wrap value changes. It includes an Object with a wordWrap property that indicates the new value (e.g., true or false).
• "tutorialAdded" - triggered when a new tutorial is added to the project
• "tutorialRemoved" - triggered when an existing tutorial for the project is removed
• "tutorialVisibilityChange" - triggered when the tutorial preview is turned on or off. It includes an Object with a visibility property that indicates whether the tutorial is visible.
• "inspectorChange" - triggered whenever the inspector changes from enabled to disabled, or vice versa. It includes an Object with an enabled property set to true or false.

There are also high-level events for changes to files:

• "fileChange" - triggered whenever a file is created or updated within the project root. It includes the filename of the file that changed.
• "fileDelete" - triggered whenever a file is deleted within the project root. It includes the filename of the file that was deleted.
• "fileRename" - triggered whenever a file is renamed within the project root. It includes the oldFilename and the newFilename of the file that was renamed.

NOTE: if you want to receive generic events for file system events, especially events across windows using the same file system, use fs.watch() instead.