web-IDE

A native desktop IDE architecture for offline web development, rebuilt around C++, Qt 6, CEF, and SQLite.

Platform targets

• Primary: Windows desktop installer (.exe)
• Future: iPhone / iPad adaptation (.ipa)

Core capabilities

• Professional multi-tab code editor
• Workspace and project explorer
• Embedded local SQLite database tooling
• Live browser preview with Chromium-based rendering
• Inspect element and DevTools integration
• Resizable docked split views
• Real-time file and database synchronization
• Offline-first runtime model

Repository structure

web-ide/
├─ CMakeLists.txt
├─ cmake/
├─ third_party/
├─ apps/desktop/
├─ src/
│  ├─ core/
│  ├─ shell/
│  ├─ workspace/
│  ├─ editor/
│  ├─ preview/
│  ├─ database/
│  ├─ runtime/
│  ├─ sync/
│  └─ shared/
├─ plugins/
├─ tests/
└─ packaging/

Architecture map

Shell layer

Qt Widgets, QMainWindow, QDockWidget, and QSplitter provide the native shell, docking, layout presets, menus, and window-level command routing. The shell now uses a VS Code-like dual left sidebar:

• Outer activity bar (icon-only): Explorer, Search, Git, Database, Runtime, Preview, Network, DevTools, Extensions, Settings
• Inner dynamic sidebar: one activity panel visible at a time with persisted state and keyboard shortcuts

Domain services

• workspace: project lifecycle, filesystem access, watcher orchestration
• editor: tabbed editing, document buffers, language-service bridge
• preview: embedded browser host, session routing, live reload, devtools
• database: SQLite connections, query execution, editable result models
• runtime: runtime discovery and process orchestration for PHP/Node/Python and local server management
• sync: change normalization, conflict policy, cross-module propagation

Infrastructure

• CEF embedding hooks in src/preview and cmake/CEFConfig.cmake
• SQLite services in src/database
• File and DB watchers in src/workspace and src/database
• Core messaging, commands, logging, and scheduling in src/core

Extensibility

plugins/sdk exposes the starter plugin contract and plugins/CMakeLists.txt is the module registration point for future packaged plugins.

Communication flow

1. Editor save -> DocumentManager -> FileSystemService -> FileWatcherService -> SyncCoordinator -> LiveReloadController -> PreviewPane
2. File tree action -> WorkspaceManager / FileSystemService -> EditorTabManager refresh -> SyncCoordinator
3. SQL execution -> QueryEngine -> SQLiteConnectionPool -> TableModelAdapter -> DatabaseWatcherService -> SyncCoordinator
4. Preview inspect -> DevToolsManager -> CEFHostWidget
5. Long-running work -> TaskScheduler, with events broadcast over EventBus

Build

Full desktop build

Requires Qt 6 development packages installed and, optionally, CEF assets staged in third_party/cef.

cmake -S /absolute/path/to/web-IDE -B /absolute/path/to/web-IDE/build
cmake --build /absolute/path/to/web-IDE/build

Structure-only validation

Useful in environments without Qt/CEF installed.

cmake -S /absolute/path/to/web-IDE -B /absolute/path/to/web-IDE/build -DWEBIDE_ENABLE_DESKTOP_APP=OFF
cmake --build /absolute/path/to/web-IDE/build