Reviewing step implementations

Checking whether a step's Java code does what the step says usually means jumping back and forth between the spec and the implementation, losing your place each time. Two features remove the jump.

The Step Implementation tool window

The plugin adds a tool window called Step Implementation, which you can open beside the spec file you are editing. Put the caret on a step, and the tool window shows the java step method that the step runs. Thus you can read the spec and its code side by side.

The tool window contains a full editor with the complete class, at the position of the step method. Thus you can read or write the code around the method also.

Move the caret to a different step. The tool window moves to the step method of that step. If that method is in a different class, the tool window loads that class.

<A spec file with the caret on a step, beside the Step Implementation tool window showing the class at that step method, with the method line highlighted.>

A highlight marks the line of the step method, so you can find it in the class easily. To change its colour, use the Highlight Colour picker button on the tool window's own toolbar.

Quick Documentation on a step

Put the caret on a step and invoke Quick Documentation. The popup shows the source of the related step method. Jump to Source in the popup opens that method in the editor.

The popup shows the code that your step runs. This is the implementation in the class that you wrote, and not the empty declaration in the generated class. If the step has no implementation yet, the popup shows the generated method declaration instead.

<The documentation popup above a step, showing the Java source of its step method and the Jump to Source control.>