Enh: Debug REST service could have namespace dropdown

[isc-kiyer]

Currently if I select "Debug REST service" from a namespace with no REST web apps, it fails with the error "No REST web applications are configured in the server's namespace."

I generally have code in a separate namespace than my running application though so it would be nice to show the Debug REST Service webview anyway, with perhaps a Namespace drop down in addition to the web app dropdown.

[isc-bsaviano]

I can look into ways to make this more user-friendly

[isc-bsaviano]

@gjsjohnmurray @isc-rsingh I think there are two options to resolve this:

1. Get rid of the web app dropdown entirely. This gives the user the freedom to enter whatever path they want and removes the need for us to query the server for a list of REST web apps.
2. Keep the dropdown, but populate it with all REST web apps in all namespaces. This could lead to permissions issues on older servers for underprivileged users since we need to query Security.Applications directly. Also, system REST APIs will be present in the dropdown.

I vote for option 1, but would like to hear your opinions.

[isc-kiyer]

I think 2 dropdowns would be nice: one for namespace and one for the web apps in that namespace once a namespace is chosen. Isn't Security.Applications already queried right now to find web apps for the current namespace?

[isc-bsaviano]

No, we use a stored procedure in %CSP.Apps. I would rather reduce complexity instead of adding it.

[isc-kiyer]

Ah nice. I understand keeping complexity minimal. However, the dropdown is nice from a UX perspective. If there is a namespace dropdown, then couldn't %CSP.Apps be used to make the stored procedure call in the selected namespace?

[isc-bsaviano]

Yes, I could make a REST request to get a list of accessible namespaces, then make a %CSP.Apps query for each namespace when the user changes that dropdown. I don't think the UX of two dropdowns is better than just a text box. It might help with typo's, but since the values that the user entered are saved and restored when the WebView appears again, it's easy to correct a small mistake.

[isc-rsingh]

I'm against showing web apps from all namespaces. Pandora's box...
The approach right above sounds good to me.

[gjsjohnmurray]

@isc-bsaviano could you use the recently-added server connection picker (#1467) rather than relying on there being a suitable active editor to derive the connection from? Then if @isc-kiyer's workspace already has a folder connecting to the REST app's namespace (even if only an isfs-readonly one) it'd become possible to debug that app.