object chain spotlighting
Text-based languages have syntax highlighting.
Here's what a diagram-based language like Purr Data/Pd needs:
- Select an object or wire.
- Click some shortcut or menu option.
- Every object/wire on the canvas that follows that connection gets displayed normally.
- Every object/wire that is not part of that object chain gets less than 1 opacity applied to it
That way the user can view the context of an object chain without being distracted by other parts of the patch outside of that chain.
A good subset of canvas spaghetti could almost be rendered readable if one could interactively highlight the individual noodles.
Almost. :)