well, time for the 'ole git push that destroys everything, leaving devastation as i leave for the day.

java/src/processing/mode/java/debug/DebugEditor.java

@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ import processing.app.syntax.JEditTextArea;
 import processing.app.syntax.PdeTextAreaDefaults;
 import processing.core.PApplet;
 import processing.mode.java.JavaEditor;
+import processing.mode.java.PdeKeyListener;
 import processing.mode.java.pdex.ErrorBar;
 import processing.mode.java.pdex.ErrorCheckerService;
 import processing.mode.java.pdex.ErrorMessageSimplifier;
@@ -1297,11 +1298,44 @@ public class DebugEditor extends JavaEditor implements ActionListener {
      * @return the customized text area object
      */
     @Override
+//    protected JEditTextArea createTextArea() {
+//        //System.out.println("overriding creation of text area");
+//        return new TextArea(new PdeTextAreaDefaults(mode), this);
+//    }
     protected JEditTextArea createTextArea() {
-        //System.out.println("overriding creation of text area");
-        return new TextArea(new PdeTextAreaDefaults(mode), this);
+      return new TextArea(new PdeTextAreaDefaults(mode), this) {
+         // Forwards key events directly to the input handler. This is slightly 
+         // faster than using a KeyListener because some Swing overhead is avoided.
+        PdeKeyListener editorListener = new PdeKeyListener(DebugEditor.this, this);
+
+        // Moved out of JEditTextArea for 3.0a6 to remove dependency on Java Mode
+        public void processKeyEvent(KeyEvent evt) {
+          // this had to be added in Processing 007X, because the menu key
+          // events weren't making it up to the frame.
+          super.processKeyEvent(evt);
+
+          if (inputHandler != null) {
+            switch (evt.getID()) {  
+            case KeyEvent.KEY_TYPED:  
+              if ((editorListener == null) || !editorListener.keyTyped(evt)) {
+                inputHandler.keyTyped(evt);
+              }
+              break;
+            case KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED:
+              if ((editorListener == null) || !editorListener.keyPressed(evt)) {
+                inputHandler.keyPressed(evt);
+              }
+              break;
+            case KeyEvent.KEY_RELEASED:
+              inputHandler.keyReleased(evt);
+              break;
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      };
     }
 
+
     /**
      * Set the line to highlight as currently suspended at. Will override the
      * breakpoint color, if set. Switches to the appropriate tab and scroll to

java/src/processing/mode/java/pdex/XQPreprocessor.java

@@ -58,12 +58,14 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 	
 	private String[] coreImports, defaultImports;
 	
+	
 	public XQPreprocessor() {
 		PdePreprocessor p = new PdePreprocessor(null);
 		defaultImports = p.getDefaultImports();		
 		coreImports = p.getCoreImports();
 	}
 
+	
 	/**
 	 * The main method that performs preprocessing. Converts code into compilable java.
 	 * @param source - String
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 	 * @return String - Compile ready java code
 	 */
 	public String doYourThing(String source,
-			ArrayList<ImportStatement> programImports) {
+	                          ArrayList<ImportStatement> programImports) {
 		this.extraImports = programImports;
 		//source = prepareImports() + source;
 		Document doc = new Document(source);
@@ -118,9 +120,9 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 		return doc.get();
 	}
 
+	
 	/**
 	 * Returns all import statements as lines of code
-	 * 
 	 * @return String - All import statements combined. Each import in a separate line.
 	 */
 	public String prepareImports() {
@@ -143,11 +145,13 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 		return totalImports;
 	}
 	
+	
 	public String prepareImports(ArrayList<ImportStatement> programImports) {
 	  this.extraImports = programImports;
 	  return prepareImports();
 	}
 
+	
 	/**
 	 * Visitor implementation that does all the substitution dirty work. <br>
 	 * <LI>Any function not specified as being protected or private will be made
@@ -190,6 +194,7 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 
 			return true;
 		}
+		
 
 		public boolean visit(NumberLiteral node) {
 			if (!node.getToken().endsWith("f")
@@ -206,6 +211,7 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 			return true;
 		}
 
+		
 		// public boolean visit(FieldDeclaration node) {
 		// if (node.getType().toString().equals("color")){
 		// System.err.println("color type detected!");
@@ -231,13 +237,9 @@ public class XQPreprocessor {
 		 */
 		public boolean visit(SimpleType node) {
 			if (node.toString().equals("color")) {
-				System.err
-						.println("color type detected! \nThis shouldn't be happening! Please report this as an issue.");
+				System.err.println("color type detected! \nThis shouldn't be happening! Please report this as an issue.");
 			}
 			return true;
-
 		}
-
 	}
-
 }