{"id":42241,"date":"2022-09-05T10:00:43","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T14:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simpleprogrammer.com\/?p=42241"},"modified":"2022-09-05T00:03:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T04:03:17","slug":"what-is-an-ide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simpleprogrammer.com\/what-is-an-ide\/","title":{"rendered":"What is an IDE? A Must-Have Tool For Developers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Like other jobs, developers also require tools to code applications and services. An integrated development environment (IDE) is one of those must-have tools for developers<\/a>. It is a software application that deals with the end-to-end development process for managing, debugging and developing applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we will explore what is an IDE and how it can help you do faster development.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is an IDE?<\/span><\/h2>\n

An integrated development environment (IDE) is a toolbox (software suite) that offers developers the tools to write, debug and test code, saving developers a lot of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

A typical IDE consists of three main features: source code editor, local build automation and debugger. <\/span><\/p>\n

This means you don\u2019t have to leave your IDE\u2019s environment when working on your project. At IDE\u2019s core, you get a compiler that converts code to platform-specific machine instructions to compile and build executables. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other IDE features include code completion, syntax highlighting, refactoring, and version control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To facilitate an easy way to write, edit and test code, IDE\u2019s come with a graphical user interface(GUI). Also, most IDEs support major programming languages, including C++, Python, JavaScript, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are specific language IDEs that only support a single programming language. For example, Pycharm supports Python, and IntelliJ IDEA supports Java.<\/span><\/p>\n

IDE is popular among developers because it makes programming easy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here, you don\u2019t have to shift between tools to debug, test or deploy your code. <\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, IDEs are very flexible and customizable and support plug-ins, enabling developers to add more features on the fly.<\/span><\/p>\n

IDE\u2019s history<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the early days, programmers used multiple tools such as flowcharts, punched cards and compilers to write programs. <\/span><\/p>\n

This required careful planning and execution as it was time-consuming, and it could take even longer if programmers made errors.<\/span><\/p>\n

IDE was first used during the creation of the Dartmouth BASIC programming language, a part of the Dartmouth Time Sharing System. <\/span><\/p>\n

They used console\/terminal as there was no fancy GUI during that period. <\/span>However, it did utilize file management, integrated editing, debugging, compilation and execution — the core features of an IDE.<\/span><\/p>\n

For software development, Maestro was the first integrated development environment. The first IDE to support plug-ins was Softbench.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the difference between IDE and text editor?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Text editors are a minimalist version of IDE. <\/span><\/p>\n

It comes with some common features such as syntax highlighting or auto-complete but doesn\u2019t offer an extensive feature-set compared to IDE. <\/span><\/p>\n

This means that text editors are best suited to do small tasks such as writing a script or making changes to an existing code for a website.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the difference between IDE and command-line tool?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Command-line is a powerful tool just like IDE. However, it lacks a graphical user interface. <\/span><\/p>\n

Using the command line, programmers can directly interact with the system and work at a low level, requiring good experience and expertise.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are IDE\u2019s core features?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Integrated development environments are rapidly evolving and provide many features out of the box. Then, plug-ins are supported by a few IDEs that allow developers to side-load features. <\/span><\/p>\n

To understand IDE, we need to go through its core features.<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout this section, we will use Visual Studio Code as an example.<\/span><\/p>\n

Code Editor<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your IDE journey begins with the code editor. It is where you write code, debug and test it. <\/span><\/p>\n

The code editor is also where you will see other key IDE features in action, including syntax highlighting, auto-complete, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see the Visual Studio Code in action.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

When you open Visual Studio Code, it starts with a Welcome Page. <\/span><\/p>\n

As you can notice, there are shortcuts to create a new file, open a file or open a folder. <\/span>You can also do advanced tasks, including cloning a Git repository.<\/p>\n

When you open a new project or a file, the interface changes to this:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We have the explorer on the left, where you can see project files. The code editor is on the right, where the Python code is showcased intuitively and follows proper code formatting. <\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, you can also use shortcuts to navigate easily or make edits to your code. If you\u2019re a seasonal programmer, you can use Vim and Emacs key combination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Compiler<\/span><\/h3>\n

IDEs come with a compiler that converts source code to machine code. It improves productivity to a new level as you don\u2019t have to open a standalone or separate compiler to debug or optimize performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Testing and debugging<\/span><\/h3>\n

With IDE, you can also do debugging and testing. Debugging starts as you hit compile. The IDE provides a detailed list of code errors that need to be fixed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, it also notifies of any runtime error if your code hits a snag when running. Modern IDE’s debugging tools include breakpoints, automated debugging, and so on. IDEs also support testing tools, including profiler and test terminal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Graphical User interface<\/span><\/h3>\n

Modern IDEs offer a graphical user interface. The GUI consists of navigational shortcuts to simplify programming and save time. Most modern IDE supports GUI customization, where you can make changes based on your preference and improve productivity.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, the Visual Studio Code user interface is customizable. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here, you get the explorer on the left and the code editor on the right. The other basic layout includes a sidebar, status bar, activity bar and panels. <\/span><\/p>\n

As for customization, you can open as many editors as needed to do side-by-side editing or try the Zen Mode, which hides all UI elements except the editor. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in knowing more about Visual Studio Code UI and its customization, check it out here: <\/span>Visual Studio Code User Interface<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The GUI is necessary as it means easy access to essential features. If you\u2019re old school, you may not find GUI useful and want to use a command-line interface. <\/span><\/p>\n

For example, IntelliJ IDEA support command-line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Syntax Highlighter<\/span><\/h3>\n

With syntax highlighter, your programming becomes easy as it highlights the different programming language elements. For example, Visual Studio Code(VSC) Python code looks like below.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here, VSC has highlighted a different part of the code with a color-coded system making it easy to glance through the code and improve your programming experience. <\/span><\/p>\n

The syntax highlighter is unique to Python, and if you code in a different programming language, you will see a different syntax highlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Refactoring<\/span><\/h3>\n

IDEs have refactoring features that let you make bulk changes to your code, such as changing the variable name.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, <\/span>IntelliJ IDEA<\/span><\/a> offers great refactoring features, including invoke refactoring, review refactoring changes, resolving conflicts, and configuring refactoring settings. <\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, you can refactor your code in Visual Studio Code with features like Extract Method, Extract Variable, Rename symbol, Keybinds for code actions, and more. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can also choose to install refactoring plug-ins to your IDE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Version Control<\/span><\/h3>\n

The version control system lets you track your code changes over time and enables remote teams to work collaboratively on a project. Most IDEs come with version control support(source control management).<\/span><\/p>\n

If not, you can always install it through a plug-in. For example, Visual Studio Code supports version control through its plug-in ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n

Code completion<\/span><\/h3>\n

Code is like poetry, but it becomes monotonous to type out all the code. <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s where IDE\u2019s code completion feature comes in. It suggests common code snippets when you code with reasonable accuracy. You can quickly select the suggestion and save time without writing the code yourself. <\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from that, you also get other information, including quick info, parameter info and member lists. Code completion is also known as IntelliSense, Content Assist and Code Hinting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visual Studio Code supports IntelliSense out of the box. As different programming languages have different IntelliSense, you may need to install a language extension.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the type of IDEs?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are different-purpose IDEs in the market. The most common type of IDE is multi-language IDEs that support multiple programming languages. <\/span><\/p>\n

Next comes specific-language IDEs specializing in offering a development environment for that particular programming language. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are also IDEs specific to Microsoft and Apple ecosystems. And, if you\u2019re a traveler and do remote work, then there are Cloud IDEs.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a more generic approach to programming, then multi-language IDEs are best for you. There are many popular IDEs in this segment, including <\/span>Visual Studio Code<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Komodo<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Eclipse<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>NetBeans<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Geany<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re looking for a specific-language IDE, then you can take a look at:<\/span><\/p>\n