A Simple Guide to IDEs and 14 Essential Software Programs

Why do developers use IDEs?An IDE allows developers to start software programs new applications quickly because multiple utilities don’t need to be manually configured and integrated as part of the setup process. Developers also don’t need to spend hours individually learning how to use different tools when every utility is represented in the same workbench. This can be especially useful for on boarding new developers who can rely on an IDE to get up to speed on a team’s standard tools and workflows. In fact, most features of IDEs are meant to save time, like intelligent code completion and automated code generation, which removes the need to type out full character sequences.

Other common IDE features are meant to help developers organize their workflow and solve problems. IDEs parse code as it is written, so bugs caused by human error are identified in real-time. Because utilities are represented by a single GUI, developers can execute actions without switching between applications. Syntax highlighting is also common in most IDEs, which uses visual cues to distinguish grammar in the text editor. Some IDEs additionally include class and object browsers, as well as class hierarchy diagrams for certain languages.

It is possible to develop applications without an IDE, or for each developer to essentially build their own IDE by manually integrating various utilities with a lightweight text editor like Vim or Emacs. For some developers the benefit of this approach is the ultra-customization and control it offers. In an enterprise context, though, the time saved, environment standardization, and automation features of modern IDEs usually outweigh other considerations.

Today, most enterprise development teams opt for a pre-configured IDE that is best suited to their specific use case, so the question is not whether to adopt an IDE, but rather which IDE to select.

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Popular kinds of software programs IDEs

There are many different technical and business use cases for IDEs, which likewise means there are many proprietary and open source IDE options on the market. Typically, the most important differentiating characteristics between IDEs are:

The number of supported languages:

Some IDEs are dedicated to one language, and so are a better match for a specific software programs paradigm. IntelliJ, for instance, is known primarily as a Java IDE. Other IDEs have a broad array of supported languages all in one, like the Eclipse IDE which supports Java, XML, Python, and others.

Supported operating system(s):

A developer’s operating system will constrain which IDEs are viable (unless an IDE is cloud-based), and if the application being developed is intended for an end user with a specific operating system (like Android or iOS), this may be an additional constraint.

Automation features software programs:

Even though most IDEs include the 3 key features of a text editor, build automation, and debugger, many include support for additional features like refactoring, code search, and continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools.

Impact on system performance:

An IDE’s memory footprint may be important to consider if a developer wants to run other memory-intensive applications concurrently.

Plugins and extensions: Some IDEs include the ability to customize workflows to match a developer’s needs and preferences.

Mobile development IDEs

Nearly every industry has been affected by the rising popularity of apps designed for smartphones and tablets, leading many companies to develop mobile apps in addition to traditional web software programs apps. One of the key factors in mobile application development is platform choice. For instance, if a new application is intended for use on iOS, Android, and a web page, it may be best to start with an IDE that provides cross-platform support for multiple operating systems.

Cloud IDEs Software Programs

IDEs that are provided as a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provide a number of unique benefits compared to local development environments. For one, as with any SaaS offering, there is no need to download software programs and configure local environments and dependencies, so developers can start contributing to projects quickly. This also provides a level of standardization across team members’ environments, which can mitigate the common “this works on my machine, why doesn’t it work on yours” problem. Additionally, since the development environment is centrally managed, no code resides on an individual developer’s computer, which can help with intellectual property and security concerns.

The impact of processes on local machines is also different. Processes like running builds and testing suites are typically compute-intensive, which means developers are probably unable to continue using workstations while a process is running. A SaaS IDE can dispatch long-running jobs without monopolizing the compute resources of a local machine. Cloud IDEs are also typically platform agnostic, allowing connection to different cloud vendors.

Why do developers use IDEs? An IDE, or integrated development environment, makes it easier for developers to start creating new applications quickly. Unlike manually setting up and configuring multiple tools, an IDE has everything in one place. This saves time and effort, especially for new developers who don’t have to learn each tool separately. IDEs have features like intelligent code completion and automated code generation, cutting down on typing.

IDEs help organize workflows and solve problems software programs. They catch mistakes in real-time as code is written. With a single graphical user interface (GUI), developers can perform actions without switching between applications. Most IDEs include syntax highlighting, which uses colors to show different parts of the code. Some even have class and object browsers, making it easier to understand the code structure.

While it’s possible to develop without an IDE, many developers prefer the time-saving, standardized, and automated features offered by modern IDEs. In an enterprise setting, these benefits often outweigh the customization options of building your own IDE.

Choosing an IDE depends on factors like the number of supported languages, the operating system it works on, automation features, impact on system performance, and the availability of plugins and extensions. There are various IDE options, both proprietary and open source, catering to different needs.

For mobile app development, choosing an IDE depends on the intended platforms software programs (like iOS or Android). Cloud-based IDEs, provided as a service over the internet, offer advantages such as quick project setup, standardization across team members, and centralized management of development environments. They can also handle compute-intensive tasks without slowing down local machines, making them a popular choice for various development scenarios.    Why do developers use IDEs?

An IDE allows developers to start software programs new applications quickly because multiple utilities don’t need to be manually configured and integrated as part of the setup process. Developers also don’t need to spend hours individually learning how to use different tools when every utility is represented in the same workbench. This can be especially useful for onboarding new developers who can rely on an IDE to get up to speed on a team’s standard tools and workflows. In fact, most features of IDEs are meant to save time, like intelligent code completion and automated code generation, which removes the need to type out full character sequences.

History

IDEs started when programming was done through a console or terminal. Early systems couldn’t support them because programs were submitted using punched cards or paper tape. Dartmouth BASIC was the first language with an IDE, part of the Dartmouth Time Sharing System. Though command-based, it integrated editing, file management, compilation, debugging, and execution.

Maestro I, from Softlab Munich, was the world’s first integrated development environment. Installed globally for 22,000 programmers, it led the field in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, one of the last Maestro I systems can be found in the Museum of Information Technology in Texas.

Softbench introduced the plug-in concept in one of the first IDEs. In 1995, Computerwoche noted that developers weren’t thrilled about IDEs, feeling it limited creativity.

As of August 2023, commonly searched IDEs on Google were Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, and Eclipse.

Topics

Syntax Highlighting

IDE editors usually have syntax highlighting, using colors and font effects to show structures, language keywords, and syntax errors.

Code Completion software programs

Code completion is crucial for speeding up programming. Modern IDEs feature intelligent code completion.

Refactoring

Advanced IDEs support automated refactoring.

Version Control

IDEs offer integrated version control for interacting with source repositories.

Debugging

IDEs are used for debugging, with integrated debuggers supporting breakpoints and visual rendering of steps.

Code Search

IDEs may support code search, helping find declarations, usages, and implementations.

Visual Programming

Visual programming often requires an IDE. Visual Basic and tools like KTechlab support creating applications through flow charts or diagrams.

Language Support

IDEs like GNU Emacs, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, NetBeans, and MonoDevelop support multiple languages. Plugins allow support for alternative languages.

Implementation

IDEs can be implemented in various languages, such as C and Emacs Lisp for GNU Emacs, Java for IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, MyEclipse, or NetBeans, and C# for MonoDevelop.

Attitudes Across Platforms

Unix programmers can create a complete development environment using command-line tools. On Windows, there are many commercial and non-commercial IDEs. macOS programmers can choose between native IDEs like Xcode and open-source tools like Eclipse and Netbeans.

Online

Web IDEs, also known as Cloud IDEs, allow software development through a browser. They lack some features of traditional IDEs but include basics like syntax highlighting. Mobile-based IDEs run on smartphones and tablets, enabling developers to write, debug, and deploy code directly from their mobile devices.

Benefits of Using IDEs

An IDE can make software Programs development more efficient for developers by offering a quick setup and standardization across tools.

When developers don’t use an IDE, they spend time figuring out which tools to use, configuring them, and learning how to use them. An integrated development environment includes many or all of the necessary tools for development and testing in one place.

IDEs are designed with all their tools in a single user interface. This helps standardize the development process by organizing the essential features for software Programs development in one place.

Different Kinds of IDEs and the Tools They Offer

If you’re a developer, you’ll want to pick an IDE that fits the kind of app you’re making. For example, if you’re creating an iOS app, you’ll need an IDE that works with Apple’s Swift programming language. IDEs come in a bunch of types, like web-based, cloud-based, mobile, ones made for specific languages, or ones that handle multiple languages.

Web-based IDEs are handy when you’re working on web-based apps using languages like HTML or JavaScript. Take Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code, for instance. It’s got cool stuff like a code editor, syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging features.

Cloud-based IDEs, delivered as a service, provide benefits like accessibility from anywhere, minimal download requirements, and easy collaboration among developers. Cloud9, an AWS IDE, supports multiple languages and features code completion, an image editor, a debugger, and supports deployment to platforms like Microsoft Azure and Heroku.

IDEs for mobile development work with code that runs on iOS or Android devices. Xamarin, a cross-platform mobile IDE, allows developers to write code in one language (like C) and translates it into Swift for iOS and Java for Android. Xamarin also supports UI tests and beta test distribution.

Some IDEs, like C-Free, are specific to a programming language, providing a code editor, debugger, and environment for C and C++ code. Others, like Cloud9 and Visual Studio Code, support multiple languages. Popular IDE tools include Netbeans, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA.

14 Integrated Development Environment Software

Here’s a list of 14 IDE software programs to consider using:

Microsoft Visual Studio

Visual Studio is an integrated development environment provided by Microsoft. It comes with various features, including an AI code-suggesting tool to speed up coding, a debugger, a graphical user interface, and support for mobile and web app development and software programs. Visual Studio requires a license and offers optional extensions for cloud deployment.

Aptana Studio 3

Aptana Studio 3 is an open-source IDE designed for web application development. It allows customization of the user interface with a built-in graphical interface terminal. The program supports languages like HTML and CSS, offering integrations, a debugger, and auto-completion of code lines.

PyCharm

PyCharm is an IDE for Python programming, with a premium version supporting other languages. It software programs features auto-complete, error-checking while coding, code navigation, refactoring, data science library integration, and a plug-in ecosystem. PyCharm’s integrated debugger helps identify potential errors before compilation.

PhpStorm

PhpStorm software programs is an IDE primarily for PHP but supports various languages like HTML5, CSS, Sass, and Less. It includes features for debugging, testing, and an auto-complete function to enhance programming efficiency. PhpStorm supports remote development, deployment, version control, code quality tracking, and command-line execution.

DataGrip

DataGrip is an IDE ideal for working with databases and their programming languages. It features a query history for safe project management, allowing users to store procedures, view and export data, and organize large databases.

DbVisualizer

DbVisualizer is another database-focused IDE, popular among database administrators. It provides a single interface for multiple databases, using Secure Shell (SSH) protocol to protect sensitive data during usage.

Codenvy

Codenvy software programs is a cloud-based IDE offering on-premise deployments. It enables project access from any location on any machine through its cloud-based repository. Codenvy features code editing, compiling, debugging, built and run capabilities, making it scalable for various projects.

IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA offers intelligent coding assistance for Software program improvement. It includes features for debugging, mobile development, reporting, analytics, and deployment management. IntelliJ IDEA’s code analysis tracks issues and suggests edits for optimization, with a customizable graphical user interface.

Web Storm

WebStorm is an IDE designed for JavaScript but supports other languages. It helps write code efficiently, reducing errors. WebStorm Software Programs company offers built-in developer tools for editing, debugging, testing, and version control, with customization options for themes and appearances.

Net Beans

NetBeans provides cloud-based IDE services, supporting various development situations. It includes a GUI builder for visual interface design, with support for code editing, debugging, deployment management, mobile, and web app development across multiple languages.

Eclipse

Eclipse is a free and open-source IDE supporting Java-based applications. It’s versatile, working with multiple programming languages and offering various plug-in options to support its developer framework.

GeneXus

GeneXus is an IDE catering to applications designed for multi-user experiences. It features automated maintenance, code generators, data modeling, and web development. GeneXus is popular among software engineers working on projects with many users, utilizing a low-code approach for code and component reuse.

Amethyst 2

Amethyst 2 is an IDE for Adobe Flash and Flex development, offering features like code refactoring, debugging, and a customizable design suite. It includes editing, project management, and native document navigation features.

Anjuta DevStudio

Anjuta DevStudio is a versatile IDE supporting C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Vala. It’s free to use and includes features like a debugger, compiler, graphical user interface, and source control.