IDE
An Integrated Development Environment is a tool to assist the programmer in building applications or writing scripts.
An IDE includes at least:
- A graphical user interface.
It allows you to select files, set options, launch tasks. - A source code editor.
- A compiler.
- A link editor.
- An integrated make tool. He sends commands to the compiler and link editor with the source or object files as parameters.
- A debugging tool.
The IDE can be dedicated to a programming language or be multi-languages. In the second case the editor adapts the syntax highlighting to the language, depending on the file extension or user choice.
IDE Tools
To automate again the production of applications, other tools may be incorporated into an IDE:
- Panel for tree of classes and their members.
It provides easy access to elements of a program. - Visual designer.
By choosing components in panels,you create an interface by drag and drop. - Context-sensitive help.
Provides the meaning of each pointed out item and how to use it. - Version manager.
Maintains versions of the source code. - Profiler.
Helps to optimize the code and to improve its performance.
The editor itself may also have extended features such as auto-completion and the suggestion of language elements to choose.
Examples of IDE
- Net Beans. Java, PHP, C++ applications. Multi-plateforms.
- Eclipse. Multi-plateforms, written in Java.
- Kdevelop. An IDE dedicated to C++ applications for the KDE environment. Linux.
- Visual Studio Express. C++, C#, Basic. Windows.
(c) 2008-2009 Scriptol.com