Software development and programming tools

#webdev #beginners

In the previous post I described how the Internet works.

In this post we'll see what are the most essential tools for programmers.

Code Editors

Writing computer code is basically a series of textual instructions for a computer to execute. This means that we can write code - in its simplest form - anywhere text can be captured. This includes a text editor, a document app, etc. But that does not mean that such a tool is the best place or the best way to write code.

Since writing code can be more complex than just writing text, a Code Editor is a specialized environment with advanced options for this task. In other words, a Code Editor is a text editor with sophisticated built-in capabilities and special features that make editing code easier and faster.

A Code Editor is one of the most essential tools for programmers. It was developed with the express purpose of making code editing more efficient and easier. A text editor is comparable to a Code Editor, but a Code Editor offers much more features.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that helps programmers develop software code efficiently. IDE is designed to combine all aspects of programming into a single application.

IDEs come with a wide range of features. In their most basic form, they always contain at least one of the following components:

Code Editor
Compiler or Interpreter: Compilers are responsible for converting source code that is written in a language that is readable and writable by humans into a format that computers can run.
Debugger
Syntax highlighter
Graphical User Interface (GUI)
Build automation tools

Nowadays, most Code Editors offer more or less the same features as IDEs with additional add-ons (or out of the box).