OSDev.org

I've been noticing something over the past couple of years. I've been noticing more and more people becoming dependent on their IDEs. I'm not talking about using all the features of an IDE, but things like relying on the IDE to tell them better ways to code (which are merely suggestions).

I think it's almost to the point where if you sat some people down in front of vim, emacs, notepad, whatever they could not write code to save their lives.

My first programming job didn't provide me with an IDE and open source IDE's were just starting to be released. This meant I had to write my code in emacs. I'd say I'm a better programmer because of it. Sometimes I even go back and use VI to edit code because I feel like over time I've gotten dumber because of the IDE doing so much for me.

I was thinking this might be particular to my trade language which is Java, but do any other developers who maybe use C/C++ or .Net, etc see the same thing?

I use an IDE only to make the code look better and easier to read.

-JL

Visual Studio!

Seriously though, using C# you get too dependent on IntelliSense (not so bad with C++ because it doesn't work most of the time anyway ). That just made me lazy since I wouldn't have to remember the names of variables, classes, or members since I could scroll through a list of them.

I use Visual Studio 2005 because it's what I'm most comfortable with. I've also used Notepad. I'm not 'dependent' on VS, but it makes me more efficient than without using VS because: (this can be applied to any IDE too)
- Colour-coding improves readability of code. Especially when scanning through long source files.
- Adding a source code to your project can be done in a few clicks instead of opening up the makefile (although one could argue this isn't needed if you specify "*.cpp" ).
- I like having my files sorting into a directory tree on the side, instead of having to swap between windows to open other files.
- Having all my files open within the same IDE unclutters the task bar.
- Pressing one button and have the entire project build, deploy, and run is convenient.
- Within a few clicks I can add break points, pause my code, view the call stack, view local/global/member variables, do step-by-step execution, pause-edit-continue on the fly, debug locally or across a network, etc. all in a consistent interface.

I don't use an IDE, They're pointless... sometimes I use a text editor in X, but mostly I use nvi.

Hi,

The main reason I use an IDE (eclipse) is for one of the reasons mentioned by MessiahAndrw - the project tree on the left of the screen which makes switching between files really quick. For my early boot loaders, I used notepad, because the whole thing was contained in one source file anyway.

When I'm writing software for Windows, I tend to use C# and the excellent SharpDevelop IDE which I have become far too dependent on, but it speeds things up (which is the point, I guess).

Cheers,
Adam

I like the color syntax support, and I like the ability to change the tab size, which in turn, makes my code look much nicer. I code in notepad as well, and I don't really feel much of a difference.

Although, when I started programming (for the web) in C#.NET, Microsofts Intellisense was WONDERFUL to get used to the new set of commands. So in some cases, it can be very helpful in the learning process, but weening from an IDE is always beneficial.