The question of what makes an IDE successful is subjective since every developer has their own personal preferences. Nevertheless, there are some features that are widely considered as indispensable.
There is a general consensus that developers should consider certain qualities when using an IDE, whether it’s their first time or they’re selecting one for their engineering team. Below are the essential characteristics that should be taken into account.
Gradual Exploration
A robust search function is a crucial component of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). There are two widely used search methods: Quick Find and Incremental Search. Quick Find locates the first occurrence of a search string and highlights subsequent matches. Additional key presses are necessary to go to each subsequent entry.
Incremental Search allows for swift navigation between search results by pressing the same key combination repeatedly. This search method is preferred by developers who prioritize speed over extra features since it requires minimal key presses to move between results.
Advanced Auto-Complete Functionality
Modern smartphones have a feature called Context-Aware Code Completion, also known as Smart Auto-Complete or Intelligent Code Completion. It predicts the user’s upcoming input and offers to auto-complete the entry. In Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), this type of auto-complete is optimized for programming languages, making for a more intuitive programming experience.
This functionality simplifies and optimizes the development process, allowing programmers to quickly access the documentation for commonly used functions and their parameters, resulting in improved typing accuracy.
Contextual History
Background compilation is a valuable feature that is not universally available in all Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). However, it is especially appreciated by software developers as it allows for quick detection of typographical errors. As its name suggests, background compilation runs in the background, so developers can continue working on their files while the compilation process takes place.
Compilation employs parallel processing threads. However, Background Compilation has some limitations. For example, it is not possible to switch the current project, execute or debug another program, perform refactoring, or initiate a new compilation while the initial one is still ongoing.
Split-Screen Feature
An Integrated Development Environment’s (IDE) Split Screen Mode is crucial for developers because it enables them to compare two files or two different sections of the same document side by side swiftly. This not only makes it easier to spot errors, but also increases productivity and reduces eye strain caused by frequent window switching.
Code Refactoring
Code refactoring involves restructuring and organizing code without altering or supplementing its external functionality. It is a popular practice to engage in frequent refactoring. In an attempt to meet tight deadlines, a development team may release an application only to discover that the code is disorganized. Refactoring may be performed to make the code more accessible and reusable.
Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) offer automated tools to streamline the refactoring process. These built-in tools enable developers to preview refactoring modifications and implement them once they are content with the results (if the changes are deemed appropriate).
Integrated Build Toolkits
Build tools are capable of acquiring dependencies, compiling source code, packaging binary code, conducting tests, and deploying to production systems. While not all Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) possess all of these functions, it is crucial that the IDE used by your developers has some of these capabilities.
Integrated build tools simplify a developer’s work and enhance productivity.
Stress Indicator for Words
Syntax highlighting is a prevalent feature in Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). Depending on the syntax type, the code will appear in distinct colors or fonts. This makes it easier for both developers and readers to understand and read the code. Furthermore, the real-time nature of syntax highlighting can help identify coding errors during development, improving the efficiency of the implementation process.
Matching Tags and Brackets
Working with nested braces and tags can be monotonous, and errors may occur when a missing closing brace accompanies an open brace. To reduce the risk of mistakes and improve efficiency, text editors can offer an option to automatically insert a corresponding closing brace when an open brace is entered.
Structurally Collapsing Code
A single project file can be quite lengthy. Comparing two separate sections of the file may prove challenging, as it may require tedious scrolling up and down, increasing the likelihood of errors and consuming precious time.
Collapsing can be used to conceal portions of a file, facilitating the comparison of the remaining two sections. By folding a document in a way that only the top and bottom are visible, one can focus on the pertinent parts of the file.
Integration with Git/GitHub Version Control
Git and GitHub are critical tools for developers working in team settings and DevOps environments. Various Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) now incorporate Git and GitHub support, enabling engineers to manage their tasks without switching between tools. Thus, this eliminates the need for manual code import and export from and to repositories.
A competent IDE will certainly integrate Git and GitHub.
Conclusion
Each development project has its unique requirements, and developers may prefer to use an integrated development environment (IDE) that meets their specific needs. This list can serve as a guide for selecting the appropriate IDE, even if your developers have additional requirements.
