CIS 234: Integrated Development Environments Dr. Ralph D. Westfall May, 2007

What Is an IDE? an integrated development environment is a computer program to help people write computer programs faster better using technology to "automate" technology creation contra shoemaker's children

Integrated an IDE contains a number of different parts, and these parts all work together editor for writing or changing code pop ups to speed up coding code methods and sequences to reduce typing and syntax errors tools to compile and debug code some IDEs allow you to have tools from other vendors work inside of them

Before IDEs – 1960s write programs on punched cards some keypunches didn't even print code 1 typo, throw card away and type again submit card deck to computer center be careful not to drop deck get printout of errors next day retype cards with errors submit and wait another day

Before IDEs – 1970s/1980s use a text editor to type programs simple, single window, like Notepad submit over network or run on a PC get list of errors still use printed documentation to help fix errors repeat

IDEs – 1980s/1990s multiple windows on screen text editor syntax checking "autocompletion" online, searchable documentation debugging windows can show variable values, program flow

IDEs – 1990s functional capabilities run code 1 line at a time drag and drop Windows components into a project input box, buttons, data controls code generation writes some code for you

TextPad text editor rather than an IDE has some IDE features: multiple windows compiles inside the editor line numbering does not write any lines of java code no pop ups that allow you to pick methods and show argument syntax

TextPad -2 works with many different languages in other words, it is "vendor neutral" it can also be used with new languages, for which IDEs are not yet available for example, HTML in 1995 for people who want to get "ahead of the curve" download and installation instructions

Eclipse a generic software development tool designed to be usable with many different programming languages other tools (e.g., editors) can be "plugged in" so they can be used with it Eclipse can be customized for specific languages Java version is the most popular

Eclipse - 2 original developer purchased by IBM IBM donated it to Eclipse.org and continues to support itEclipse.org Eclipse.org operates under the "open source" development mode developers contribute their work therefore can download Eclipse for freedownload

Using Eclipse download onto your computer download create an Eclipse subdirectory in C:\Program Files and unzip it there double click the eclipse.exe to run it can create a shortcut to eclipse.exe on desktop and/or in Start menu to make it easier to use

Creating a Project and Class Eclipse works with "projects" rather than with just individual files File>New Project>Java Project>Next input a Project name>Finish File>New>Class input a Name for it be sure that public static void main(String[] args) is checked for method stubs

Coding the Class in Eclipse create a new main method class type System.out.p and select from autocompletion choices i.e., scroll down to System.out.println(String arg0), hit Enter type output in between ( ) and ; at end Run>Run As>Java Application>OK File>Close to stop editing the file or Close All to stop editing all files

Existing Projects in Eclipse File>Import>File System>Next browse for and select folder on left, check folder name on right, check files that you want to include in project and then click Finish

Existing Projects in Eclipse - 2 expand + sign to left of project name right click a Java file name>Open edit code in window on right Run and Close in same way as described two slides back

Eclipse Support MyEclipse offers support for Eclipse users for $29.95/year MyEclipse can get a 30 day free trial membership30 day free trial membership

IDEs for Other Software Borland offered 1 st commercial product Borland Turbo Pascal Microsoft Visual Studio.NET Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual FoxPro J++.Net download (need Visual Studio.NET, not true Java!) J++.Net available for many languages/systemslanguages/systems Java IDEs and free Java IDEs Java IDEsfree Java IDEs

RAD IDEs used in Rapid Application Development (RAD) "quick and dirty" prototyping of sample systems developing complete systems RAD competition

Review Give an example of an integrated development environment (IDE). Identify some capabilities or features of an IDE. Is TextPad an IDE?

Exercise Solve some short problems from the handout using an integrated development environment