Are IDEs required?

[photray94]

Hey everyone,

I've been using Eclipse lately for all my Java projects... (very simple ones, i'm new to Java, not to programming) But I'm wondering why when you start learning Java people reccomend an IDE? I've always found I work best when starting a new language to work through a text editor and a console window. I'm running Mac OS X 10.5.2 which I think comes with Java SDK installed, so if this is possible could someone take me through the steps to create/compile/run a java program from scratch?

Thank you in advance,
Ray

[Xav]

Using an IDE makes it easier to make your code. It offers advanced features such as syntax highlighting, error checking, and even pop-up lists that show you all the possible objects you can type. It offers debugging tools, so you can easily execute your code line by line, to see where you went wrong. Lots of reasons.

[chili5]

When learning a programming language, i find using an IDE is easier because of syntax highlighting and the compiler and debugger built in.


When your learning a web language, I find a text editor is better so you learn the code yourself.

[Hans Juhil]

Think it 2 Its easier with IDe for beginners..

[Xav]

It's easier with an IDE for everyone!

[WingedPanther]

Of course, I prefer a text-editor with syntax high-lighting for all my coding work. IDEs tend to add things like code-folding and the ability to call the compiler or do integrated debugging. Some advanced text-editors have some of these features as well without being specific to a language.

[Xav]

True, although if you are using something like a .NET IDE from http:microsoft.com/express, you can get the same IDE in different languages anyway.