(I said earlier that there are many developers who prefer to write code using Vim, the Linux text editor!). What makes a great Java IDEĪ developer’s IDE can be a very personal choice. If you have the freedom to choose an IDE, then you’re probably wondering what you should look for. So how do you pick an IDE? What are the features to look for in a good Java IDE? That’s why you’re reading this article! (Hi!) An IDE is useful once you’re past the beginner stageīut once you’ve moved on from the beginner stage, you will probably benefit from using some kind of graphical desktop program that helps you to write code.Īn IDE helps you organise your projects, run tests, compile the code, format it correctly, and much more. If you are completely reliant on an IDE, and you have no knowledge of what the IDE is doing for you, you will find it harder in future to solve problems. I’ve even met Java developers who write code in Vim (the Linux text editor), and then run it all in the Terminal.īut, there are a couple of good pieces of advice worth remembering: If you’re just starting to learn Java, use a text editor firstĪ lot of people say that when you’re a Java beginner, it’s better for your learning to write code using a plain text editor.īut why? If an IDE can do all of the work for you, why start out creating programs by hand?Ĭoding by hand helps you see the basics of the language, and it will give you way more confidence in future, if you have to troubleshoot a problem. You could be writing code for the Mars rover, nuclear power stations, or even financial trading algorithms, with trusty Windows Notepad, and javac (the Java compiler command). You can use any text editor you like, and then compile the code with javac. No, you don’t need to write Java code in an IDE. Advertisements Do you need an IDE to write Java code?

Some IDEs add features for running tests, writing documentation, and even creating diagrams.īut coding, compiling and debugging are three core features of any decent IDE. Popular IDEs include Eclipse, IntelliJ and Microsoft Visual Studio.Īn IDE usually includes features which help you to: An IDE helps you organise your software projects, write code, and then test and debug it. What exactly is an IDE?Īn IDE, or Integrated Development Environment, is a program which helps you write software. In this first section, let’s take a look at IDEs in general – what they are, and whether you need one. Here are our favourite IDEs: Java IDE Basics Give you an opinionated view on the best Java IDE to use!

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