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Using a good IDE does make you more productive. Taking the java example, most people will accomplish more using IntelliJ-IDEA than Notepad. A good IDE allows yo

by babul 18y ago

Using a good IDE does make you more productive. Taking the java example, most people will accomplish more using IntelliJ-IDEA than Notepad. A good IDE allows you more freedom to explore ideas and experiment faster (especially when doing something like GUI design, debugging using statefull variable inspection, or just learning new features with intellisense/autocomplete), though I'd agree most of your time should be spent thinking than typing.

axod 18y ago
I couldn't disagree more. What magical feature of an IDE "allows you more freedom to explore ideas and experiment faster"? Most people might write more lines of code or produce more classes in an IDE than text editor in Java, but most people aren't good programmers. Lines of code and number of classes often bear no relationship to productivity. Essentially though, everyone uses an 'IDE', they just don't call it that... Mine is a text editor, bash shell and browser. All you need... GUI design is a whole different kettle of fish. But a mockup builder is probably more useful for that.
- babul 18y ago
  > What magical feature of an IDE "allows you more freedom to explore ideas and experiment faster"? Refactoring. Code completion/validation/formatting (make fewer errors, and reformat external code to suit you). GUI design (a lot of times you will have to make GUIs, no point in avoiding it). Code analysis (on-the-fly code analysis and error-detection (syntax, compile, and run-time) = less creep-in errors, easier to spot errors earlier, and less compiles = more productivity). Performance bottleneck detection. Testing made easier (simpler an faster to build and do unit/integration/etc. tests) Framework/Design-Pattern skeletons (got an idea, think pattern X may help, try it out quickly = make a good/bad decision faster). Teamwork features (version control, changelist management, build management etc. made easier). Etc. Etc. Who said anything about more LOC being the/a measure of productivity?
  - axod 18y ago
    I think it's best to agree to strongly disagree :) An ex-coworker was arguing how great IDEs are, his comment being "The IDE makes it so you don't have to think" I think that's the best argument against IDEs I've heard so far.
    - babul 18y ago
      Okay :) If we ever meet in person, I'll buy you a beer/coffee/meal, and we can debate such things as in general I'm liking the comments you make on a multitude of topics. An IDE is just a tool and like any good tool can help those that don't want to think, think less, and for those that do, think more?

by babul 18y ago

axod 18y ago

I couldn't disagree more. What magical feature of an IDE "allows you more freedom to explore ideas and experiment faster"? Most people might write more lines of code or produce more classes in an IDE than text editor in Java, but most people aren't good programmers. Lines of code and number of classes often bear no relationship to productivity. Essentially though, everyone uses an 'IDE', they just don't call it that... Mine is a text editor, bash shell and browser. All you need... GUI design is a whole different kettle of fish. But a mockup builder is probably more useful for that.

babul 18y ago
> What magical feature of an IDE "allows you more freedom to explore ideas and experiment faster"? Refactoring. Code completion/validation/formatting (make fewer errors, and reformat external code to suit you). GUI design (a lot of times you will have to make GUIs, no point in avoiding it). Code analysis (on-the-fly code analysis and error-detection (syntax, compile, and run-time) = less creep-in errors, easier to spot errors earlier, and less compiles = more productivity). Performance bottleneck detection. Testing made easier (simpler an faster to build and do unit/integration/etc. tests) Framework/Design-Pattern skeletons (got an idea, think pattern X may help, try it out quickly = make a good/bad decision faster). Teamwork features (version control, changelist management, build management etc. made easier). Etc. Etc. Who said anything about more LOC being the/a measure of productivity?
- axod 18y ago
  I think it's best to agree to strongly disagree :) An ex-coworker was arguing how great IDEs are, his comment being "The IDE makes it so you don't have to think" I think that's the best argument against IDEs I've heard so far.
  - babul 18y ago
    Okay :) If we ever meet in person, I'll buy you a beer/coffee/meal, and we can debate such things as in general I'm liking the comments you make on a multitude of topics. An IDE is just a tool and like any good tool can help those that don't want to think, think less, and for those that do, think more?