I am taking a class designed for engineering applications, and the syllabus has a very muddled description of what I need. One of the suggestions was a program called CODE::BLOCKS, but when I open that, I am very... very confused. Is that a good program to use for my needs as a beginner or would you recommend something better?
Code::Blocks is what you call an integrated development environment (people will refer to IDEs), it compiles your code for you, keeps track of your source files, generates a Makefile, provides syntax highlighting (it probably does, I've never used Code::Blocks), automatic indentation, code folding, and other features to make programming easier. Personally, I prefer a text editor and a terminal, that might be easier for a beginner.
You could download MinGW and use that to compile your code through the command line, that's what I use on Windows. On Unix, I use the standard GCC, which is usually available.
Originally Posted by The Jargon File
Sweet, I will try that.... thanks!
Text editor and terminal is a viable option... but you will be giving up a hundred usefull features to do that.
An Integrated Developer's Environment --Code::Blocks being only one-- add many useful tools which Babcock already named... but they do something else as well... they ORGANIZE your work for you. There are two features in particular you will miss very badly if you go the "notepad" route... syntax highlighting (keywords, braces, etc. in different colors) and line numbering (since most compilers report the line number of errors).
It's all groovy and macho to use dumb tools... but it doesn't make you a smarter programmer. A smart programmer uses whatever tools are at his disposal.
If you're finding Code::Blocks a bit ... ummm... weird, and you are on Windows you might consider Pelles C as an alternative. The IDE is more complete, with better tools, the compiler is C-99 compliant and the help file is amazing...
Actually, you would miss neither of them, unless you are literally using Notepad (and even then there may be some line/column indication) instead of a text editor designed for programming. It is things like integration with the compiler and debugger that are more likely to be missing, otherwise the text editor would actually be an IDE.
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But without the nice editor it would be a darned poor one...
Tool chains and option flags, makefiles, you generally create once at the beginning of a project. The nice little touches like Syntax Highlights, Line Numbers, Keyword help, Call Tips, etc are right there every time you open a file, in constant use.
I could work in an evironment where I had to create my own makefiles long before I'd ever give up my fancy editor...
Edit: In fact you'd probably be amazed how many errors I've caught simply by noticing that something is the wrong color...
Last edited by CommonTater; 04-12-2011 at 09:28 AM. Reason: afterthought
I think you misunderstood: I'm not saying that ssnapier won't miss syntax highlighting and line numbering because they are not necessary (though strictly speaking this is true). I'm saying that ssnapier won't miss syntax highlighting and line numbering because they will be provided by a typical standalone text editor designed for programming.
This is in the area of tool chain integration, not text editor-land.
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Fancy IDEs are good. but they hide many things and for beginners I'd just recommend to use text editor and terminal. and later move on to use IDE.
I use notepad++ on windows and gedit on linux.
Ok... maybe I did get that a bit wrong...
But to be correct you have to assume that (text editor == syntax highlighting) and while it's often true it is not universally so.
Yep... As I was saying, I'd live without that before giving up the nice editor.This is in the area of tool chain integration, not text editor-land.
That raises an interesting question...
Do courses teach the compile/link/makefile thing up front or are they teaching these as advanced topics?
We're both right, I guess... depending on the course curriculum.
I would like to remind you that you made it sound as if all text editors did not have line numbering and syntax highlighting, whereas I qualified my statements with "unless you are literally using Notepad" and "typical standalone text editor designed for programming". My point here is that an IDE provides tool integration; that an IDE has an advanced text editing component does not mean that similiar features cannot be provided by a standalone text editor, unless those features require integration with other tools.
You might want to ask this in your "Course curiosity...." thread instead.
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