SE450: IDEs [14/41]

IDEs

For this class, I ask that you do not use IDEs for development. An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) would include (but is not limited to) the following:

• JBuilder
• NetBeans
• Visual Cafe
• JDeveloper
• BlueJ
• etc.

I define an IDE as a tool that generates code, compiles it, and runs the debugger in one environment. While these tools are not a bad idea, and in fact can make you very productive, I still do not want you to use them. This is not because I want to make your life harder, but for these reasons:

• IDEs can mask classpath problems
• IDEs will generate code you don't understand
• IDEs will generate code that is hard to read (and grade)
• An IDE can make your build process trivial, masking the build problems you will have later when you move your code (or ask me for help in debugging it)
• IDEs are many times centered around GUI development. We won't be doing much or any GUI development this quarter