** Sabi ni Rick noong Sun, 29 Dec 2002 11:55:23 -0800 > Why? Because there used to be a time when anti-Linux people commonly > said "Linux sucks as a development environment because there are no IDEs."
To which I'd reiterate my position that *real* *nix programmers don't need no steenkin' IDEs. IDEs are a throwback to the bad ole MS/PC-DOS single-user, single-console, single-tasking environment. Sure, it would be neat to have your compiler highlight errors in your editor window, or the runtime highlight logic errors, but I don't know just how much that adds to programmer productivity. For one, as all programmers know, the line that the compiler reports as in error is not necessarily the one you need to correct -- could be just the line above, or even something at the top of your routine, e.g., some declaration. Point being, an integrated compiler, IMHO, doesn't help detect errors any better than a stand-alone compiler that doesn't communicate with your text editor. It just looks prettier. As an aside, I remember using BRIEF (Basic Reconfigurable Interactive Editing Facility -- talk about forced acronyms) and a BRIEF macro to call the compiler from within the editor and approximate some functions of an IDE. Which points to one weakness of an IDE -- you're normally stuck with its text editor, compiler, and debugger. If any one of them suck, the entire package is useless. Aside 2: I'm fairly sure that any of the configurable or "programmable" text editors can be set up to interact with the compiler. Emacs, perhaps? So what does a *nix programmer *really* need? I posit that a coupl'a X consoles, a properly configured editor, and the right debugging utility will outperform any IDE. > So, I made a huge list of ones I could find, allowing pro-Linux people > to cite the above URL in debates, and suddenly you stopped hearing that > objection. Sounds like a sell-out to me <GD&R>. Seriously, I'd rather that programmers moving from DOS/Windows to *nix adopt the *nix way of thinking instead of bringing over the DOS ways. I have little regard for programmers who can't adjust to new environments. Mabuhay. _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fully Searchable Archives With Friendly Web Interface at http://marc.free.net.ph To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
