programming-for-dummies

96
Writing a Program with an Editor
Common editor features
Whether you prefer a standalone editor or an
integrated development environment (IDE),
most editors offer the following features:
Multiple undo/redo commands let you
experiment with making changes to your
source code. If they don’t work out, you can
“undo” your changes.
Typically, editors let you undo a large
number of changes you made, such as the
last 100 changes.
Multiple file editing comes in handy so you
can view different files in separate windows
and copy code from one window to
another, or just study how one part of your
program will interact with another part of
that same program.
Syntax completion and highlighting is
when the editor recognizes certain programming
languages, such as C++ and Java. The
moment you type a valid language command,
the editor can finish typing that command for
you at the touch of a button, thereby, saving
you time. So if you type a typical IF-THEN
statement, the editor automatically types in a
generic IF-THEN statement (complete with
necessary parentheses), so you just type in
the actual data to use.
Syntax highlighting occurs after you write
a program; the editor highlights valid language
commands to help you separate language
commands from any data and
commands you create. Without syntax
highlighting, source code can look like a
mass of text. With syntax highlighting,
source code can be easier to read and
understand.
Macros let you customize the editor and
essentially program the editor to repeat
commonly needed tasks, such as always
displaying program commands in uppercase
letters.
If the editor doesn’t offer a feature you
want or need, its macro language lets you
add that feature in. Without a macro language,
an editor won’t give you the flexibility
to work the way you want.
Project management helps you keep your
source code files organized. Most programs
no longer consist of a single file, but
of multiple files. Trying to keep track of
which files belong to which project can be
confusing, so an editor can help you store
and organize your files so you won’t lose
track of them.
Features
In addition to a compiler and all the usual features of standalone editors
(as listed in the sidebar, “Common editor features”), many IDEs include
other features in a convenient user interface:
✦ Debugger helps identify problems in your program.
✦ File management helps organize the source code for your various projects.
✦ Profiler helps identify which parts of your program may be slowing
down the performance of your entire program.
✦ GUI designer helps you design the appearance of your program’s
windows, pull-down menus, and buttons.