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An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is an application which facilitates the application development. In general, an IDE is a graphical user interface (GUI)-based workbench. It is designed to help a developer in building software applications with an environment combined with all the required tools at hand.

Selecting a good IDE is based on factors, like language support, needs of the OS and costs associated with using the particular IDE, etc.

1. Less time and effort: The entire purpose of an IDE is to make the development process much faster and easier. Various tools and features help you organize resources, prevent mistakes, and provide shortcuts.

2. Enforce project or company standards: Simply by working in the same development environment, a group of programmers will bond to a standard way of doing things. Standards can be further enforced if an IDE offers predefined templates, or if the code libraries are shared between different team members/ teams working on the same project.

3. Project management: Many IDEs have documentation tools that either automate the entry of comments by the developer or that may actually make the developers write comments in different areas.

It might appear that in this age when writing code has become a common enough skill, there is still confusion about the exact definition of an IDE and a code editor. Part of the problem could be traced to the fact that the line between the two is blurring because of crossover of features.

Essentially, an Integrated Development Environment or IDE is a self-contained package that allow you to write, compile, execute and debug code in the same place. On the other hand, a code editor is a text editor with several features that facilitate the process of writing code, either through native capabilities or through optional plugins.

Generally, IDE is focused on a single language and contains the compiler/interpreter and debugger specific to the language. In contrast, code editors are more general purpose in their capabilities, being able to work with a number of programing languages. Code editors are limited to writing code and do not go beyond this stage.

Both IDE and code editors share common features such as code completion, hints, highlighting sections of code and custom folding of sections of code. Choosing between an IDE or code editor is largely a matter of personal preference, the particular programming language and the workflows.

Eclipse

Eclipse is another free Java IDE for developers and programmers. It is mostly written in Java. Eclipse lets you create various cross-platform Java applications for use on mobile, web, desktop and enterprise domains.

It also contains a base workspace with an extensible plug-in system for customizing the IDE to suit your needs. Through plugins, you can develop applications in other programming languages. These include C, C++, JavaScript,, Perl, PHP, Prolog, Python, R, Ruby (including Ruby on Rails framework), to name just a few.

Major features of Eclipse IDE:

Its main features include a Windows Builder, integration with Maven, Mylyn, XML editor, Git client, CVS client, and PyDev.
Provides support for Java 8.0 and 9.0.
Helps you with code refactoring, editing with prompt validation, incremental compilation, cross-referencing, code suggestions.
Integrated static code analysis.
Intelligent code completion and provides quick fixes.
Excellent usability and performance.
Support for Windows/Linux/Mac OS X.
For Java programmers looking to develop specific functionality for Eclipse, a PDE (Plugin Development Environment) is available.
To help Java developers expedite the application development, Eclipse flaunts powerful tools for charting, modeling, reporting, as well as testing.

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition

IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is a free Java IDE (Integrated Development Environment). It is mainly used for Android app development, Scala, Groovy, Java SE and Java programming. It is lightweight in design and comes with useful features like JUnit testing, TestNG, debugging, code inspections, code completion, and support for multiple refactoring. Plus Maven build tools, ant, visual GUI builder and code editor for XML and Java.

NetBeans

NetBeans is an open-source Integrated Development Environment written in Java.

The NetBeans IDE supports the development of all Java application types (Java SE, JavaFX, web, EJB and mobile applications) out of the box. NetBeans is modular in design. This means it can be extended by third-party developers who can create plugins for NetBeans to enhance functionality

The NetBeans IDE can be used to develop in Java, but also supports other languages. These include PHP, C/C++, and HTML5.

Fetaures :

It is an open-source IDE which is easy to install, can run across different platforms, and is easy to use.
NetBeans features include an Ant-based project system, support for Maven, refactoring and version control (supporting CVS, Subversion, Git, Mercurial and Clearcase).
Its adaptability extends to mobile use, making it a popular IDE in the mobile-centric development world.
It can also be extended for plug-ins at a later date by third-party Java development team.
Each new version of NetBeans comes with an improvised and reworked Java editor.
The Java editor makes it easier for programmers to build custom software applications by highlighting the Java code both syntactically and semantically.
The tools provided by NetBeans even help developers to refactor and write bug-free code

Android Studio

Android Studio from Google is mainly designed for developing on the Android Platform. However it is capable of running and editing some Java code.

Originally it was built on the IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition created by JetBrains. It features a Flexible Gradle-based build system, build variants and multiple APK generation. It has expanded template support for Google Services and various device types and a rich layout editor with support for theme editing. It also has Lint tools to catch performance, usability, version compatibility, and other problems.

Android Studio is freely available under the Apache License 2.0. It is available for download on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It replaced Eclipse as Google’s primary IDE for native Android application development.

JDeveloper

JDeveloper is an IDE supplied by the Oracle Corporation and released as freeware. It offers various features for development in Java, XML, SQL and PL/SQL, HTML, JavaScript, BPEL and PHP. JDeveloper can be used for coding, debugging, optimization and profiling to deploying. It integrates with the Oracle Application Development Framework (Oracle ADF). This is an end-to-end Java EE-based framework that further simplifies application development.

JDeveloper comes in 3 flavors. These include the Java Edition, J2EE edition and Studio Edition which comes with a whole different set of features.

Features:

It simplifies the development of Java-based applications addressing every step of the application lifecycle.
It mainly offers an integrated development framework with a profusion of features and several visual development tools.
This Oracle JDeveloper is capable to integrate with the Oracle Application Development Framework (Oracle ADF) to further simplify the application development.
In addition to Java, JDeveloper can also be used to develop applications in HTML, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, and XML.
It also covers an entire development lifecycle: coding, designing, debugging, optimization, profiling, and deploying.

MyEclipse

MyEclipse helps to create simple and dynamic frontend along with powerful backend development. It has a combination that is very critical in today’s enterprise.

It was created and maintained by a popular company called Genuitec, a founding member of The Eclipse Foundation.

MyEclipse is available for the various platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Mac, and also offers industry-leading features such as:

Ajax & Web 2.0 tooling which include advanced JavaScript capabilities.
Hibernate and Spring integration.
Support for Maven configurations.
Swing GUI design support.
Advanced reporting tools.
Industry-leading Java Persistence tooling and much more.

If I was given a chance to choose one among the Top best Java IDEs, I would either choose Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate. For developers just starting out, I would recommend NetBeans over Eclipse. Eclipse is more widely used IDE. It provides various options and is user-friendly.

Top IDE for PHP Projects

Top Code Editors for PHP Projects

Python is one of the famous high-level programming languages that was developed in 1991.

Python is mainly used for server-side web development, development of software, maths, scripting, and artificial intelligence. It works on multiple platforms like Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi etc.

PyCharm

PyCharm is one of the widely used Python IDE which was created by Jet Brains. It is one of the best IDE for Python. PyCharm is all a developer’s need for productive Python development.

With PyCharm, the developers can write a neat and maintainable code. It helps to be more productive and gives smart assistance to the developers. It takes care of the routine tasks by saving time and thereby increasing profit accordingly.

Best Features:

It comes with an intelligent code editor, smart code navigation, fast and safe refactoring’s.
PyCharm is integrated with features like debugging, testing, profiling, deployments, remote development and tools of the database.
With Python, PyCharm also provides support to python web development frameworks, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Angular JS and Live edit features.
It has a powerful integration with IPython Notebook, python console, and scientific stack.

Spyder

SPYDER is another big name in the IDE market. It is a good python compiler.

It is famous for python development. It was mainly developed for scientists and engineers to provide a powerful scientific environment for Python. It offers an advanced level of edit, debug, and data exploration feature. It is very extensible and has a good plugin system and API.

As SPYDER uses PYQT, a developer can also use it as an extension. It is a powerful IDE.

Best Features:

It is a good IDE with syntax highlighting, auto code completion feature.
SPYDER is capable of exploring and editing variables from GUI itself.
It works perfectly fine in multi-language editor along functions and auto code completion etc.
It has a powerful integration with ipython Console, interacts and modifies the variables on the go as well, hence a developer can execute the code line by line or by the cell.

Pydev

PyDev is an outside plugin for Eclipse.

It is basically an IDE that is used for Python development. It is linear in size. It mainly focuses on the refactoring of python code, debugging in the graphical pattern, analysis of code etc. It is a strong python interpreter.

Best Features:

It is a nice IDE with Django integration, auto code completion and code coverage feature.
It supports some rich features like type hinting, refactoring, debugging, and code analysis.
PyDev supports PyLint integration, tokens browser, interactive console, Unittest integration, and remote debugger etc.
It also supports Mypy, black formatter, virtual environments, and analyzing f-strings

Idle

IDLE is a popular Integrated Development Environment written in Python and it has been integrated with the default language. It is one of the best IDE for python.

IDLE is a very simple and basic IDE which is mainly used by the beginner level developers who want to practice on python development. It is also a cross-platform thus helping the trainee developers a lot but it also called as a disposable IDE as a developer moves to more advance IDE after learning the basics.

Best Features:

IDLE is developed purely in Python with the usage of Tkinter GUI toolkit and is also a cross-platform thereby increasing the flexibility for developers.
It has a good feature of multi-window text editor which has many features like call tips, smart indentation, undo and python colorizing.
It has a powerful debugger with continuous breakpoints, global view, and local spaces.
It also supports dialog boxes, browsers, and editable configurations.

Wing

Wing is also a popular and powerful IDE in today’s market with a lot of good features which the developers require for python development.

It comes with a strong debugger and smart editor that makes the interactive Python development speed, accurate and fun to perform. Wing also provides a 30-day trial version for the developers to have a taste on its features.

Best Features:

Wing helps in moving around the code with go-to-definition, find the uses and symbol’s in the application, edit symbol index, source browser, and effective multiple-file search.
It supports the test-driven development with unit test, pytest, and Django testing framework.
It assists remote development and is customizable and extensible too.
It also has auto code completion, the error is displayed in a feasible manner and line editing is also possible.

C and C++ are those unique languages that every programmer should know, because these languages form the base for popular programming languages like Python, PHP, Perl, Java, C# and many others. Also, these programming languages are extensively used even by skilled programmers to work with the hardware.

So, if you are a C or C++ Programmer or even a beginner, who has a great will to learn both of these languages, then here in this post I am rounding out some of the impressive IDEs for you. IDEs are the best place to make your programming work easy, as it has built-in functions like debugging, code completion, compiling and syntax highlighting, etc.

Eclipse

Eclipse is one of the most popular and powerful IDE’s For C/C++ which offers open-source utility and functionality for C and C++ programmers. New users can find this IDE as simple to use and work upon.

Features:

Open-source software i.e available for free.
Supports all platforms Windows, Linux, Mac OS X.
Supports Debugging, Compiling, Profiling, Auto-completion of code and Refactoring i.e (restructuring of code can be performed without changing external behavior.
It has a great graphical user interface (GUI) to arrange an element using drag and drop functionality.
It also supports Static Code Analysis.

Code::Blocks

Code::Blocks is a free C, C++ IDE created to meet the most demanding needs of the developers of C and C++. This is an IDE with all the features you need for C and C++ development.

Features:

Works on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X as well.
It is designed to be fully configurable and extensible with its plugins.
Supports Compiling, Debugging, Code Coverage, Profiling, Auto-completion of code
It is a class browser i.e it can visualize object-oriented programming
Like Eclipse it also has (GUI) to arrange elements using drag and drop functionality and also supports code analysis

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is an open-source code editor designed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is developed by Microsoft and is based on an Electron framework. It is the most popular developer environmental tool among others and is excellent for customization.

Features:

It has an inbuilt Command Line Interface.
Visual Studio Code comes with an integrated Git that allows for pulling, committing, and publishing using a simple GUI.
It has a rich API for enabling tools for debugging.
Intelligent Code completion, code refactoring, and snippets

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a closed source cross-platform source code editor infused with a Python API. It was released in 2008 and was developed by Jon Skinner and Will Bond. It has a slick user interface along with incredible performance.

Features:

Easy and swift navigation to words, lines, and symbols
Can automatically generate a project-wide index of every function, method, and class
Highly customizable and powerful API
Is embedded with syntax highlighting and auto-correction

CodeLite

CodeLite is an another excellent, free, open-source and cross-platform IDE for the C/C++ programming languages that run on all major platforms (Windows, Linux, and OSX)

Features:

Generic support for compilers and Errors are clickable via the Buildtab.
Supports next-generation debugger.
It has an amazingly fast and powerful code completion tool based on its in-house parser.
It also has its own RAD tool for building Widgets-based applications.
Supports Static code analysis, refactoring, class browser, and profiling.

Dev C++

Dev C++ is another good IDE for C and C++ programming languages. It is an open source IDE but supports only Windows platform and not Linux and OS X.

Features:

Code Completion.
Profiling support.
Class Browser.
Support GCC-based compilers.
Customizable syntax highlighting editor.
Integrated debugging (using GDB).
Quickly create Windows, console, static libraries and DLLs.
Edit and compile Resource files.
Tool Manager.

Atom

Atom is a relatively new editor that came out in 2014 and gained tremendous momentum since. Atom is a free, open-source code editor, it was developed by the GitHub team. Atom uses a free software license for their package and it is maintained by the GitHub community. They aim to offer a premium feel to the editor while keeping it completely free. As well as flexibility to customize the software itself.

Key features

Atom comes with 81 built-in packages and you can add up to 7,500 additional installable packages. You can also develop your own package
Open Source Text Editor. The entire Atom editor is a free and open source program and is available at GitHub
Atom supports Teletype. It is an important feature if you want to do a collaboration with other developers in real-time
Supports multiple panes. Atom can split the interface into many windows so you can compare and write code side by side

Notepad ++

Notepad++ is an editor that was developed for Windows-based machines. Linux users can also use it via Wine. This editor is distributed as free software and its repository is also available in GitHub. Like other community projects, third-party plugins are supported.

Notepad++ distinguishes itself for its simplicity. Notepad++ is super lightweight; there’s even a mobile version if you fancy it. Here are some highlights:

Key features

Notepad++ interface is simple, lightweight, and fast
It supports multi-language coding environment, from ActionScript, CSS, to visual basic
100% compatibility with Windows, although other OSs are not supported (without additional software)

Why developers love Notepad++

It’s completely free
Extendable – you can add plugins from the community or create your own
Customizable – developers can personalize the features and interface to their preference

Sublime Text

Sublime is another excellent HTML editor. Developed by a Sydney-based company, this software falls under the category of freemium. Freemium means that you can use Sublime for free, but you have to buy a license to enjoy the full features.

Sublime offers great support to ensure that the program is constantly updated. Users can add plugins made by the community or build their own. We think using the free version of Sublime is more than adequate. However, if you feel like you need more features, you can get the license at a later point.

Key features

Sublime supports Python API that allows the plugin to expand its default functionality
Simultaneous editing. You can make changes to many selected areas at the same time
Cross-platform. Sublime is available in Windows, OS X, and Linux. Developers only need one license to use Sublime on any computers they own

Why developers love Sublime Text

Powerful API and package ecosystem. Sublime provides thousands of packages that are available and built by the community. These packages are open-source
Split editing. Developers can use multiple monitors and edit different types of code simultaneously
Go to Anything. This feature is useful to open the files with a few keystrokes, to search for symbols, lines, or words

Adobe Dreamweaver CC

Developed and managed by tech giant Adobe Inc, Adobe Dreamweaver CC is a premium, powerful, and versatile tool. It caters for both the back-end and front-end development. As a closed-source software, Dreamweaver is designed to work within the Adobe ecosystem. Adobe also provides support, plugins, and features to make sure you will always code seamlessly.

Dreamweaver is one of the editors that support both textual and WYSIWYG methods. So, you choose whether you want to code with a live visual presentation or go the classical way.

Key features

Dreamweaver allows you to write code in any major programming language
Supports textual and WYSIWYG editor modes
Fully integrated with the Adobe software ecosystem
Awesome performance and support from Adobe Inc

Why developers love Adobe Dreamweaver CC

Code and preview. This way developers can code while previewing the end product
Confirm the code and page accessibility. This feature can ease the developers to follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Access to creative cloud libraries. Premium access to the abundant supply of assets in the Adobe ecosystem. From colors, words, graphics, layers, characters, and much more

MySQL

MySQL will return high performance and help you to build scalable database applications. This open-source database has different editions like Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition, and Classic Edition. MySQL offers different features for each one of them.

It also provides an Oracle MySQL Cloud Service which is a cost-effective solution for enterprise-grade database service.

Features:

It follows Client-server architecture.
ODBC interface is supported by MySQL.
It supports C, C++, Java, Perl, PHP, Python, and Tcl for client programming.
It supports Unicode, Replication, Transactions, full-text search, triggers, and stored procedures.

Oracle

Oracle provides on-premises as well as cloud-based solutions for database management. These solutions are for small, medium, and large organizations. Oracle also provides a cloud infrastructure with flexible configurations. For database security, Oracle makes use of Standard data encryption algorithms.

Features:

Oracle provides features for Application development like APIs and Pre-compilers, JDBC and Web Services, PL/SQL Improvements, and SQL language improvements, etc.
It has features for content management like Text Improvements and interMedia Improvements.
Oracle has features for clustering, Grid Management, Server Manageability, and Grid Computing, etc.

SQL Server

SQL server can be used from small marts to large enterprises. It will reduce your storage need by using the enhanced data compression technique. SQL Server provides Insights and Reports which are accessible on Windows, Android, and iOS devices.

Features:

It can be integrated with non-relational sources like Hadoop.
For security and compliance, SQL Server uses row-level security, dynamic data masking, transparent data encryption, and robust auditing.
SQL server takes care of high availability and disaster recovery.

PostgreSQL

PostgreSQL provides a relational database solution which is reliable and delivers high performance. It is an open source solution with robust features. It is useful for building applications, protecting data integrity, building fault-tolerant environments, and for managing the data.

Features:

PostgreSQL supports indexing, advanced indexing, and many different data types (Primitives, structured, document, geometry, and composite or custom types).
It has security and disaster recovery features.
It offers extensibility through stored functions and procedures, procedural languages, and foreign data wrappers.
It has a full-text search.
It supports international character sets.

MongoDB

MongoDB provides an open source database solution which follows a document data model. It is useful for building new apps and updating the existing ones. It can be used for mobile apps, real-time analytics, IoT, and can provide a real-time view for all your data.

Features:

For data migrations, it provides complete deployment flexibility.
Data storage in JSON-like documents.
It ensures high availability by being a distributed database at its core.
As it follows the document data model, mapping to the objects in your application code will be easier.

Firebird

Firebird provides the database solution for developing interoperable applications which work in homogeneous and hybrid environments. This relational database management system is open source and runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Features:

Firebird has multi-generational architecture and hence it supports OLTP and OLAP applications.
Triggers and stored procedures are also supported by Firebird.
It provides real-time monitoring, SQL debugging, and Audit. For backup and restore, it supports online backup, online dump, and incremental backup.

Before the launch of Dotnet Core, Visual Studio has been one of the most used IDEs for .Net Development. It might be the reason that It was the only powerful IDE available for developing Web, Mobile, Desktop & Cloud-based Applications. For some developers with limited system resources (e.g RAM, CPU, Hard Drive), working on Visual Studio was quite difficult. Also, If you want to develop .Net Applications, you must be a Microsoft Windows user.

.Net Core is a Cross-platform, lightweight & again a powerful version of .Net by Microsoft. It solved all the reasons for .Net being not liked by some developers. Now, we can develop .Net Applications using .Net Core on your favourite Operating System.

Visual Studio Code

VS Code is a most light-weight cross-platform Editor with thousands of Plugins available that make VS Code a powerful IDE for developing .Net Core Applications. It’s open-source & available for Windows, macOS, Linux & works great even on systems with low resources(CPU, RAM & Hard Drive).

Features.

Syntax Highlighting
Auto Complete
Debugging
Light-weight
Built-in Git Support
Extensible by thousand of Plugins
Customizable Look & Feel

Rider

Rider is another Fast & Powerful Cross-Platform .Net Core IDE by JetBrains based on IntelliJ platform and ReSharper. It has the power of ReSharper for refactoring & built-in decompiler for exploring libraries source code. It also supports version controlling using Git, Mercurial, Subversion, TFVC and Perforce.

Here’s the list of Features Rider Offers:

Code analysis
Code editing
Refactorings
Decompiling
Unit Testing
Debugging
Extensible with 1500+ plugins
Supports Unity & Xamarin Development
WinForms designer

Visual Studio

Visual Studio is considered as one of the most powerful IDE available for developing powerful Desktop, Mobile, Web & Desktop Applications. Now It’s also available for macOS users as well. The only reason that most of the developers moved on the VS Code is that Visual Studio is not so friendly for low resources systems.

It also has built-in Git support & many other great features.

Here’s the List of some Visual Studio Features:

Great IntelliSense
Easy Debugging
Refactoring
Unit Testing
Live Share Screen to work together in real-time
About 9000+ Plugins

Best IDE / Code Editor/ Compiler Software