What is an IDE?

An integrated development environment (IDE) is an application which provides an integrated set of functions and modules used to create software. The IDE is the central point for code editing, compiling, debugging, overall creation and deployment of your software development work. An IDE can often support multiple programming languages. IDE software has various tools and functions that assist a developer in creating software.

Finding the perfect IDE is not complicated. There are several factors you should consider while comparing the IDEs. For instance, does it have:

• A powerful debugger
• An extensive GUI builder
• An integrated toolchain
• An option to extend the IDE features by anyone
• A profiler or code coverage tool
• Static code analysis
• A class browser and utilities to examine the structure and interoperation of those classes and functions

Note: There is no perfect or universal IDE for all programming languages and technologies. But you can upgrade the environment with plugins or other third-party tools.

Why does smart code navigation and code completion matter?

Code completion and smart code navigation are the code functions to save time while writing code. For instance, as you start to type the first part of a function, it suggests or completes the function and any variables or arguments.

RAD Studio’s Delphi and C++ Builder IDEs can be used to create native Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, and Linux applications. These IDEs have extensive tooling inside and available extensions where you can ramp up the coding experience, giving high productivity while coding. Besides, you can create your custom extensions to automate the development process.

Use Code Insight for code completion via a modern Language Server Protocol based on your code, while libraries help you code quickly and accurately.

In addition, for C and C++ programming languages, C++ Builder is the ideal environment. Because this is one of the reliable IDE that you can quickly develop any application. And when it comes to perfect IDE features, it has all of them!

• Native cross-compilation
• GUI Builder
• Integrated toolchain
• Profiling and extensive debugging tools
• Code coverage and autocomplete
• Static code analysis & Class browsing
• Refactoring
• and more

How do built-In advanced debugging tools help developers?

Debugging is essential to allow the programmer to go through the program and set breakpoints that cause the program to halt in critical locations. Debuggers also let you see variable values, which might help determine why a program crashes or generates an unlikely outcome.

Having debugging tools inside your IDE with a wide range of functions would be beneficial. RAD Studio’s integrated native debugging tooling provides all essential tools and procedures to debug your software easily.

• Inspect the current value of variables while your program pauses during debugging.
• Explore the entire call stack to trace the executing code’s route to its location.
• Use breakpoints, stack exploration, tooltips, and expressions evaluation on local and remote machines with live debugging across all deployment platforms.

What database tools should be included in an IDE?

If you are building extensive data applications, you should need tools or wizards to start your project quickly, and most IDEs have limited database tooling. 

RAD Studio provides:

• Its enterprise-grade database access component.
• Wizards.
• Options to connect any modern database engine easily.

The LiveBindings designer is the most valuable tool available in the RAD Studio. LiveBindings Designer helps you create functional and dynamic applications without writing any code, and it is just linking UI controls with data sources. 

How does an IDE help with the management of projects and version control?

Collaboration is the key to success. Without collaboration tools, it is hard to get things done. For instance, you can utilize enhanced Remote Desktop support (for VCL and IDE) to collaborate remotely with your team. 

Track and manage changes quickly using a version control system including Subversion, Git, and Mercurial repositories. Easily navigate changes and history using the history tab in the code viewer with the built-in difference viewer.

How does having a strong form designer help with the fast creation of GUI apps?

Developing graphical user interface applications can be done in several ways, like writing code to draw UI control on runtime or designing and prototyping all the elements in the form designer. 

Most IDEs like RAD Studio or Visual Studio have the best development environment to build GUI applications. For example, with Delphi and FireMonkey, you can rapidly design your master responsive UI layout once, then easily customize platform-and-device specific views without duplicating the design. 

Developers can easily use the visual design menu to drag and drop visual and non-visual components from the palette. So, prototyping is fast and offers a wide range of properties to handle every bit of detail.

Does your IDE have file comparison, code snippets and templates as well as code history views?

When you are working on a big project with hundreds of modules in your project, having file comparisons, history of code, and code snippet tools are handy.

For instance, RAD Studio provides all of these and creates a history of code changes where you can go back when you have updated code or use code snippets and templates to quick start things in similar situations.

Can you expand the IDE tooling and GUI with themes and third-party tools?

Developers love uniqueness, and for instance, I like changing the IDE’s panels, colors, fonts, or whole themes. Currently, most IDEs provide Light and Dark modes. If there is the option to extend the IDE, you are in a good place.

Additionally, suppose there are partners of the company building the IDE. In that case, there should be a massive pool of productivity tools, libraries, frameworks, or events and resources about that development ecosystem. This creates a good community where you can solve problems quickly since there are already solutions.

---

Download a free trial of the RAD Studio Delphi IDE today.