Integrated Development Environments

An IDE combines tools for writing, running and debugging programs. Do not confuse the environment with the translator it invokes.

Tool

Purpose

Code editor

Enter and edit source text

Auto-completion

Suggest names or complete keywords

Auto-correction

Correct supported typing mistakes; still check the result

Prettyprint

Format code with indentation and highlighting to make its structure readable

Translator

Convert source as required for execution

Runtime environment

Provide facilities needed to run the program

Error diagnostics

Report an error and its location

Debugger

Use breakpoints, single-stepping and variable inspection

Worked debugging session

A total is too small. Set a breakpoint before its update, run to that point, inspect Total and Value, then single-step. If the update subtracts Value, the program may be syntactically valid but logically wrong. Auto-completion cannot choose the correct algorithm for you.

Independent practice

A loop ends one iteration early. Choose two IDE features and explain exactly how each would help investigate the error. Then distinguish those features from a tool that only improves readability.

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Application: Debugging tools

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Application: Debugging tools

  1. Which feature pauses execution at a chosen line? [Space 1]
  2. Which feature executes one statement at a time? [Space 2]
  3. Which feature formats code for readability? [Space 3]
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