So, I have been mostly self thaught programmer (C++), as its a big part of my job (not a regular developer). But so far I have been using a simple text editor like Geany to code and I compile stuff either in terminal (linux) or produce my own make file.

I am starting to wonder if I should switch to a full IDE, as I am on linux, I was thinking of trying KDevelop. But I am simply not sure if its worth, do I even need it?

I have never used an IDE, it seems kind of complicated for the start with “projects” and I havent really found any good introductions to how this workflow is supposed to work.

Do you think using and IDE is something everyone should use? Or do you think a text editor with producing your own make files should be enough?

  • XTL
    4·
    2 years ago

    I’ve moved to neovim myself after 20+ years of vim and 30+ years of programming with various editors and even monitors. I’ve used IDEs when in projects where everyone does and where the build may rely on them (yes, that’s a disaster) or when it’s the only tool offered (old obscure embedded systems). But I’ve never wanted to use any of them or found the results useful. Debuggers and editors can be extended to do anything extra an IDE does.

    Extra tips: Helix might have an even better command system. Kate almost works like an IDE and offers a vi command mode in a GUI editor.

    • Communist@beehaw.org
      5·
      2 years ago

      being able to immediately jump to a line, jump to columns, have line numbers on the left, have css colors show up like this: https://github.com/RRethy/vim-hexokinase

      It’s been awesome for me!

      I do actually use neovim though.

      edit: Oh, I was referring to vim as an IDE, but I now realize you mean that vim is technically just a text editor, but i’ve set it up quite a lot, so, my particular vim setup might be in a weird spot!

      • BlueBockser@programming.dev
        2·
        2 years ago

        Tbh, that just sounds like an IDE with extra steps. IntelliJ for example does all of those things as well IIRC and you don’t need to rely on third-party tools.

        Of course you’ll learn a lot more along the way if you configure vim to effectively be an IDE, but the end result is not that different.

        • Communist@beehaw.org
          2·
          2 years ago

          While it was a ton of configuration work, it’s now an extremely slim text editor that I use for literally every text file on my computer

          I don’t think intellij’s performance could compare.

          Plus, now that it’s already configured, I just have to share my dotfiles and it’s immediately setup anyway, and I love how vim works with modality and all, i’m not familiar with intellij but it’d have to do quite a lot to sway me at this point.