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  3. Learning a language using an IDE or text editor.

Learning a language using an IDE or text editor.

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  • O Obi_Hendrix

    Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

    N Offline
    N Offline
    Nicolas Dorier
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    An IDE is like a free teacher (or paid depending on the one you use) that tells you where you are wrong.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • O Obi_Hendrix

      Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

      K Offline
      K Offline
      Keith Barrow
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      IDE hands down - especially when you are just starting. I mean you should, just for the experience, code apps up in using a notepad type text editor and command line compiler, be sure to use mutiliple files and include and if your chosen environment allows it build scripts. Doing this as the main way of working just strikes me as bizarre and contrarian. I worked in one place where vi was the only editor hard-core enough, funnily enough I used emacs (the only viable alternative for our environnment) as was far more productive.

      PB 369,783 wrote:

      I just find him very unlikeable, and I think the way he looks like a prettier version of his Mum is very disturbing.[^]

      pkfoxP 1 Reply Last reply
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      • J jeron1

        OriginalGriff wrote:

        I started with text editors and I wouldn't go back!

        Same here!

        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriffO Offline
        OriginalGriff
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        Well, technically I didn't start with text editors: it was punched cards, which were like text editors with bad attitude and no "backspace" key... :laugh:

        Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

        "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
        "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

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        • O Obi_Hendrix

          Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

          E Offline
          E Offline
          Ennis Ray Lynch Jr
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          Sure I use an IDE everyday. But when I learned, the ability to look things up, read the instructions, search the web, and think out my problem without typing were invaluable. I suppose the difference is will you be a technician or a master? Ignoring the pro's and con's of an IDE it is fundamentally a tool for facilitating writing code not for learning to write the code. If you learn to program you will never know why the below code is wrong:

          Int32.Parse(Session["someInteger"].ToString());

          Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost "All users always want Excel" --Ennis Lynch

          OriginalGriffO T Richard DeemingR R 4 Replies Last reply
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          • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

            Well, technically I didn't start with text editors: it was punched cards, which were like text editors with bad attitude and no "backspace" key... :laugh:

            Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

            J Offline
            J Offline
            jeron1
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            OriginalGriff wrote:

            punched cards

            :cringe:, painful. Mine was vi, tough at first until you learned the commands, but not bad for what we were doing. However, it sure as hell beats punched cards.

            OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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            • O Obi_Hendrix

              Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

              Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
              Kornfeld Eliyahu PeterK Offline
              Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              IMHO - to learn programming you need no computer at all. When I learned we got books to read, teachers to hear and questions/answers were delivered on paper...

              I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. (V)

              "It never ceases to amaze me that a spacecraft launched in 1977 can be fixed remotely from Earth." ― Brian Cox

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • O Obi_Hendrix

                Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

                A Offline
                A Offline
                Albert Holguin
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                I'd vote for IDE as well... but while learning, also learn what it is the IDE is doing for you so that you're not stuck on things simply because the IDE has a bug or you don't know what it is the IDE does in the background.

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                • O Obi_Hendrix

                  Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

                  C Offline
                  C Offline
                  CHill60
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  IDE without a doubt. But keep that text editor handy to go and have a snoop around in any generated files (e.g. config files) ... compare what you're seeing in the IDE with what you're seeing in the text file - best of both worlds :)

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                    Well, technically I didn't start with text editors: it was punched cards, which were like text editors with bad attitude and no "backspace" key... :laugh:

                    Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                    D Offline
                    D Offline
                    dan sh
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    How old were you when Yoda was born?

                    OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • O Obi_Hendrix

                      Hi, I'm very new to object oriented programming. Having just read Text editor Vs IDE[^] do folks think from the start it would be better to learn using a text editor rather than an IDE (Honest question...don't want to start any arguments :) )?

                      M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Master Man1980
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      FYI. It's been discussed here. http://www.codeproject.com/insider.aspx/generalobject?fid=1658735&tid=4766103[^]

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                        IDE - no contest. It helps you at every turn: it prompts you with method names and properties, it helps remind you of function parameters, and it tells you when you misspell something as you go along. It handles indentation, and it works exactly the same when debugging as it does when you are editing. Ignore the purists: I started with text editors and I wouldn't go back!

                        Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                        D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Dan Neely
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        My first computer[^] didn't differentiate between entering a basic program one (numbered) line at a time and the command prompt used for everything else.

                        Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                          Well, technically I didn't start with text editors: it was punched cards, which were like text editors with bad attitude and no "backspace" key... :laugh:

                          Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                          C Offline
                          C Offline
                          Corporal Agarn
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          Yes but you could read the holes and it made good confetti. Just don't drop the tray. :-D

                          OriginalGriffO N 2 Replies Last reply
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                          • J jeron1

                            OriginalGriff wrote:

                            punched cards

                            :cringe:, painful. Mine was vi, tough at first until you learned the commands, but not bad for what we were doing. However, it sure as hell beats punched cards.

                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriffO Offline
                            OriginalGriff
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            vi was a good editor: loads better than the DOS "equivalent" Edlin[^] which was like punched cards, but with backspace.

                            Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                            "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                            "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • C Corporal Agarn

                              Yes but you could read the holes and it made good confetti. Just don't drop the tray. :-D

                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriffO Offline
                              OriginalGriff
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              djj55 wrote:

                              it made good confetti

                              Dropped bits! :laugh:

                              Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                              "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                              "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • E Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

                                Sure I use an IDE everyday. But when I learned, the ability to look things up, read the instructions, search the web, and think out my problem without typing were invaluable. I suppose the difference is will you be a technician or a master? Ignoring the pro's and con's of an IDE it is fundamentally a tool for facilitating writing code not for learning to write the code. If you learn to program you will never know why the below code is wrong:

                                Int32.Parse(Session["someInteger"].ToString());

                                Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost "All users always want Excel" --Ennis Lynch

                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriffO Offline
                                OriginalGriff
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                ...when clearly it should be Int64.Parse... ;)

                                Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                                "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • E Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

                                  Sure I use an IDE everyday. But when I learned, the ability to look things up, read the instructions, search the web, and think out my problem without typing were invaluable. I suppose the difference is will you be a technician or a master? Ignoring the pro's and con's of an IDE it is fundamentally a tool for facilitating writing code not for learning to write the code. If you learn to program you will never know why the below code is wrong:

                                  Int32.Parse(Session["someInteger"].ToString());

                                  Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost "All users always want Excel" --Ennis Lynch

                                  T Offline
                                  T Offline
                                  TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  :rolleyes:

                                  If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
                                  You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
                                  Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein

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                                  0
                                  • D dan sh

                                    How old were you when Yoda was born?

                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriffO Offline
                                    OriginalGriff
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #21

                                    Yoda was born? Wow. I can't imagine him young... :laugh:

                                    Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                                    "I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
                                    "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                      Well, technically I didn't start with text editors: it was punched cards, which were like text editors with bad attitude and no "backspace" key... :laugh:

                                      Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                                      N Offline
                                      N Offline
                                      Nagy Vilmos
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      Like you, the first sort algorithm I learnt was the floor sort. :sigh:

                                      OriginalGriffO 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • E Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

                                        Sure I use an IDE everyday. But when I learned, the ability to look things up, read the instructions, search the web, and think out my problem without typing were invaluable. I suppose the difference is will you be a technician or a master? Ignoring the pro's and con's of an IDE it is fundamentally a tool for facilitating writing code not for learning to write the code. If you learn to program you will never know why the below code is wrong:

                                        Int32.Parse(Session["someInteger"].ToString());

                                        Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost "All users always want Excel" --Ennis Lynch

                                        Richard DeemingR Online
                                        Richard DeemingR Online
                                        Richard Deeming
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        Hmmm, let's see:

                                        • Session could be null if session state is disabled for the application or the request;
                                        • Session["someInteger"] could be null if the session's timed out (or you've misspelled the key);
                                        • If you stored an Int32 in Session["someInteger"], drop the .ToString / .Parse and just unbox the value;
                                        • If you didn't store an Int32 in Session["someInteger"] (why the elephant not?!) then Int32.Parse could throw a FormatException or an OverflowException;
                                        • Even if you did store an Int32 in Session["someInteger"], the current culture settings might* prevent Int32.Parse from correctly parsing the result of the .ToString() call;
                                        • If you're not already doing it, this should be hidden behind a façade class;

                                        Did I miss any? :) * I don't know for certain whether there are any culture settings that could do this, but since I don't know for certain that there aren't, it's safest to assume there are.


                                        "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined." - Homer

                                        "These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined" - Homer

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                                        • OriginalGriffO OriginalGriff

                                          vi was a good editor: loads better than the DOS "equivalent" Edlin[^] which was like punched cards, but with backspace.

                                          Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952) Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)

                                          J Offline
                                          J Offline
                                          jeron1
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          Sadly, I have used edlin. Thankfully though, not for many years,

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