Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

If you are learning C++, Java, Swift, iOS programming, or Android programming, it is helpful, and maybe necessary, to use an integrated development environment (IDE) to write, debug, and test your programs.

An IDE contains all the traditional programming needs in one package:

• Code editor
• Debugger
• Simulator
• Project management
• User interface development

Code Editor

If you are doing PHP or JavaScript programming and you don't need an IDE but you do need an editor, please see my separate advice for you here.

Visual Studio

If you use Windows, I highly recommend that you use Visual Studio as your IDE. Why? If you intend to program for Windows in the future, you will need to have Visual Studio as your base. Only Visual Studio supports languages like C# and the Microsoft frameworks like .NET, MFC, and WPF. So, look to your own future needs, and choose an IDE that will be the greatest benefit over the long term.

There are several versions of Visual Studio, so make sure you download the right one. Versions currently available include:

• Visual Studio Code. This is a code editor only, not an IDE. It is mostly for programming JavaScript and other web projects.
• Visual Studio Community (formerly known as Visual Studio Express). This is the version you want to install.
• Visual Studio Professional and Visual Studio Enterprise. These versions cost a lot of money, but for companies, they are worth it. You don't need these to write programs for your class. If you become a good C++ or C# programmer and you start working for a company, they will provide the expensive paid version for you.

Xcode

If you use a Mac, you really ought to install Xcode for programming. Why? It supports development for all Apple products, including the Mac, iPhone, iPad, Watch, and (soon) the new Apple TV. It is also the only environment that currently supports the Swift programming language. So look to your own future needs, and choose the IDE that will be greatest benefit to you over the long term.

Eclipse

You can install Eclipse on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Eclipse has compilers for C++, Java, PHP, and other languages, and it has toolkits for Android programming. There are several reasons why you might want to install Eclipse: 

• You want to learn C# but you don't have a Windows computer. (There may be other better ways to do this, such as Mono, but Eclipse is still one way to do it.
• You want to learn Android programming. You must use the Java programming language. Eclipse used to be the traditional way to write Android apps. Now there is an alternative, the Android Development Toolkit (ADT).

Eclipse has plugins that let you compile in many different languages. However, it is sometimes difficult to to install these plugins after installing Eclipse, so if you already have a version of Eclipse installed, it may not be worth the trouble to add the C++ plugin to the mix. Instead, you should download and install the version of Eclipse that comes with your required language already installed. You can find the version of Eclipse for C++ development here.