Best programming software [top 5 applications]

Today we are talking about the best programming software. And it is that when we talk about programming software we refer to the tools that allow the design of new computer programs using a certain programming language.

Within this set of tools, the following modules are considered:

• Text editors, source code editors, and integrated or interactive development environments (IDEs). These applications offer a workspace where the programmer can write code. This task can be performed from a simple text editor, or in a specialized environment with key matching, pre-installed auto-completion tools and syntax highlighting. The most advanced case is that of IDEs that combine this task with that of debuggers. Examples of this type of software are: Adobe Dreamweaver, Eclipse, jEdit, Notepad ++, Lazarus or ci / Vim, to name a few. Compilers. They are translation applications that go from one programming language to another. The usual operation is that the source code is transformed into machine code or bytecode. They are usually included within a programming suite . In any case, the following programs correspond to compilers: PowerBASIC, GCC (g ++), Mono, IBM COBOL, Intel Fortran Compiler, javac OpenJDK, Delphi, Turbo Pascal, among many others. Computer interpreters or interpreters. The interpreter analyzes and executes programs progressively as necessary, so that they estimate instruction by instruction the correct operation of the same. They are similar to compilers in their translation service, but they work slower. Depending on the specific application, they may be preferable due to their great versatility. QBasic, ActivePerl Interpreter, Gauche, Wish and several others are samples of interpreters. Linkers. Known as a linker is specialized programming software that manages the necessary objects and libraries, connecting them when appropriate and cleaning the resources that are not in use. The ultimate goal of the linker is to generate an executable file. An example of these linkers is GNU ld. Debuggers or debuggers . This programming software is committed to detecting errors in the source code so that they can be more easily located by the programmer, studied and eliminated later. Among the multiple available debuggers we can find names like GNU Debugger, IDA Pro, Emacs, Allinea's DDT or CodeLite.

It is abundantly clear that the selection of programming software is neither a succinct nor a simple matter. In the following sections we are going to make some recommendations in this regard, in order to ease the burden on new and undecided programmers.

Index of contents

What to consider when choosing programming software?

When choosing programming software the first question we have to answer is what programming language are we going to use. Each language brings with it some advantages and disadvantages that will be more or less important depending on the use to be made of the program. Currently, the five most popular programming languages ​​are Java, C Programming, Python, C ++, and Visual Basic.NET, in this order.

Let us briefly see what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Java

Some 3 billion electronic devices use Java to function, so it is not surprising that the associated programming language is the most popular in the world. Its appearance dates back to 1995 and is currently owned by Oracle Corporation. It is an object-oriented imperative language with a strong and static type system. Take multiple ideas from Pascal, C ++, and Objective-C. Java is a pioneer in bringing flexibility, applets, and test-driven development to programming.

Advantage:

• Object Oriented Programming (OOB); that is, reusable, organized code, shielded against errors, simplicity of maintenance and updating. High-level language with simple syntax that is easy to learn. Standard in computer applications in business environments, thanks to which there is a large community of experts and libraries Extensive.Absence of pointers and presence of access rules defined by the Security Manager that minimize security risks.Write Once Run Anywhere or WORA policy that supports the use of code in cross-platform applications.Distributed language that facilitates work in equipment using the Remote Method Invocation (RMI) distribution protocol and support for CORBA and Socket Programming methodologies. Automatic memory management (AMM) and garbage collection system. Prepared for programming and multi-thread computing. Stable language maintained and updated regularly.

Disadvantages:

• A commercial license for general-purpose development has been required since 2019. Performance issues associated with virtualization, garbage collector, cache configuration, and thread deadlock. Shortage of solutions to create graphical user interfaces (GUI). makes reading and analyzing the code difficult.

Thus, Java is commonly used to develop applications for the Android operating system, various user- oriented software solutions, programs for the financial and commercial world, code for point-of-sale terminals and big data solutions, to name a few of its uses.

C Programming

To speak of C is to speak of one of the programming languages ​​that have persisted the longest on the market. Originally developed by Dennis Ritchie and Bell Labs between 1969 and 1972, it is currently owned by Nokia Corporation. It is an imperative and structured procedural language with a weak and static type system. It inherits characteristics directly from B, ALGOL, assembly language, PL / I and Fortran, denoting its age.

Advantage:

• It is a constructive unit of other more modern programming languages, its learning facilitates the understanding of these languages. Multiple operators and native data types improve its power and efficiency. Good portability of the language, the code can be used on different hardware with few changes.C library of functions that extend the usual applications of the language itself. Medium-level language with compatibility for programming at high and low levels. Intelligent use of algorithms and data types, which provides programs written in C with great power and computing speed.Ability to allocate dynamic memory during code execution.Especially indicated for system programming.

Disadvantages:

• It is not supported for abstraction, data concealment, encapsulation, polymorphisms, or inheritance. Similarly, constructors and deconstructors are missing. Holistic debugging; when the program finishes executing all the errors of the same appear on the screen at the same time. Impossibility of defining namespaces. Absence of an exception handling wizard. Low level of abstraction that facilitates security breaches when using this programming language.

C Programming is used to develop operating systems, desktop applications, scientific and industrial tools, simulators, 3D animation, and other advanced uses.

Python

Python has gained special relevance during this decade. It is a strongly typed and dynamic multi-paradigm programming language. The language is the invention of Guido van Rossum and it first appeared publicly in 1991, although it was developed years before. It borrows features from a plethora of previous languages, including Haskell, Lisp, Perl, and Java. It is currently owned by the Python Software Foundation, a non-profit organization that distributes the open source license.

Advantage:

• High versatility, simplicity that favors its use and learning, and speed in development. Community of programmers dedicated to the language and open source license that welcomes whoever is interested in the language. Large collection of libraries provided by both the foundation that supports the software as well as by the community. Excellent for rapid prototyping and scripting. Easily extensible using C Programming, C ++ or Java code, there are multiple workspaces that allow extremely flexible programming. Promising future in IoT applications thanks to their combination with Raspberry Pi

Disadvantages:

• Speed ​​issues due to the inherent limitations of any interpreted language. Poorly optimized multi-thread computing due to Global Interpreter Lock (GIL) mutex preventing multiple threads from opening simultaneously. Unsuitable for programming in mobile environments; Neither iOS nor Android officially support this language. Nor does it shine in media scanning applications. It has multiple limitations when it comes to accessing databases and other applications that make extensive use of memory. It pales in comparison to ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) and JDBC (Java DataBase Connectivity) technologies. Learning this language as a first option can lead to difficulties in knowing subsequent programming softwares given their unusual simplicity.

Python is especially used in robotics, scripting , artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer-aided design, multimedia development (except 3D interactive environments), and other business applications.

C ++

It is an extension of the C Programming language already discussed above. It was developed in 1979 as a multi-paradigm programming language with a strong, static, and nominal type system. It was launched on the market in 1983 thanks to the work of Bjarne Stroustrup, it is currently owned by Nokia Corporation.

Advantage:

• Wide support thanks to its popularity, this means that there is a high availability of libraries, compilers and documentation within the user's reach. Pre-interpreted language; It confers high speed and computing power when executing the source code. Easy learning if you already know other programming languages ​​such as Java, C Programming or C # with very similar syntax. Reduced number of restrictions due to having a small standard library.

Disadvantages:

• Especially prone to exhibiting unexpected abnormal behaviors; it is therefore unsafe. Poor memory management due to too basic OOB implementation. Critically dependent on functions, which are also not top notch classes; There is no possibility to define custom operators. It forces the user to define multiple basic data types, its syntax is complex and strict. Poor compatibility due to the use of high-level non-standard specifications (GUI, networks, parallel processing, etc.).

C ++ is widely used in any application and is almost ubiquitous. The exceptional cases in which C ++ has no place are extensive systems such as apps run from browsers, back-ends on servers and websites, as well as in business environments with an abundance of logic, development for iOS,.NET, and Windows in regime of exclusiveness.

Visual Basic.NET

Visual Basic.NET is a modern, multi-paradigm object oriented programming language with a static, dynamic, strong, secure and nominal type system. It is an evolution of Visual Basic, language with which it is not backward compatible. The software is designed and owned by Microsoft, and has been on the market for almost two decades.

Advantage:

• Great resistance to the instability generated by pointer management, since it performs this task indirectly. Compatibility with the utilities of Classic Visual Basic, availability of namespace and late binding if the Option Strict configuration is disabled. Managed code execution thanks to the CLR (Common Language Runtime) which results in secure, stable and robust applications. Ease of establishing COM interoperability thanks to the acceptance of optional parameters. Use of XML to exchange information within the Digital Network Architecture (DNA). Very efficient garbage collection managed by the CLR.

Disadvantages:

• Tight property rights that reduce the possibilities of VB.NET outside of Windows OS and make development more expensive with prohibitive licenses. Better management of some data types, such as arrays, that cannot be initialized when declaring them. I work.NET Framework.

Visual Basic.NET, sometimes referred to as VB.NET, is especially tied to Windows; This is evident when looking at some of the products that can be developed with this programming language: apps for the Windows console; standard applications for Windows; library services, drivers and managers for Windows; ASP.NET applications; library services, controls and managers in web environments;.NET classes; and COM automatisms.

When we know clearly what programming language we want to use, it is time to choose the software with which we will do it. The logical choice is an IDE that integrates most of the functionalities necessary for our source lines to be executable.

The best IDEs according to the programming language used

In the following paragraphs we analyze the most appropriate IDEs for each of the languages ​​listed above. In addition, we offer alternatives for those applications in which it is more convenient to use another suite of programs.

NetBeans Integrated Development Environment software for Java

Netbeans IDE is the software of choice for most when it comes to programming in Java. It is closely followed by Eclipse. It is the most complete and versatile code editor, some of the features that make it popular are:

• User-oriented design that is easy to get familiar with.Fast, easy and efficient organization of projects.Fast operation.Autocomplete tool implemented with excellence.Integration with Git (version control software ).Open source program updated regularly.Compatibility with other programming languages ​​(HTML5, C Programming, C ++, PHP…).

NetBeans offers a robust IDE for any application. Although there are some occasions when using another environment can benefit our work. A compilation of alternatives according to use is listed below:

• Eclipse Preferable for multiplatform programs, mobile apps , web development and GUI creation. Intellij IDEA Community Edition. Suitable for Android apps and when using Groovy or Scala code. It is a light IDE not very demanding with the hardware that we have available. jGRASP. Light and very powerful in the development of automatic visualizations. BlueJ. Its simplicity makes it perfect as a learning IDE. It also has a copious and exhaustive documentation.

Software Code: Blocks for C Programming

Less known than it should be. The community's lack of knowledge about the IDE Code:: Blocks is attributed to its poor compatibility with other programming languages. However, this code editor is perfect so as not to overlook many of the peculiarities of C Programming, which in environments like Eclipse remain… eclipsed.

Code: Blocks brings with it a series of advantages that the programmer must know:

• Compatibility with Windows, macOS and Linux. High capacity of configuration and few limitations when extending the basic software with plug-ins. It has basic exploration characteristics that allow to visualize the OOP. Complete, intuitive and well organized graphical user interface.

There are few times when using Code:: Blocks is not the right choice. The following cases may justify the use of other IDEs:

• Eclipse Refactoring of large volumes of code. Visual Studio Code. For applications exclusively for Windows. VSC is software developed by Microsoft, so it is optimized for the OS of this house despite supporting others. CodeLite. Suitable for learning, underpowered machines, and widget development.

software

It is an IDE full of utilities, to the point that it could be confused with a text editor. It is maintained by GitHub, so the quality of the software is guaranteed. The main advantages of using Atom are:

• Very high flexibility and a large repertoire of plug-ins Comprehensive library manager, including packages such as Teletype for remote collaboration. Native integration with Git and GitHub. Good cross-platform compatibility thanks to the use of the Electron workspace. Diaphanous and intuitive interface.

Atom is generally an appropriate choice regardless of the characteristics of our code. However, some other code editors may have relative performance improvements when performing certain tasks. Here are the alternatives to Atom and its areas of excellence:

• IDLE. Maximum simplicity to facilitate learning, it also consumes few resources. Visual Studio Code. As we have already pointed out in the previous section, this IDE is ideal for developing software exclusively for Windows. Eric. Superb project manager that makes it preferable when working with large volumes of code. It also has good integration with Ruby.

Visual Studio software for C ++

There is consensus that from a technical point of view, Dev-C ++ is the best IDE available to work with C ++. Unfortunately, the code editor has two severe disadvantages: it is only available for Windows and has not been updated in several years. Work is currently underway to develop a Linux version, but it is not known when it will be available. We say goodbye to the famous Dev-C ++ DevPacks and hello to Visual Studio.

Visual Studio is today the best tool to work easily with C ++. Its installation does not offer any doubts and the download is free if using the Express (coated) version. It is a software that is better optimized in Windows, but can also be used in macOS and Linux without apparent problem. The main technical advantages of the IDE are:

• It has a native syntax checker called the Command Line Interface and custom Intelligent Code auto-fill.GUI which makes it easy to push new code into Git as well as commit and publish robust API with multiple debugging tools.Suitable for all kinds of purposes, from snippets even refactorings.

Visual Basic currently has no competitor. The only environment in which a smaller IDE could be of interest is when developing in non-Microsoft OSes, niches in which there may be little-known and highly optimized software that may be worth investigating.

Visual Studio for Visual Basic.NET

Visual Studio repeats as best IDE also in case VB.NET is used. The above is perfectly suited to the features of the code editor as well now. However, we add that #develop or SharpDevelop is a great alternative that is also free. In the following lines we study its pros and cons when comparing it with Visual Basic.NET.

Advantage:

• High working speed even with large projects. Plug- in system through AddIn and acceptable number of templates. Commendable stability.

Disadvantages:

• Its refactoring system pales in comparison to VB.NET's Jetbrains Resharper utility. Little support for ASP.NET.

IDEs are a great working environment for our early programming efforts. As experience is gained, it is logical to make the transition from IDEs to custom editing, compilation, interpretation, linking and debugging schemes, an issue that can consume enormous amounts of time until the set is managed to work in coordination. These solutions are outside the scope of this article. We hope that your doubts are resolved.

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