Best IDE - Abstract

[David O'Meara]

The question about 'What is the Best IDE' isa very personal one, as has been seen in many previuos threads. (like this one)
My question for all would be: How would you rank IDEs?
Personally I just want a bunch of features, and it's popularity would be dependant on having these. Any other features would have to be configurable so that if I don't like them I could turn them off.
At its most basic I want

syntax highlighting - the type of syntax should be mime dependant and should also be editable and pluggable, allowing you to change colors etc, and add or create syntax for previously unsupported types.

full keyboard support - I like using the keyboard. If I have to touch the mouse at all during development, the IDE fails. I want to be able to switch windows and contexts etc and also use any other available features

ability to compile etc through the IDE. I'm not assuming the IDE is just for Java development. This should aslo be done via the keyboard.

if the IDE has code completion, javadoc integration, blah blah, I want to be able to turn it off

As you can see, the current rating system just consists of a bunch of 'yes/no' options.
Are there any Features that can be quantified? ie IDE A is definitely a 4/10 for this feature, but IDE B is a 7/10.
Without getting too IDE specific, how would you rate them and what would be the criteria for a good/bad IDE?
(note that I've deliberately left cost off at the moment ;D )
Dave

[Amir Kamran]

These are the IDES nominated for the 2002 javaworld Editors' Choice Awards:
Forte for Java 3.0, Sun Microsystems
IDEA 2.5, IntelliJ
JBuilder 6.0 Enterprise, Borland Software

The best IDE is the one which fits with ur style of coding. some points to choose an IDE are :
+ it is platform independent, especially if you choose an IDE which is written in Java
+ it may deal well with large projects with many files
+ it may provide a sophisticated debugging system
+ it may be properly integrated, convenient and efficient
+ it may not force you to use its editor rather than your favourite
+ it may not using a lot of resources
+ it may not be complex, with a steep learning curve
+ it may not confuse or distract beginners
+ it may not concentrate on the wrong issues, e.g. GUI design rather than object oriented program design
+ it may not decrease your productivity, unless you use it full-time

[Tim Holloway]

I guess it falls under the "etc" in "Compile etc", but I can't even CONSIDER an IDE that doesn't have a builtin debugger. Lacking that, I'd just use Windows Notepad and a command-line compiler. Come to think of it, I actually have!
Although it's been more or less mentioned, I'm not real fond of IDEs that constrain you to their designers philosophies. Two cases that come to mind specifically are the "filesystem" concept of Forte and the "Perspectives" concept of Eclipse. I rate Eclipse better since they made it clear right up front what Perspectives and Views were all about, but the actions available by selecting a given object in the hierarchy are somewhat murky. Plus they apparently don't understand the concept of a project that has multiple programs in it. I've never forgiven Microsoft for losing the subproject concept in Visual Studio, BTW - it was a real boon in Borland C++. Forte's use of the term "filesystem" is both confusing and inaccurate, despite being useful for all that.
Above the traditional IDE level, there's also the "super" IDE. These are the packages that cost more than the computers they run on and typically include UML diagramming, scheduling, project-team co-ordination -- sometimes gratuitously piling on features just to justify the cost, I cynically suspect.
The worst of them straitjacket you, the best lack the ability to correlate and prioritize; ever encountered a cubicle with a 5x7-ft wallpapering of UML class diagrams that are so full of detail that you can't tell the "heavy" classes from the light ones -- or what the system's good for at all?
[ August 16, 2002: Message edited by: Tim Holloway ]

[Gregg Bolinger]

The problem with ANY IDE is that it wasn't written for you or me. They are written for the masses. Because of this, I have come to the conclusion that I will never find an IDE the has everything I want and everything I don't want.
I suggest that while you spend time searching for the perfect IDE, you should consider this: Write Your Own.
That is the only true way you will ever get what you want.

[Tim Holloway]

Hey, now! This is the Open-Source Age! Find a pre-existing IDE that's closest to what you want, strip it down to get rid of what you consider junk and add the stuff you consider to be goodies.
Of course, the amount of time it takes to learn how someone else's system is put together well enough to re-engineer it is likely to be about the same as it would to build it all yourself from scratch... : :roll:
Then again, these days, it's not like that would take time away from a regular job,