| In the beginning, code was written using simple text-based tools like Notepad. For the purposes of this discussion, I’ll define “beginning” as the early to mid-1990s, when Java first started to become popular. Using the combination of a text editor and command prompt, users could write and compile code.
It was quickly determined that this approach did not provide the most efficient development environment. For example, if you made a code syntax mistake in the text editor, there was no way to identify the problem until you saved and compiled the file. You would then review the compilation error, locate the offending line in the code, and attempt to determine the cause. Compilation errors are not always entirely helpful in diagnosing a problem with your code.
Many novice programmers start out using the Notepad and command-prompt environment. There is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, since some professionals still do the same thing. For an absolute beginner learning Java, using a plaintext editor can sometimes be the easiest and fastest approach. However, text editors do not provide assistance with language syntax, compiler integration, intelligent refactoring support, or other code-writing capabilities. |
