Integrated development environments Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science revision
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In plain words
You could write a program in a plain text editor, translate it with one tool and hunt for mistakes with another. An integrated development environment (IDE) puts all the tools a programmer needs into one program.
6 things to know
- An IDE is software that provides the tools for writing, running and debugging program code in one place.
- A code editor: where the program is typed and changed.
- A translator: a compiler or an interpreter that is built in. A run-time environment: the program can be run inside the IDE, to see what it does.
- Error diagnostics: errors are pointed out, often with the line number and a suggestion.
- Auto-completion: the IDE suggests the rest of a word as you type. Auto-correction: it fixes common typing mistakes for you.
- Prettyprint: keywords are shown in colour and the code is indented automatically, which makes it easier to read.
Worked example
A programmer types "pri" and the IDE offers "print". Later, a line is underlined in red with a message about a missing bracket. Which features are these?
- Offering the rest of the word is auto-completion.
- Underlining the mistake and describing it is error diagnostics.
Tips and tricks
- Prettyprint is about how the code looks on screen: colour and indentation. It has nothing to do with printing on paper.
- When asked for functions of an IDE, name the function and say what it does, such as "auto-completion, which suggests the rest of a word".
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Integrated development environments: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What is an IDE?
Integrated: all the tools in one place.
Which IDE function suggests the rest of a word as you type?
It saves typing and avoids spelling mistakes.
What does prettyprint do?
It makes the code easier to read.
What does the run-time environment allow?
The programmer can see what the program does as it runs.
Which IDE function points out mistakes in the code?
It shows where the error is and often what is wrong.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
2 questions, 5 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Integrated development environments
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 · 5 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Describe two functions of an IDE that help a programmer to find or avoid errors.[4]
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Error diagnostics: it highlights errors and shows where they are. Auto-completion: it suggests the rest of a keyword or variable name, so fewer typing mistakes are made. (Also: auto-correction and prettyprint.)
State what is meant by prettyprint.[1]
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The code is displayed with colour for keywords and with indentation, to make it easier to read.
Answers: Integrated development environments
- 1. Error diagnostics: it highlights errors and shows where they are. Auto-completion: it suggests the rest of a keyword or variable name, so fewer typing mistakes are made. (Also: auto-correction and prettyprint.)
- 2. The code is displayed with colour for keywords and with indentation, to make it easier to read.