When looking for an IDE to program in different languages, if we are starting with any basic application we have more than enough to chop code, edit, test and debug its operation. However, if we want to go further, we must look for a more complete integrated development environment that meets our needs. If you are looking for the IDE that best suits your needs , in this article, we show you the best options.
The first thing that we must take into account when looking for an application that helps us program in a specific language is to be clear about the language with which we are going to program. While it is true that some IDEs cover almost all programming languages, some do it better than others.
What does a good IDE need?
The basic integrated development environment (IDE) should include a syntax-highlighting code editor with visual indicators to help us more easily find the lines we’re looking for, a language-specific autofill feature that we are using and, obviously, a function that is responsible for checking that the code is written correctly.
In addition, it must also include a compilation automation process and a code debugger that helps us test the operation of an application and detect where it is in error if it does not work graphically, without using lines of code.
IDEs to program in any language
As I mentioned above, before downloading the first integrated programming environment that we come across, you must be completely sure that it is ideal for the programming language with which we want to use it. Not all IDEs are ideal for all programming languages, and not all programming languages are ideal for all IDEs.
VisualStudio
One of the best-known applications both inside and outside the world of application programming is Visual Studio, an application that has traditionally always been paid for, until, after the purchase of GitHub by Microsoft, it launched Visual Studio Community, a Fully functional free version of this app.
With Visual Studio we can create applications for any platform, both desktop and mobile, create web user interfaces in C#, edit ASP.NET pages and much more. In addition, it also allows us to compile, debug and test .NET and C++ applications in Linux environments.
One of the most interesting functions that Visual Studio offers us is that it makes use of artificial intelligence to complete lines of code in real time, which will allow us to reduce the development time of applications, since it is not based on predictions, but rather It learns on the fly what we’re doing and where we want to take it, allowing us to program more safely and accurately.
All the changes we make to the application code are stored in a change log, along with the person who made them if we are working on a project collaboratively. It also allows us to analyze the operation of a code in real time, ideal for checking its operation without waiting for its compilation.
Visual Studio is available for free download through its page, which we can access from this link .
pros
- Completely free version
- Large number of tutorials on its operation
cons
- Somewhat steep learning curve.
- Not a good choice for object oriented programming
Apache NetBeans
If our needs are to program applications in Java, HTML 5, C/C++, CSS, Javascript and PHP , among others, one of the best and oldest IDEs that we have at our disposal to use the NetBeans application, an application
Apache NeatBeans includes a text editor that analyzes the code both syntactically and semantically, which allows us to avoid basic programming errors that can waste many hours. It is cross-platform, with applications available for all Java-compatible operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, OSX, and BSD.
Through its website we have at our disposal a large number of tutorials, both basic and advanced , with which we will clear up doubts when we get stuck with some function. In addition, it includes a mailing list server where they periodically send information about new features, tutorials and others.
Apache NetBeans is completely free to download and use. We can download the latest version of Apache NetBeans through its website .
Advantage
- Multi platform
- Extensive support.
Disadvantages
- Does not offer support for creating webapps
Eclipse
If we are looking for an open source and multiplatform application to program, we find an interesting option to take into account in Eclipse, an application that is well known in the community of application developers.
Eclipse is ideal for creating desktop applications and webapps for programming in C, C++, Objective-C, PHP, Perl, Java, GNU Pascal, Free Pascal, and Java, among others. Also, as it is an open source application and one of the most used, we will not have problems using the application, thanks to the large community behind it.
We can download the Eclipse IDE from its website through the following link . Through that link, we can also download a large number of additional tools to get the most out of Eclipse.
pros
- Extensive support community
- Open source and completely free
cons
- High consumption of system resources
Code Lite IDE
If we are looking for an IDE with support for C, C++, PHP, and Javascript, among others, and that is also open source, cross-platform, and completely free, the application we need is CodeLite IDE. Code Lite IDE uses wxWidgets for the user interface using the open source MinGW and GDB tools to compile and debug the code.
CodeLite is available for Windows from version 7, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, macOS and FreeBSD. We can download any of these versions directly from their website by clicking on the following link .
Advantage
- Open source and completely free
Disadvantages
- Somewhat steep learning curve
Jet Brains
JetBrains is a set of IDEs aimed at meeting the different needs of companies and individuals. With the different IDEs that JetBrain puts at our disposal we can program in PHP thanks to PhpStorm, in C and C++ environments with CLion, in Javascript, SQL, HTML with IntelliJ IDEA, create and manage databases with MySQL, Oracle, SQL, DB2 , MariaDB, not forgetting Ruby, .NET, Electron and others.
As we can see, regardless of the programming language we want to use, at JetBrains we are going to find the best IDE for each of the languages. Each of these specific IDEs for each programming language have a different price, and all of them, absolutely all of them, are available under an annual subscription, which reduces its price if we opt for a 2 or 3 year subscription at the time of contracting them.
You can access all the IDEs that Jetbrain makes available to us and check the respective prices for each of them by clicking on the following link to their website. All apps are available for both Windows and macOS.
Advantage
- It covers all the most common programming languages.
Disadvantages
- You need to pay a subscription to be able to use the available IDEs.
bluefish
An interesting completely free option, not as complete as those offered by other platforms, but just as functional for most programming languages, is found in the BlueFish IDE, an IDE compatible with Windows, Linux, macOS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD and Solaris .
It is ideal for working on different projects together and allows us to program in HTML, PHP, Javascript, JSP, SQL, XML, Python, Perl, CSS, ColdFusion , Pascal, among others. It analyzes the syntax to highlight coding errors, it is available in Spanish as well as other languages. You can download BlueFish through the following link on its website.
pros
- Free and open source
- Extensive support through its website.
Cons
- Lacks some basic features
Atom
Another interesting option to take into account if we are looking for an IDE that allows us to program in different languages is Atom, an open source and completely free editor that is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. With this complete IDE, we can program in C, C++, Cobol, CSS, HTML, Java, Javascript, JSON, Objective-C, Perl, PHP, Ruby , SQL among many others.
To work with these programming languages , we must install the corresponding plugins from their website , where we can also download the application for the 3 operating systems on which it is available. You can also take a look at their GitHub page.
Does not like
- Free
- Compatible with many programming languages
We do not like it
- Some functions are missing
QtCreator
Qt Creator, developed by the mobile phone manufacturer Nokia, is a complete IDE designed to create graphical and cross-platform interfaces available for Windows, Linux and macOS. It offers support for programming in C++, .NET, Python, Pascal, Perl, PHP and Ruby among others.
As a good IDE worth its salt, the editor includes support for completing lines of code, syntax highlighting, support for code refactoring. Qt Creator is only available in a paid version under subscription. The annual plan to use this app is priced at $3,950.
pros
- Open source and completely free
cons
- of payment.
Which is the best option?
The most complete and versatile application for programming is offered by Visual Studio, an IDE that is also free and includes a large support community, which will allow us to solve any doubt or problem quickly through the large number of help forums available on the Internet and even from Microsoft’s own website.
The worst option is found in Qt Creator. This application, which we can only use under subscription and whose price is close to 4,000 dollars for one year, is quite complete but it is not suitable for all those people who do not want or cannot pay to use a professional IDE.