"An integrated development environment (IDE) (sometimes known as an integrated design environment or integrated debugging environment) is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to programmers for software development.
"Many coders learn to code using a text editor but in time they move towards using an IDE as this type of software application makes the art of coding quicker and more efficient. For example, IDEs have semantic knowledge of the programming language which highlights coding problems while typing. Compiling is 'on the fly' and debugging is integrated.
"An IDE normally comprises a:
* Source code editor (essentially a text editor with additional features such as code completion, structural navigation, and syntax highlighting)
* Debugger
* Compiler and/or interpreter
* Build automation tools"
