Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Software

The benefits of integrated development environment software

• Streamlines development setup: Typically, programmers and developers spend an ample amount of time configuring tools to set up a development environment.  With an integrated development environment platform, teams can access development tools such as debuggers and code editors in one centralized location, streamlining the setup of software development initiatives.

• Accelerates task completion: IDE platforms enable programming and development teams to complete development tasks on time. Instead of having to switch between various programs to debug software or check code syntax, users can access debugging, code editing, data modeling, and deployment management features on one easy-to-use graphical user interface. These tools and features help programmers and developers organize resources, identify and address errors, and implement code more efficiently.

• Enhances workflow standardization: With integrated development environment software, programming teams can work within the same development environment to create, edit, and implement source code. When users operate in the same environment, it's easier for them to adhere to a standard way of developing software rather than developing code individually and merging their efforts later on. Some IDE solutions even offer predefined templates or code libraries that can be shared among team members to support standardization when coding.

Typical features of integrated development environment software

• Debugging: Detects and removes any new or existing errors from software code. Prevents a software system from operating incorrectly.

• Graphical user interface (GUI): Allows users to interact with the IDE software using visual indicators such as menus, tabs, windows, buttons, and user controls.

• Code development: Enables developers to create code from scratch and maintain computer programs by arranging, optimizing, and running tests on the existing source code.

• Code editing: Simplifies and streamlines code writing with features such as syntax highlighting, indentation, and brace matching.

• Data modeling: Creates a visual representation of connections between data points. Illustrates the types of data used and stored within a computer system, the relationships between data types, and the different ways data can be grouped and organized.

• Deployment management: Helps users plan, schedule, and control the creation, testing, and deployment of system releases. Assists users with the assembly and implementation of new or altered computer applications.

The cost of integrated development environment software

Most products in this market are priced monthly and billed annually. Pricing can be divided into three pricing tiers based on the starting prices:

Price ranges*:

• $15 - $59

• $59 - $199

• $199+

*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest-priced offering found on vendor websites on June 22, 2022. These ranges correspond to the 25th, 75th, and 100th percentiles of pricing information gathered from vendor websites of sample products.

Considerations when purchasing integrated development environment software

• Cost: When evaluating integrated development environments, be sure to consider your company budget. Some open-source IDE solutions are free to access, but these platforms may not offer the tools your programming team needs to streamline software development initiatives. Paid IDE solutions will typically offer packages that include a multitude of features, including code creation, editing, and implementation. Ask your software vendor if they offer a free trial of their paid IDE platform so that your team can determine if it will streamline their daily software development tasks.

• Performance speed: IDE programs with a large number of plug-ins may experience crashes or other performance issues, especially on a system without sufficient RAM. When looking to purchase IDE software from a vendor, be sure to look at recent user reviews to determine if it is capable of performing at an optimal level without impacting system performance.

• Cross-platform and multi-language support: Some IDEs support more than one programming language and development platform. With the growing popularity of mobile apps, you might want to look for an IDE solution that enables cross-platform support across various operating systems. A broad array of support for programming languages also enhances the software's ability to meet your development needs.

Sources

Products evaluated for the pricing calculation were taken from Capterra's integrated development environment (IDE) software directory, sorted by number of reviews. The pricing ranges exclude freemium versions of the products. The features highlighted were identified based on their relevance and the percentage of products in Capterra's directory that offer them.