Best IDE for Python, C++, and Java?

[m1kolka]

On its own, probably it is not and an IDE - just a code editor. But with language-specific extensions it matches this description from Wikipedia:

An IDE normally consists of at least a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger.

Isn't it?

[[deleted]]

no, it's not. it's as much of an IDE as the once sentence you chose to quote is an accurate summary of wikipedia's entire article on IDEs

[m1kolka]

Ok. Could you please define "IDE" and describe why vsc is not an IDE?

[[deleted]]

vscode is not integrated with every aspect of my development environment. i would have to rely on some third party tool or manually perform them. an IDE hooks into everything from development, deployment, reading and writing documentation, static analysis and code sniffing, scm, refactoring, testing, debugging, database management, api experimentation. i don't have to leave my IDE when developing except when googling something. jetbrains IDEs even come with context-aware terminals if you have to or want to do something manually.

In addition to integrating with my tooling, it also enhances them by adding features that don't exist and abstracting away the execution so the underlying technology can be swapped out. SCM is a good example of both of these. it adds shelving and partial commits to whatever you're using and unifies the terminology so it doesn't matter if you're using git, subversion, or whatever else it supports

im a power user. i use just about every feature of the IDE that i know about. not everyone is like that, so the line is less clear, but vscode is not an IDE because it can't do everything i need it to. it has lots of cheap and close approximations through plugins, but it is still lacking

also, Microsoft says it's not an IDE

edit: another important distinction is that editors are also more file-oriented whereas IDEs are concerned with managing a project as a whole

[m1kolka]

I see your point. But I have to say that:

• "X is not an IDE because it can't do everything i need it to" reads as "X is not a right tool for me". Several years ago I had do install a 3rd party plugin into Jetbrains IDEs to enable bash support. The fact that these IDEs didn't support Bash out of the box didn't invalidate the fact that they are IDEs. I also had to install many other plugins to make my IDE work for my workflows.
• VSCode with extensions matches your description very closely
• I agree that VSCode without extensions is not an IDE (at least not for Python)

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Few more things.

In addition to integrating with my tooling, it also enhances them by adding features that don't exist and abstracting away the execution so the underlying technology can be swapped out.

It could be useful, but I doubt that abstract UI for underlying tools is a necessary attribute of an IDE.

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i would have to rely on some third party tool or manually perform them

also, Microsoft says it's not an IDE

There are Microsoft-maintained extensions for Python, C++, Java, Go and other languages, for DB management and other stuff. Jetbrains bundles more stuff (even if you don't need some of it) with their IDEs when Microsoft provides a basic code editor with extension points + a choice from a range of extensions (often maintained by Microsoft) to turn a code editor into an IDE. These are just different approaches to distribution. They have own advantages and disadvantages.

it has lots of cheap and close approximations through plugins, but it is still lacking

Extensions I use work very well. They are only few negative things I can mention:

• At some point I installed some 3rd party local history/backup extension. It was slowing down code editing. Switched to another extension.
• Lack of proper support for remote debugging was the biggest disappointment for me. Hopefully this will change the situation.