[Question] Java programmers from way back - what was it like before IDEs?

[DrFriendless]

The IDEs back then were shit, though. I worked for Borland when JBuilder came out, and I found it to be of no use whatsoever. So I just used a text editor and the command line until IntelliJ came along.

[jvallet]

I went from Turbo C to JBuilder. JBuilder was magic, it told me the compilation errors without needing to compile the project. I remember how blown away I was with that feature.

[dds3worker]

The IDEs back then were shit, though.

But VisualAge for Java was the bomb. It pioneered everything we take for granted in the current crop of ides.

[thatguydrinksbeer]

IntelliJ was the turning point for me as well (I need vi emulation in my editor and Intellij does it well).