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Posted by Justin Koivisto on 10/25/05 00:54
Oli Filth wrote:
> Janwillem Borleffs said the following on 23/10/2005 17:06:
>
>> typingcat@gmail.com wrote:
>>
>>> So you don't use an IDE but just a text editor? Well, many computer
>>> gurus did like that in the past, but doesn't it take too much time for
>>> a novice like to remember all the members and functions or look them
>>> up in the manual? I think code completion and class view really helps
>>> people like me.
>>>
>> True, but OTOH, code completion makes people lazy. Text editors force
>> you to remember functions, which I think is a benefit.
>
> Are you serious?? ;)
>
> Where's the benefit in having to remember the exact syntax for
> hundreds/thousands of functions?
I for one have used a text editor for PHP coding for the better part of
5 years now. Recently, I started using Zend Studio. Sure all the code
completion and such is nice and *might* save you time when you are using
functions that aren't part of your daily routine, but if you have only
ever used IDEs and not memorized function names, syntax and return
cases, where would you be when you notice that something is very bad on
your site and you don't have access to your computer (or any computer)
with the IDE installed? I find that having had to memorize most of the
common functions and syntax has helped me tremendously for speed as well
as being able to handle a crisis if needed.
> That's just a massive pain in the arse, and surely must slow you down
> considerably, especially when you only find you made a mistake at
> run-time... You might as well be programming in assembler if you like it
> raw! :)
That's a stretch... it may be a pain for some, but anyone who started
programming C with vi knows what it is like. Assembler isn't even a
comparison to these top-level languages - especially when you're talking
perl and/or php where most of the function names document the code by
themselves...
> Admittedly, the benefit of class-views etc. must be somewhat limited for
> a dynamically-typed language like PHP. But in strongly-typed languages
> like C++, C# or Java that have *massive* APIs, intellisense and
> class-views etc. are an absolute god-send.
I find the class views (as in ZDE) to be great! I don't use them all the
time, but when I can look into one of my classes from long ago with a
class view and know exactly what type of value is returned without
searching the code itself... words can't explain.
That said, the decision to use an IDE or text editor for PHP completely
depends on the type of programmer you are. There are pros and cons for
both, and it is up to the developer to decide which route to go. I think
that this is a strength for languages like PHP 9or perl, c, Java, etc.)
- you don't have to have a specific IDE or route to develop your
application...
When's the last time you tried to create a VisualBasic project with a
text editor? How many times did you want to open a VB project in a text
editor to make a simple little change? Maybe not many in this group, but
I for one...
> IMO, being a good programmer is not about knowing the fine details of
> the language syntax; syntax is just a means to an end.
I wish I could remember who, but there was a quote that goes something
like: "Any monkey can be taught to learn a programming language - it's
just syntax. However, show me one monkey that has been taught
programming logic, and I'll give you a billion dollars."
--
Justin Koivisto, ZCE - justin@koivi.com
http://koivi.com
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