Summary and Setup

This is a Byte-Sized RSE lesson on integrated development environments (IDEs), part of the Byte-Sized RSE Series.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

  • Explain different roles of IDEs in the software development process
  • List common features of IDEs and explain how they support efficient code writing, debugging, and software project management
  • Explain the importance of debugging and list common debugging techniques
  • Demonstrate how to use a debugger within an IDE like Visual Studio Code
  • Recognise the benefits of using an IDE for improving code quality, reducing errors, and accelerating software development

Setup

Prerequisite
  • Shell with Git version control tool installed
  • Ability to navigate filesystem and run commands from within a shell
  • Python version 3.8 or above installed
  • Understanding of Python syntax to be able to read and follow code examples
  • Visual Studio Code installed (ideally the latest version)

Shell with Git

On macOS and Linux, some version of a shell (e.g. bash) with Git will be available by default and no installation is needed.

If you do not have a bash shell installed on your system and require assistance with the installation, you can take a look at the instructions provided by Software Carpentry for installing shell and Git.

Python

Python version 3.8 or above is required. Type python -v at your shell prompt and press enter to see what version of Python is installed on your system. If you do not have Python installed on your system and require assistance with the installation, you can take a look at the instructions provided by Software Carpentry for installing Python in preparation for undertaking their Python lesson.

VS Code

The hands-on part of this topic will be conducted using Visual Studio Code (VS Code), a widely used IDE. Please download the appropriate version of Visual Studio Code for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and system architecture (e.g., 64-bit, ARM).