What is your single favorite development tool?
Downvoting because this is a duplicate answer.
user9876
2009-08-21 12:56:01
Not sure about kicking babies as such, however I can not deny that I use this extensively, the ability to customise it and set it apply lanaguage rules for custom extensions is very good indeed. Darknight
Darknight
2009-08-20 16:09:55
if it were just a weeeee bit more powerful(or easy to extend) I'd be tempted to drop VS for Notepad++, and I love VS.
LoveMeSomeCode
2009-08-20 16:45:40
Just a reminder for people to also consider voting for Resharper since Resharper makes a huge difference to the usefulness of Visual Studio.
mezoid
2009-11-25 02:55:33
I've tried it, I can't really say I like it that much compared to Eclipse, maybe Resharper changes things, it's like a heavy weight notepad...
Jon
2010-06-29 16:12:55
Really? >100 votes for Visual Studio but <40 for ReSharper? You people aren't scrolling down far enough! Visual Studio = OK. Visual Studio + ReSharper = ha-ha-heaven! Or, lol, Visual Studio + ReSharper = Just about any Java IDE out of the box!
Paul Sasik
2009-09-01 23:19:58
One could also ask: 39 votes for ReSharper and just three for CodeRush? I use CodeRush, and like to think of it as ReSharper-without-the-ugly.
Kyralessa
2010-01-02 21:27:19
I'm starting to think I'm the only developer that doesn't like Resharper. Sure it has lots of functionality, but it also really gets in the way, clashes with my keybindings and at times makes VS unresponsive.
Matt Greer
2010-06-17 22:38:39
Well, I agree that the performance could be better. I usually end up having Resharper disabled on startup and enable it when needed (could also be done via a macro command).
petr k.
2010-06-18 09:35:34
+1
A:
Kate, which I now use on both Linux and Windows and used on my Mac, when I still had one.
ironfroggy
2008-09-20 16:30:37
+3
A:
- VS 2005 for C#
- NotePad++ for short modification of XML
- VB6 for Visual Basic (old time but was amazed for the time)
- NotePad++ for PHP/Html/CSS
- Eclipse for Java
- Adobe Flash CS3 for ActionScript
Daok
2008-09-20 16:31:26
You will not make friends among the tea-only people by making coffee in the teapot.
Steve Jessop
2008-09-21 02:03:32
Would the vending machine that dispenses cans of caffeinated beverage for a small fee count here?
David Thornley
2009-11-25 16:14:59
Coffee is too much like a religion. There's the different denominations with crusty names (espresso, etc), the rituals around "brewing it" yourself - kinda like rolling your own - and then what additives you choose. And there are the false prophets who try to get you to drink tea...
phkahler
2010-09-08 11:22:06
+1, I appreciate the link... for esoteric historical reasons if nothing else.
ceretullis
2008-09-30 03:20:33
+92
A:
Subversion
Being able to make changes to your code and revert them, or to be able to merge your changes painlessly with your co-workers, is worth its weight in gold. Also, you're backing up your code, which is nice when your computer goes all smokey.
John Fiala
2008-09-20 16:34:02
A version control system, definitely. But why subversion? In my experience with it, SVN makes merging, branching, reverting and stashing changes for later use, far more painful than `git` does.
mcv
2010-09-28 11:40:44
Because at the time I hadn't done any work with git or any of the other dvcs systems.
John Fiala
2010-09-28 18:48:43
Possibly you need a quiet office - using headphones cuts creativity. Have a look at the "furniture police" chapter in "Peopleware"
MarkJ
2009-03-22 12:24:05
The last place I worked at, I had to buy noise canceling headphones. The one PM who would call someone 20 steps away on speakphone resulting in those annoying echos just drove me crazy.
Martin
2009-08-20 16:04:29
@MarkJ A quiet office would be better, but many of us don't have those unfortunately. In such cases, a pair of good headphones or, in my case, a pair of sound blocking earbuds is helpful for not going insane.
docgnome
2010-01-07 16:34:30
To be fair, TOAD is only good because there's nothing better. It's not at all user-friendly, screen layout is a mess, simple tasks require an abundance of steps, and the debugger is very unreliable.
Joeri Sebrechts
2008-10-09 11:00:48
SQL Developer is a really good tool to replace TOAD. Not all the functionalities are present in SQLDeveloper but it is a real good tool...
romaintaz
2009-08-20 15:43:34
+3
A:
Textmate for coding, git for its wonderful branching and (especially) easy merging, and Google for when I need to track down example code.
Bill Turner
2008-09-20 17:16:42
A:
- Visual Studio 2005 and Resharper 4.0 - when I can use it
- SQL Server management studio with RedGate SQL Prompt - for T-SQL
- Notepad2 - for everything else
RS999
2008-09-20 17:22:41
A:
For .NET development: Visual Studio.
For Java: NetBeans.
For general development: good music.
Stephen MacDougall
2008-09-20 17:43:27
+1
A:
Visual Studio 2008 TeamSystem with Resharper, GhostDoc and Reflector. This is actually all I need :)
MADMap
2008-09-20 18:02:42
If you like vc-git, you should check out magit (http://zagadka.vm.bytemark.co.uk/magit/). It's far nicer.
docgnome
2010-01-07 16:30:13
+7
A:
Visual Assist X ... why hasn't anyone mentioned this yet? It's a wonderful "can't do without" tool.
steffenj
2008-09-20 18:56:27
Regarding padding: you can make it a (hyper-)link, e.g. to a Wikipedia article that explains what it is to those that don't know already.
Peter Mortensen
2009-08-20 16:02:37
+3
A:
Visual Studio 2008! For all the bitching (some) people do about Microsoft, I don't think they can honestly argue that the company hasn't produced some great (and affordable) development tools.
Scott
2008-09-20 19:19:01
The question is whether they're better than vim/g++/gdb/gprof. VS 2008 is very nice for C# development, a lot clunkier for C++.
David Thornley
2009-11-25 16:16:28
+3
A:
It's an incredibly powerful add-in for VS that speeds development.
Doug L.
2008-09-20 19:21:59
Textmate is even better with the plug-in ProjectPlus (http://ciaranwal.sh/2008/08/05/textmate-plug-in-projectplus)
Jason
2009-08-21 13:23:11
I wouldn't have a job if it weren't for this exact trifecta of awesomeness
LoveMeSomeCode
2009-08-20 16:47:38
Whats funny is that while MSDN is such a great source of info, Google is the best way to search MSDN. Though MSDN's search has improved recently.
Neil N
2009-11-25 15:39:53
A:
Other than a compiler, I'd have a hard time without Toad for Oracle.
JosephStyons
2008-09-20 20:14:53
+8
A:
Firebug - the all-in-one JS debugger (and profiler), CSS analyzer (and inspector), DOM inspector (and manipulator), and more for Firefox.
You can guess that my job involves front end work for websites, can't you?
David Dorward
2008-09-20 20:15:38
+2
A:
Notepad++; it's just an editor, but I use it so much that I think losing it would have the biggest impact.
conmulligan
2008-09-20 20:16:46
+13
A:
I'm going to have to say Subversion again, although I really mean just about any revision control system. It's great to be able to try experiments and know that you can always go back to what worked before, or to reclaim a bit of code that was accidentally deleted three days ago.
John Fiala
2008-09-20 20:18:55
+6
A:
Your question registered in my brain as "What's your favorite editor?" I have to answer Emacs.
lindelof
2008-09-20 20:33:34
+2
A:
Coffee, all ten of my fingers, and for the severe jam-ups, google & the internet, cause chances are someone else out there ran into the same wall you did
curtisk
2008-09-20 20:35:32
A:
Probably my text editor... (that's SciTE). I can use another, of course, but I always pester not to have my favorite shortcuts.
PhiLho
2008-09-20 20:49:28
+4
A:
eclipse (or: my IDE). I'd get totally nuts programming Java without an IDE.
p3t0r
2008-09-20 21:01:32
+1 for IDE, -1 for java. I'd get totally nuts programming Java, period.
Tor Valamo
2010-01-01 23:27:45
+5
A:
IntelliJ IDEA
I wouldn't be "lost" without it, but I would surely be very grumpy in its absence.
Ryan Delucchi
2008-09-20 21:03:41
Strange to see such a low ranking here, it's simply the best IDE I've ever used for any language :)
Nikita Rybak
2010-08-10 22:49:51
A:
I dont think there is any one I couldn't live without, or be lost without, as there is a replacement of some sort for pretty much everything. Obviously some are better than others. If i had to answer the question as what would pain me the most to live without, it would be...
VS.NET IDE and Resharper.
I consider them almost a package as one since they integrate so well.
mattlant
2008-09-20 21:07:58
A:
I think it depends on the language you're using. Though, language independent tools such as Google are extremely valuable. Another excellent resource is a site like this :)
daniel
2008-09-20 21:31:16
+2
A:
In no particular order, Emacs, Git, grep, and Firebug when I'm doing web dev.
docgnome
2008-09-20 21:46:22
+1
A:
WinDbg. Debugging, tracking down memory leaks (wherever they may lie), crash dumps... this is the development that I do most and that is the tool that I use most.
DocMax
2008-09-21 00:15:18
+1
A:
GNU Coreutils. I think this is what people who said "bash" actually mean.
And no, BSD userland is not a substitute.
sanxiyn
2008-09-21 05:07:40
A:
My favorite editor SXEmacs (http://www.sxemacs.org), but I extend this to any Emacsen.
njsf
2008-09-21 05:18:48
A:
I use the heck out of HTML-Kit (http://www.htmlkit.com/) which is a Windows based HTML Editor that allows the use of plug-ins to make use of language specific templating and help files.
It also integrates nicely with external help such as the PHP online help.
Bob Minteer
2008-09-21 05:28:26
+3
A:
Actually, it can't be one.
For Java development:
- Eclipse (or VS on Windows for MS technologies)
- FindBugs (A lint-like tool is what I mean here)
- An Eclipse plugin for your source control
- UNIX utils such as grep, find, ps, etc. while debugging outside IDE (Cygwin)
- ANT for automating the builds
- Testing frameworks such as TestNG or JUnit (or nUnit)
But if I have to choose only 1, then Eclipse :)
artknish
2008-10-05 13:38:29
+76
A:
Firebug. Doing web development without it is like typing with one hand instead of two.
Joeri Sebrechts
2008-10-09 11:02:01
I love cross-browser web development. You need firebug, IE developer tools and probably Chrome developer tools all open at the same time.
Duracell
2010-06-07 04:51:52
+1
A:
This lets you easily run (and debug) single NUnit tests from the IDE.
RickL
2008-10-23 13:46:41
Definately. It helps you break down the problem. If used correctly, it saves you alot of time and stress.
2009-03-14 20:52:28
+1 It's kinda strange, often I can solve on paper what I can't solve using the most sophisticated tools, even if I only write down the code on a piece of paper.
Helper Method
2010-07-08 10:06:47
I agree. I've gotten so used to how CodeRush works, other plugins feel awkward to me. I especially like the arrows that show you where end of statements go, such as breaks, continue, etc. The refactoring support is second to none.
Bryce Fischer
2008-10-23 15:26:40
+9
A:
Subversion. Even if you're a solo programmer, version control is a vital tool. And WinZip is not a version control system. :-)
SarekOfVulcan
2008-10-23 13:52:11
SVN itself can be a bit awkward at times, but a VCS is pretty much a must-have.
Ed Woodcock
2010-05-06 11:06:39
+8
A:
ReSharper is my #1 choice as well. This tool has so many time savers that I just can't code without it.
I would say #2 would be Reflector. This has given me a greater understanding of third party type systems including those in the .Net Framework.
SaaS Developer
2008-10-23 13:52:16
+10
A:
Experience and knowledge. Seriously, tools can be immensely valuable to a skilled programmer. But despite all the marketing claims, the tool that can make up for a basic lack of skills hasn't been invented yet.
Sherm Pendley
2008-10-23 13:53:01
+1
A:
TestDriven.NET, ReSharper. You know, the usual suspects.
One tool, though, that I really like is VisualSVN. Being able to use Subversion from the IDE and letting it handle all the redundant tasks (such as adding, renaming, etc..) is really valuable. Zero friction. Is it most valuable? Not sure.
Shane Bauer
2008-10-23 13:53:16
+4
A:
My tops are Google (including MSDN and the MSDN's of each language like php.net) and a great IDE (like Visual Studio).
Tom Ritter
2008-10-23 13:54:07
+1
A:
VIM, definitely.
With freely available, or custom-written plugins it get's all the features of the big IDEs with none of the slowness and bloat.
And it is cross-platform and can be used to develop with any language.
Features
Refactoring: Bicycle Repair Man (bike.vim), Rope (rope.vim)
Autocompletion: Omnicomplete, Supertab.vim
Anything Else: Python bindings
Paul D. Eden
2008-10-23 13:55:59
A:
Any modern IDE. Where would I be without one? Not sure I'd even remember System.out.print()...
Ace
2008-10-23 13:56:32
Plus 1. IDEs like Eclipse hold great value when working on large systems.
Satish Motwani
2008-10-23 14:26:27
+1
A:
I don't think the value is always just in the tool. Rather I think the value is using the tools to their fullest capabilities.
You have found value in Resharper, other may not see that same value, until they understand what it is capable of.
I personally have found value in the DevExpress Addins (already mentioned), as well as the DPack Addin. Those two help enhance my effectiveness in VS.
I have taken the time, and continue to take time to learn new/interesting ways of using them.
Brian Schmitt
2008-10-23 13:56:33
+7
A:
For me, it would be Emacs.
Even when I'm using VisualStudio for compiling, Emacs is my editor, and I spend nearly all day in there.
T.E.D.
2008-10-23 13:56:39
+26
A:
Rubber duck.
"Place a rubber duck on your monitor and describe your problems to it. There’s something magical about stating your problems aloud that makes the solution more clear." -- from the Pragmatic Programmer
Maglob
2008-10-23 13:57:39
Only works for Linux programmers. Otherwise you get the silent treatment :)
Roger Lipscombe
2008-10-23 14:39:35
Also referred to in some really old-school software engineering literature as a "nodding teddy".
Stewart Johnson
2008-10-23 14:44:02
A:
I am going to have to go with my computer on this one.
After that, and on a more serious note, I'd have to say the community we work in. I know I couldn't get much done without other smart, inventive, saavy, and helpful people to bounce ideas off.
Instantsoup
2008-10-23 13:58:07
+5
A:
GIT.
Git adds all the features I need and can interact easily with svn (git-svn).
Paul D. Eden
2008-10-23 13:59:15
+2
A:
Despite the advances in high level languages, we still manually string code together line by line. Resharper definitely helps automate that process.
Reflector is more of a knowledge tool, and I only crack it open when I want insights to debugging.
I often encourage colleagues to think in Notepad++, and spell out there thoughts without having to be bound to namespaces, references, etc.
bryanbcook
2008-10-23 13:59:36
A:
Technically, tools that cost money should not be considered as answers. You can't beat the infinite value of free tools.
Dan Goldstein
2008-10-23 14:23:11
All tools cost time. Time is money (unless you're a student). Therefore even free tools have indirect monetary costs. Free tools therefore don't have infinite value.
Roger Lipscombe
2008-10-23 14:41:42
+1
A:
A debugger with the ability(when a break is sent) to view the values of variables/pointers and that can print out the call stack.
If I can view the value of a function and how the program got into the scope it did, I can debug pretty much anything with some time and patience.
Paul Nathan
2008-10-23 14:25:05
+6
A:
Headphones and gangster rap.
I don't even listen to rap when I'm not programming...maybe it's the "violence" in the lyrics or the bass keeping me on track, but it seems to heighten the senses and I swear I make less mistakes when I'm listening to old-school Tupac or Eazy-E.
I know it's not normal, but try it.
BKimmel
2008-10-23 14:34:40
+6
A:
Another pair of eyes...
Getting someone else to look at your code - whether it is to break a blocking issue you have with what you are developing or doing a code-review before a critical check-in, other peoples' input into your thought process can be invaluable.
Gordon Mackie JoanMiro
2008-10-23 14:48:27
A:
Visual Studio by far. It works, bottom line. I've used a gawd awful amount of IDEs for different languages, platforms, etc before, but nothing puts everything so nicely into one package -- yet simple.
It's like a car, you can have all the bling on the outside, or you can have it under the hood. Visual Studio puts it all where it matters, under the hood -- where you can tweak it and have it do what you want it to do, and its not just some shotty thing that looks cool.
MunkiPhD
2008-10-23 15:10:24
A:
I tried Resharper, but found it a little odd. I guess I have gotten used to Code Rush and the way it does things.
NUnit and Rhino Mocks for me
Bryce Fischer
2008-10-23 15:24:56
A:
Resharper is also my #1. I also couldn't get by without TestDriven.NET. SlickEdit's free SlickEdit Gadgets for Visual Studio also adds some nice formatting options.
Source control is a must. I use SVN on a Linux server, but if you have a Windows server, check out the free VisualSVN Server and buy the VisualSVN source control plugin for Visual Studio.
Rob Prouse
2008-10-23 15:25:00
+1
A:
Visual Assist anyone?
I would have picked source control first but that's already been mentioned.
steffenj
2008-10-23 15:35:54
+1
A:
A white board - I am such a visual thinker that I have to draw everything. I prefer a white board because I can share with many people, quickly erase and redraw, and even leave it on my wall for a while as a reminder.
Chris Boran
2008-10-23 16:13:39
A:
Notepad++ - advanced free text
editor with lots of functionality;
VisualSVN Server as SVN server
RapidSVN as SVN client;
DebugView for capturing System.Diagnostics output.
Reflector for inspecting managed libraries/applications.
Intellij IDEA and Eclipse as IDEs for Java;
For the moment, I think R# is really slowing down Visual Studio, will not use it for the moment.
And finally Visual Studio 2008 SP1. Could not live without it.
Drakiula
2008-10-24 07:35:17
+3
A:
Coffee. And I'm dead serious when I say this - a walk down to the breakroom for a cup of coffee provides me enough time to get away from my desk and muse over any problems I might be running into.
Lieutenant Frost
2008-10-27 20:10:09
A:
Instead of using VS.NET for testing some pieces of code Snippet Compiler is the best http://tech.wowkhmer.com/post/2008/10/29/Compile-and-Test-NET-Code-Snippet-Without-Saving.aspx
neither, this gets difficult to answer, it known in neuroscience as the mind/body problem. We still have no answers
Darknight
2009-08-20 16:12:37
A:
Favorite development tool?
- VS2008 for C#
- Subversion through AnkhSVN and TortoiseSVN (I just can't live without them)
Nelson Reis
2008-11-04 01:07:05
I've encountered issues with AnkhSVN crashing VS2008 on occasion, so moved to VisualSVN.
Richard Ev
2010-01-07 13:53:25
@Richard I also had an issue with AnkhSVN, but only once. I sent them an email with the problem. They fixed it in 2 days!
Nelson Reis
2010-01-08 11:33:46
+15
A:
So many features, exactly where I expect them to be -- and I'm always discovering more new and useful features.
David
2008-11-04 01:09:34
Why would someone mod this down without providing an insightful comment why?
David
2008-11-11 21:02:10
Too heavyweight for me, Code::Blocks (for C++ dev) is just so awesome, it takes as much or as little control of your code as you want it to. You know when you remove a file from an Eclipse project it actually DELETES the physical file! I didn't :(Btw I did not mod you down.
Adam
2009-01-10 02:25:04
For light day to day stuff I use notepad++, but when I'm working on a big project, Eclipse is the best. I don't care if it takes a while to start, the wait is worth it.
Marius
2009-08-20 15:36:23
+3
A:
A whiteboard and a few markers are the best tool when coding. It is invaluable for figuring out flow and structure and relaying those ideas to co-workers.
Jon
2008-11-11 17:25:37
+5
A:
I'm a web app developer, and my favourite tools are:
Editors:
- Eclipse with PHP Development Tools at work on Linux
- Textpad at home on Windows
Database:
Souce Control:
- Subversion, all the way
Testing:
But my top favourite dev tool has to be Firefox with a few addons:
Taeram
2008-11-17 17:57:28
Definitely. YSlow and Page Speed are on the list as well, but they're more of a "once and a while" app, versus the others, which get constant use.
Taeram
2010-01-21 19:11:42
A:
1) Google Code Search (saves me unbelievable amounts of time)
2) ThinkingRock (http://www.thinkingrock.com.au/). It's a free tool that allows me to create my todo lists using the GTD ('Getting Things Done') system. Initially I thought it was overkill (compared to my trusty paper and pencil) but I've kinda gotten used to the system forcing me to think through my task rather than just taking a crack at some random task that's been floating around in my head.
3) GOOD sleep. I've often been stumped by design decisions and slept on them only to wake up with the "Oh that's just so obvious" thought.
+1
A:
Geany I think. I use it to write my code, to think my code and I use is interface to compile my code. So what can I want more?
I Love geany. I'm surprised to see that many others use it too. I even use it on Windoze, it has only very minor issues there (all because of GTK). Simple is best.
Matt Joiner
2010-07-08 10:14:29
+2
A:
My state of the art quad core computer with dual monitors.
ProGuard Java code obfuscator/shrinker.
Shameless self plug: I also find my own RefactorBuddy invaluable.
Software Monkey
2008-11-30 04:59:27
One of the best, most versatile compilers, and one of the best "flagship" of the FSF.
LiraNuna
2010-01-02 21:31:55
A:
Adam
2009-01-10 02:22:13
+19
A:
Keyboard.
Seriously! Development software which makes me keep reaching for the mouse is a productivity haemorrhage.
MandyK
2009-01-10 02:44:22
+2
A:
My coffee machine. Without it, my mind doesn't work.
In all seriousness, my single favorite development tool is my mind. I can develop software using a plain text editor and a compiler. It might suck, but I can. But I can't develop software without the ability to think, and think clearly.
Mike Hofer
2009-01-10 02:47:57
A door that can be locked combined with a phone that can be switched off are the best productivity tools of them all.
Simon Righarts
2009-11-25 01:41:03
Ditto, I loathe cubicles. I'd give up a percentage of my salary if it meant I would have my own office (with a door). I wouldn't even care if the walls were transparent as long as I were able to close the door to get some work done.
Miguel Sevilla
2010-05-02 23:33:33
A:
The Apple Developer performance tools such as Shark, Instruments, etc. Incredible tools.
Wade Williams
2009-08-20 15:41:07
+4
A:
You can knock out screen layouts so quickly that you can get an idea of how a month's worth of coding will look an afternoon and find mistakes before you spend hours developing them.
Dave Webb
2009-08-20 15:53:35
+1 For a site full of people who sit for a living, I'd think there would be more votes for a good chair!
Seth
2010-01-05 07:52:04
A:
ViEmu for me. Combined with Resharper and Visual Studio, it's incredible.
aehiilrs
2009-08-20 16:05:51
+1
A:
MS Access: does everything quickly, and allows easy migration to a more powerfull back-end if required.
iDevlop
2009-08-20 16:07:40
+11
A:
Multi-monitors... or a really high-res monitor.
It's so hard to develop with limited screen space.
zimmer62
2009-08-20 16:08:00
A:
absolutely eclipse is my favorioute development tool.it has the best plugin support ide within ide's i used before(visual studio,kdevelop,anjuta,vim,emacs,.if you look at yoxos site you can have idea about plugins.but other IDEs have good features too if i make sorting
- eclipse
- visual studio
- kdevelop
- anjuta
- emacs(actually emacs could be in higher place but i am not good at using it efficiently)
- vim
Burak Dede
2009-08-21 12:52:38
A:
- a good editor e.g. Emacs
- some tools like gcc (or java or ...) which work well with emacs
- a lot of good coffee
and depending on the work some good music to hold the noise on a low level
BtD
2009-08-21 13:24:13
A:
Omnifocus - I wouldn't know how to manage bugs fixes and slate them for releases without it.
scottschulthess
2009-11-25 15:33:28
+1
A:
A Kinesys split keyboard and handshake mouse. I quite literally can't do sustained work without something to help my wrists.
A close second is a second monitor. I can use textpad, Eclipse, VS.NET, Netbeans, or any other IDE, but without two monitors, I'm slower.
Dean J
2009-11-25 15:35:17
+1
A:
My hands! Seriously, if there was a mind-reader that can read my thoughts on code then I'm all for it, until then we have to stick with the old fashioned method!!! :)
tommieb75
2009-11-25 15:45:17
A:
RockScroll for VisualStudio. Ok so it's a plugin but it's so simple and is such a boost.
Tom
2009-11-25 15:46:34
A:
For a serious project, I need a comfortable work environment. Is that a tool? OK, then consider the tools required to create an environment free from freezing drafts, blasts of hot air, and ear-splitting noise. The single most important tool is a proper enclosure - a building. Even on the nicest day, I could only work outside for a short period.
In case the question was referring to software tools, I would have to say some sort of IDE like XCode. Again, this is for a serious project. The most important aspect of the IDE is the ease of access to a comprehensive set of libraries and documentation. XCode is somewhat lacking in the documentation department, but it's usable. Anything less would be impossible.
gary
2010-01-01 23:23:59
+2
A:
Marijuana.
The best way for me to focus is to turn off all the damn chatter.
Milan Ramaiya
2010-01-02 21:23:25
+1
A:
My fingers. I have learned to type up to 120wpm with 100% accuracy because of programming, and with that I can make well written, fully documented code quickly.
John
2010-01-02 21:30:18
+7
A:
A boss who:
- is responsive
- doesn't mind answering questions
- doesn't mind repeating himself, especially to someone who's new and still learning the business
- is clear about his expectations
In my current job I have my own office, with a door that closes, a fast laptop, two monitors, and a reasonably comfortable chair. But I don't have a boss that fits the description above.
I wouldn't have guessed what a productivity hit it is until working under these conditions.
It only took a few snide repetitions of "As I already told you..." before I decided that, since apparently I don't have photographic recollection of what I've already asked him and what I haven't, and since apparently it's a really big deal to ask something twice, I should quit asking questions at all.
Kyralessa
2010-01-02 21:35:03
agreed......you can have the best tools, best team, but a good boss, really helps you grow as a person and as a programmer.
crosenblum
2010-01-05 06:25:06
If you can capture it in, e.g., searchable emails or IM logs, you won't have to keep asking questions; both your productivity and your boss's's's will increase. But this is still a good answer. Patient, helpful bosses and coworkers boost productivity. +1!
apollodude217
2010-06-07 16:19:43
I prefer working for a leader vs a manager. Interestingly, leaders know what that means and managers don't :-)
phkahler
2010-09-08 11:27:58
A:
Eclipse IDE (and its multitudinous plug-ins) - does that count as just one tool?
Mawg
2010-01-07 13:46:15
A:
Maybe not my most used, but when I need it, it's a life saver - DDD http://www.gnu.org/software/ddd/all.png
Look at that picture in the top pane. DDD is indispensable when you have complex strcutres with lots of pointers, lists, etc ...
a picture is worth a thousand curses!
Mawg
2010-01-07 13:48:35
+1
A:
In a .NET environment, the winning trio is:
Visual Studio + Reflector + NDepend
NDepend is integrated in Visual Studio and Reflector, and Reflector integrates with Visual Studio.
vaucouleur
2010-05-06 10:59:25
+1
A:
A powerful tool like NDepend that allows you in a few clicks to visualize the structure of your code. This kind of tool quickly become necessary when the size of your code base is growing.
vaucouleur
2010-05-06 11:04:09
A:
The compiler for your language? Everybody forgets this bit of technology, and yet it is both a spectacular bit of engineering and allows you to completely avoid write assembler code.
Ira Baxter
2010-07-08 10:03:48
+1
A:
Beer.
Beer helps slow me down. I don't get carried away with perfection, and my mind doesn't race. When the project is working satisfactorily, I can stop thinking about coding, and come back another day with a fresh mind for the next development iteration.
Matt Joiner
2010-07-08 10:13:04
You mean, in addition to the version control which the team already uses (that could be git already, of course)?
Thilo
2010-08-09 01:32:36
A:
I also use eclipse, but the more i use eclipse, the more I appreciate the elegance of IntelliJ.
Gary
2010-08-08 23:47:12
If the project-specific IDE is Eclipse, they won't be to happy with you using something else...
Thilo
2010-08-09 01:31:36
A:
I find Object Dock to be very useful for my work PC but I don't use it on my own windows machine. Somehow being able to drag and drop any file onto notepad or winzip is very essential.
Zombies
2010-08-08 23:58:54
A:
The objective is to finish faster.
Visual Studio and JDeveloper for Desktop EXE
Ruby On Rails for websites
Microsoft Access is fast too.
That's all! Thank you.
land rover
2010-09-08 10:48:33
A:
For webdev Coda on OS X. For 'proper' .Net dev Visual Studio 2010 + MSDN For 'proper' Java dev Eclipse.
5arx
2010-09-16 08:03:11
A:
Visual Studio 2010 with Resharper 5.0
Can't have one without the other!!
Sean Kearon
2010-09-28 11:29:31
+1
A:
For .NET development LINQPad is indispensable.
Test your .NET code before answering a Stack Overflow question. (That is just one use.)
Martin Liversage
2010-09-28 11:37:29
A:
Erm... My brain. And the brains of my colleagues and ex- and current co-workers ;)
5arx
2010-10-15 11:50:50