I'm looking to move beyond VBA for my job projects, but I'm struggling with where to actually write the code. I'm not a programmer by any means, and while I've had some success with basic VBA code in Excel, it has its limitations. I want to create my own desktop or web program but have no idea how to start. Do I need software to write the software? What programs or websites do I use for coding? Is Java just a language, or is it also an application? With my limited knowledge of VBA and a bit of tech familiarity, I'm really just looking for some starting points to dive into real programming.
4 Answers
You can write code in raw text files using basic text editors like Notepad. But your computer needs to know what language you're using, which is where a compiler or interpreter comes in. For example, Python code is executed with a Python interpreter, and C code gets compiled to become an executable.
In practice, most people use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like PyCharm for Python or Visual Studio for C/C++. IDEs provide a lot of helpful tools, including syntax highlighting and project organization, making the coding process easier.
Dang, thank you for such a thorough response!
In general, you'll use an IDE which makes coding much easier. IDEs come packed with features like syntax highlighting and debugging tools. I usually work with Microsoft Visual Studio. While you can code in simple text editors, it can get complicated, and IDEs will make life easier for beginners.
Thank you! Yeah, avoiding the notepad/text editor and command line route sounds ideal.
Most code is written in an IDE, which gives a user-friendly setup for writing and compiling code. For Python, I suggest trying PyCharm, and for C/C++, Visual Studio is great. There are many others out there, so Google can help you find the right one for your language!
Thank you! That gives me some places to start, which is so much more than I had before.
Typically, you’ll use a text editor like VSCode or an IDE like IntelliJ for Java. Java is a programming language, but you need an IDE to write in it. If you're looking to start programming with ease, I'd recommend checking out Python or JavaScript to see which one resonates with you.
Right on, thank you!
As archaic as it sounds about coding in a text file, it’s true! I worked for a company that had its own coding language in .txt files, similar to C. It was dated but effective!