Top 10 IDE Software

Important news about IDE Software

2024. ChatGPT launches new Canvas interface for coding projects



OpenAI has introduced a new method to interact with ChatGPT - an interface it calls “canvas.” The product opens a separate window, next to the regular chat window, with a workspace for coding projects. Users can create code directly in the canvas, then highlight sections of the work to have the model modify. Canvas will be available for ChatGPT Plus and Teams members. The new interface offers comparable features to Anthropic’s Artifacts, launched in June and the viral coding companion, Cursor. OpenAI is racing to match competitor offerings and release entirely new capabilities in ChatGPT, as a way to grow its paid user base.


2020. Microsoft’s Visual Studio Online code editor is now Visual Studio Codespaces and gets a price drop



Roughly a year ago—give or take a few galactic spin cycles—Microsoft, in its infinite wisdom and fondness for throwing curveballs at the software universe, unleashed Visual Studio Online, a cunningly crafted online code editor spun from the glittering code-strands of the well-loved Visual Studio Code project. Imagine, if you will, a fully operational code editor and hosted environment, not chained to your hardware but frolicking freely in the cloud, accessible right from your browser. Today, with a flourish befitting an interstellar empire, Microsoft has rebranded this service as Visual Studio Codespaces, slashing its prices by over 50% and introducing delightfully modest virtual machines starting at a mere $0.08 per hour—presumably so even impoverished galactic hitchhikers can afford to run it.

2020. DevOps startup Datree raises $8M



Datree, the early-stage startup developing a DevOps policy engine on GitHub, announced an $8 million Series A. The company discovered that while scanning code for problems was something DevOps teams appreciated, they needed assistance in defining the rules. So Datree has created a collection of rule packages that you can apply to the code to identify any gaps or issues. It develops these rule packages based on the company’s own expertise, as well as input from the community and in some instances, collaboration with specialists. For its Docker security package, it partnered with Aqua Security.


2015. Android Studio 2.0 features Instant Run



Google introduced version 2.0 of its Android Studio integrated development environment (IDE) for creating apps for its mobile operating system. It is now twice as fast as previous versions. This is a significant improvement, but developers will likely find the new feature called “Instant Run” even more valuable. This feature nearly replicates the experience of coding in HTML, where you write your code, refresh your browser and observe the changes. On mobile, this process usually takes considerably longer, even with faster build speeds. Instant Run allows developers to build and deploy their apps once (either to the emulator or a physical device) and then as they modify their code and redeploy, they will see those changes in the running app almost instantly. This feature is compatible with all apps targeting Ice Cream Sandwich and later.


2015. IBM acquired Node.js API development platform StrongLoop



IBM has acquired StrongLoop, a startup that develops application development software for businesses using the open-source JavaScript programming language Node.js. This, in turn, allows businesses to create mobile and cloud-based applications equipped with APIs to integrate with each other and manage large volumes of data across mobile, web and Internet-of-Things apps. IBM states it will be incorporating StrongLoop’s Node.js capabilities into its broader software portfolio to complement MobileFirst and WebSphere. The primary advantage of integrating a Node.js development framework is to meet the demand from businesses seeking to create apps with APIs that can manage substantial amounts of data and also connect on the back-end with other enterprise systems.


2015. Microsoft launched Visual Studio 2015



Microsoft officially released the latest edition of the Visual Studio integrated development environment (IDE) along with an update to its .NET framework. Visual Studio 2015 (VS 2015) is now available for download (and purchase). Microsoft also announced several new download figures for various tools within the Visual Studio ecosystem. For instance, Visual Studio Community, the significantly enhanced free version of the software for non-enterprise users, has now been downloaded 5 million times since its release seven months ago. Over 3.2 million developers have registered for the Visual Studio Online services. Visual Studio Code, the standalone code editor for Windows, Mac and Linux, has reached half a million downloads since its debut three months ago. More than half of those downloads came from Mac and Linux users. Additionally, Visual Studio now includes Apache Cordova, enabling developers to build iOS and Android apps using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.


2015. Microsoft Visual Studio will allow to transform Android and iOS apps to Windows apps



Microsoft, which is facing a persistent shortage of applications on its Windows Phone and Windows 8.x platforms, announced that developers will be able to more easily adapt their Android applications for Windows devices. The company stated that developers will be able to “reuse almost all the Java and C++ code from an Android phone app to create apps for phones running Windows 10.” Developers will also be able to repurpose their Objective-C apps for iOS using new tools in Visual Studio. Microsoft also revealed that web developers can now bring their web apps and traditional Windows desktop applications to the Windows Store. Previously, developers could have their regular Windows apps featured in the store, but the actual purchase had to occur on the developer’s site. Now, they can be installed directly from the store.


2015. Microsoft launched Visual Studio for OS X and Linux



At its Build developer conference, Microsoft today unveiled Visual Studio Code, a streamlined cross-platform code editor designed for developing modern web and cloud applications that will operate on OS X, Linux and Windows. This represents the first time that Microsoft provides developers with a genuine cross-platform code editor. The full Visual Studio remains Windows-exclusive, but today’s announcement highlights the company’s dedication to supporting other platforms. Visual Studio Code provides developers with integrated support for various languages and, as Microsoft emphasized in today’s Build keynote, the editor will offer comprehensive code assistance and navigation for all these languages. JavaScript, TypeScript, Node.js and ASP.NET 5 developers will also receive a suite of additional tools. The editor includes all the essential features expected from a contemporary code editor, such as syntax highlighting, customizable keyboard shortcuts, bracket matching and code snippets.


2015. Microsoft simplifies Visual Studio pricing for Enterprise



Microsoft is set to merge its Visual Studio Premium and Ultimate offerings for enterprises into a single product when it introduces Visual Studio 2015 later this year. Now named Visual Studio Enterprise With MSDN, this updated version will encompass all of the capabilities developers received with Visual Studio Ultimate (such as IntelliTrace in production, CodeLens support, etc.). Additionally, it will reduce the price of this new Enterprise edition to just under the previous cost of the Premium version. Enterprise with MSDN will now be priced at $5,999 for the first year and $2,569 for subsequent years (the previous cost for Premium was $6,119 for the first year and $2,569 thereafter). This represents a 55 percent price reduction for current Ultimate subscribers. The price of Visual Studio Pro, the company’s option for individuals and smaller teams, will remain at $1,199 for the first year and $799 for renewals.


2014. Microsoft launches free Visual Studio for small teams



Microsoft introduced the Community edition of Visual Studio IDE, which effectively replaces the very basic Visual Studio Express version the company has been offering for several years. It’s essentially a complete version of Visual Studio with no limitations, except that it cannot be used in a business environment or by teams larger than five people. The transition here is that Visual Studio is essentially going freemium. Microsoft has now developed a suite of online tools around Visual Studio Online that it expects users will pay for. The Visual Studio IDE is now the entry point into that ecosystem and the more developers Microsoft attracts to that platform, the more likely they are to use the company’s (paid) tools through MSDN subscriptions and other channels.