What do computer programmers actually code on?

Question

I don't know how else to put the question. Basically, you always see a black screen with codes but how do you get to that black screen? Hopefully it's not an obvious answer because I have no idea x) thank so much.

Answer 1

The "black screen" is an app called Command Prompt. You can open it by typing in "Command Prompt" on the Start menu, or simply typing cmd and hitting enter.



People will use Command Prompt for executing basic programs and instructions - in fact, before point-and-click became a thing, you had to use Command Prompt to do EVERYTHING - but usually software programmers will use an IDE (integrated development interface, a specialized software for programming) to meet their programming needs.

Answer 2

"... Basically, you always see a black screen with codes but how do you get to that black screen?..." I'm no expert on the movies, but most of the editors I've ever seen in a decent IDE will allow you to change text colors depending on keyword, background color and such just because you can. It can help you see what exactly is happening in a program listing to know that say a string literal shows up in green, preprocessor in blues, etc. But, as far as in movies, I've seen lots of spoofed screens and not much in the way of real life technical correct software. I'm guessing a lot of movies actually hire someone to spoof these things so that there are no copyright infringement problems between the movie and screen designs. Just a gut feeling here. In any case, Code Blocks has a built in editor that will allow this as did some of the obsolete Borland, Microsoft and Watcom products. Many moons ago, I changed the text colors and background to obnoxious Christmas like colors just to get a hoot at the office every year;-) I hope this will answer your question. Have a nice day.

Answer 3

That black screen thing? It is more like last-gen way of using a computer not a programming tool. The "programming" you speak of in there is about same as programming an VCR, just simple automating the tasks you need to run.



There are many ways to program things for real; some such as iOS, dictates one specific Mac-way. Some like Android, any PC/Mac/Linux would do with choices from no-frill toolchain to true Eclipse IDE. Then some like the Web, just write it and the interpreter runs it on the fly.

Answer 4

The black screen you are talking about is a Terminal/Command Prompt. There is where we launch the programs from. That is not where we edit it from. We use text editors and/or IDEs. The most popular text editor for a programmer is Notepad++. The most popular IDE for a programmer is NetBeans. To get to the screen on Windows. you doto start>run>cmd

For Linux (you most likely do not use it) Search your applications for Terminal. If you have an application menu, look for it there.

Answer 5

I still do some stuff at the terminal/command prompt, but I've updated my window setup to have a white window instead of black.



On Windows, the usual location for the shortcut is in All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt on the Start menu. Type HELP at the prompt for a list of commands, or HELP cmdname for help on command named "cmdname".



On OSX, Linux or Unix, you launch a Terminal window. (OSX: its in the Applications folder, I think.) Google for help. These use the "bash" shell, or something very much like it.

Answer 6

Firstly programmers edit programs. not actually begin to code with Notepad or File creator.

You figured the black screen i supposed it is [batch programming] or to extract out assembly code of PC. It also depends on what type of coding is done.

Answer 7

Whenever you see programmers or hackers on TV, it's not how they actually do it.



Programmers use an IDE (common examples: Eclipse, Code::Blocks, Visual Studio, XCode).

Or just a text editor, for instance Notepad++.

Answer 8

• windows: [windows-logo-flag-key]-R cmd [Enter] or start, all programs, accessories, command prompt (windows 8.1 it's differnent, but you can always use the keyboard thing mentioned 1st)

• mac: ??? I don't know if the power tools (forgot the name see apple.com) are something yo uinstall or something that's built in and you just use it. I think it is something you install. good for killing rogue processes to cut down cpu usage - yes, macs do have them and an antivirus is necessary.

• *nix: terminal/xterm or just boot to the hash prompt without a GUI or don't install a GUI (Xwindows).



one you are in a cmd shell, type in dir /? for help or type in help and hit enter.

it's keyboard-oriented. no gui (but in the upper left hand corner of the windows you can change the layout of the window and colors).

any cmd shell command you can usually do

--help

-help

-?

--?

/help

/h

for help. for *nix, it's usually -h and --help and -?





for *nix, I think it takes DEC VT102 or VT100 escape sequences for doing color, you can change the terminal type in the files associated with getty. it's been a while. some keys it doesn't like and those emit garbage.

try ls in *nix, info and man -k and man for manuals and help.

also try whatis if it's there