Gain the skills to excel in software development

Join us on a journey through the history of IDEs – from the earliest text editors to the powerful modern tools used by developers today.

On this two-week course, you’ll learn how IDEs can help you write, test, and debug your code more efficiently to help you have a successful career in tech.

You’ll cover IDE fundamentals, including environment setup, interface navigation, and valuable features like debugging. By the end of the course, you’ll have the essential skills and knowledge to excel in software development using IDEs.

Take your coding skills to the next level

You’ll explore the various features that make each IDE unique to ensure you understand the purpose and benefits of using IDEs and how they can improve productivity and streamline your coding processes.

You’ll compare and contrast different IDEs to develop a solid understanding of the differences between language-ambiguous IDEs and language-specific IDEs. This knowledge will help take your coding skills to the next level and become a pro with IDEs.

Gain practical skills in using Visual Studio Code and code completion

Next, you’ll get hands-on with some of the practical features of IDEs, including the powerful debugger and breakpoints in Visual Studio Code.

You’ll learn how to use these tools to find and fix bugs in your code, and gain experience with other practical features like syntax highlighting and code completion.

Learn from the specialists at the University of Leeds

Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the School of Computing at the University of Leeds.

With their expertise, and through interactive course materials, you’ll finish the course with a solid understanding of how to work with Integrated Development Environments.

Syllabus

Week 1
What is an integrated development environment?
- Course Introduction
  Explore the evolution of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), from early text editors to modern tools. Learn how IDEs enhance coding efficiency through writing, testing, and debugging features
- What is an IDE?
  Explore the world of integrated development environments (IDEs). Get hands-on with Vim to appreciate the evolution of development tools.
- Introducing modern IDEs
  Discover popular programming languages and their key differences. Explore language-specific and general-purpose IDEs, weighing their pros and cons. Gain the ability to recommend suitable IDEs for various scenarios.
Week 2
Using IDEs
- Introducing Visual Studio Code
  Apply your knowledge of different IDEs by using VSCode. Practice opening and running code, utilizing autoformatters to improve code quality, and using the debugger to identify and fix simple errors.
- VSCode continued
  Explore the benefits and drawbacks of IDEs, and practice using at least three features of an IDE to enhance your coding efficiency.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Describe examples of modern IDEs.
Explain why programmers use IDEs.
Summarise what an IDE can do.
Compare and contrast different IDEs for different tasks.
Explain why programmers develop tests for their code.
Explain how to use VSCode to open and edit files.
Explain how to use VSCode's debugging tools to fix a piece of Python code.

Who is the course for?

This course is one of a collection designed to help young people improve their digital skills and explore a career in tech. It is ideal for those aged 16-30 looking for an introduction to working with IDEs to plan their career route or for those who are looking to switch careers.

Who will you learn with?

Sam Wilson

I am currently an Associate professor in the School of Computer Science, University of Leeds. Graduating with a PhD in theoretical computer science I am focused on computer science pedagogies.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

Click Start

This course is part of Click Start, a nationwide training programme developed by the Institute of Coding (IoC) , a national collaboration of universities, employers and charities and funded by Nominet – the public benefit company and guardians of the .UK namespace.

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding (IoC) is a national collaboration of employers, universities, and charities, on a mission to provide people from all walks of life with access to digital learning and career opportunities.

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

What's included?

University of Leeds are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

Unlimited access to this course

Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes

Tests to validate your learning

A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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