SlickEdit - Detailed Review
Developer Tools
- SlickEdit - Product Overview
- SlickEdit - User Interface and Experience
- SlickEdit - Key Features and Functionality
- SlickEdit - Performance and Accuracy
- SlickEdit - Pricing and Plans
- SlickEdit - Integration and Compatibility
- SlickEdit - Customer Support and Resources
- SlickEdit - Pros and Cons
- SlickEdit - Comparison with Competitors
- SlickEdit - Frequently Asked Questions
- SlickEdit - Conclusion and Recommendation
SlickEdit - Product Overview
Introduction to SlickEdit
SlickEdit is a versatile and powerful cross-platform source code editor, text editor, and Integrated Development Environment (IDE) developed by SlickEdit, Inc. This tool is tailored for developers working across a broad spectrum of programming languages and development environments.
Primary Function
The primary function of SlickEdit is to provide a comprehensive and feature-rich environment for coding, debugging, and managing projects. It supports over 76 programming languages and file types, making it a go-to solution for developers involved in various types of software development, including web development, mobile app development (iOS and Android), desktop development, and mainframe development.
Target Audience
SlickEdit is designed for professional developers and programmers who need a reliable and feature-rich coding environment. Its user base includes developers working on diverse projects, from web and mobile applications to desktop and mainframe software. The tool’s extensive support for multiple programming languages and its compatibility with various operating systems (including Windows, MacOS, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris) make it a valuable asset for developers across different industries.
Key Features
Language Support
SlickEdit supports a wide range of programming languages, including C, C , C#, Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, and many more. It also allows users to add support for additional languages.
Debugging
The tool includes integrated debuggers for several languages and environments, such as GNU C/C , Java, WinDbg, Clang C/C LLDB, and Android JVM/NDK.
Code Management
Features like workspaces and projects help manage code efficiently. SlickEdit uses Context Tagging to build a database of symbols in source files, enabling accurate completion and rapid navigation.
Editing Features
SlickEdit includes features like syntax highlighting, code beautifiers, SmartPaste, and syntax expansion to reduce the number of keystrokes. It also supports editor emulations with predefined key bindings.
File Comparison and Merge
The tool includes DIFFzilla, a file comparison tool, and a 3-Way Merge feature for managing different versions of files.
Integration with Other Tools
SlickEdit integrates with source control systems, compilers, debuggers, profilers, and analyzers, making it a comprehensive development environment.
Large File Handling
It can edit files up to 2 Terabytes in size, making it capable of handling large files effortlessly.
Overall, SlickEdit is a powerful and versatile tool that caters to the diverse needs of developers, enhancing their productivity and efficiency in coding and project management.
SlickEdit - User Interface and Experience
Customizable Interface
One of the standout features of SlickEdit is its ability to emulate various other editors. It includes 14 (and up to 15 in some versions) editor emulations with predefined key bindings, allowing users to work with familiar keybindings from editors like Vim, Emacs, and others. This feature ensures that developers can transition smoothly without having to learn new keystrokes.
Keyboard-Centric Design
SlickEdit is optimized for keyboard use, reducing the need to switch between the keyboard and mouse. Users can define their own key bindings or invoke editor operations from the SlickEdit command line, making it highly efficient for those who prefer a keyboard-driven workflow.
Visual Indicators and Tool Windows
The interface includes various visual indicators such as syntax highlighting and color coding to provide immediate feedback about the code. Special tool windows are available for viewing information about files, classes, symbols, definitions, and more. These features help users access information quickly and efficiently.
Code Management and Organization
SlickEdit allows users to manage their code through workspaces and projects. This organization helps in quickly opening files without specifying paths and organizes files in folders based on file type or directory. The Projects tool window is particularly useful for this purpose.
Intelligent Code Completion and Browsing
The editor features Context Tagging (or Intelligent code completion), which builds a database of symbols in the source files. This allows for accurate completion information and rapid navigation between symbols, definitions, and references. Users can also preview definitions without opening the file, and use bookmarks to mark important locations in the code.
Additional Tools and Utilities
SlickEdit includes a range of utilities such as DIFFzilla for file comparisons, 3-Way Merge, Spell Check, FTP access, a RegEx Evaluator, and even a built-in calculator. These tools enhance the overall development experience by providing everything needed within a single environment.
Ease of Use
While SlickEdit is highly feature-rich, it can be complex for new users. The Quick Start Configuration Wizard helps in setting up the most commonly changed options and creating a workspace and project, making it easier to get started. However, some users may find that configuring the program to their tastes can be tedious, requiring considerable time to fully utilize its features.
User Experience
The user experience is enhanced by the ability to customize almost every aspect of the editor. The macro-recording feature, for example, allows users to assign keyboard shortcuts to frequently performed tasks. The support for over 76 programming languages and various operating systems adds to the versatility of the editor.
Conclusion
In summary, SlickEdit offers a highly customizable and feature-rich interface that caters to the needs of developers who value efficiency and productivity. While it may have a learning curve, the extensive customization options and integrated tools make it a powerful tool for coding and development tasks.
SlickEdit - Key Features and Functionality
SlickEdit Overview
SlickEdit is a comprehensive and feature-rich code editor, text editor, and Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that offers a wide range of tools and functionalities to enhance the coding experience. Here are the main features and how they work:Multi-Platform and Multi-Language Support
SlickEdit supports over 76 programming languages and file types, including C, C , C#, Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, and many more. It runs on multiple operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris.Context Tagging and Intelligent Code Completion
SlickEdit uses Context Tagging, also known as Intelligent Code Completion, to build a database of symbols in your source files. This feature provides accurate completion information and rapid navigation, allowing you to jump from a symbol to its definition or declaration quickly.Code Browsing and Symbol References
The editor includes powerful browsers and search capabilities that enable you to quickly find the code you need. You can preview definitions for the current symbol without opening the file and use bookmarks to mark important locations in the code.Editor Emulations and Keyboard Customization
SlickEdit offers 15 editor emulations with predefined key bindings, allowing you to work efficiently with different editing styles. You can also define your own key bindings or invoke editor operations from the command line.Time-Saving Features
Syntax Expansion and SmartPaste
These features reduce the number of keystrokes needed, allowing you to write code faster. Syntax expansion and SmartPaste help in auto-completing code snippets and pasting code intelligently.Aliases and Macros
You can create aliases for frequently used commands and record macros to automate repetitive tasks.Code Templates
Predefined code templates help you start coding quickly by providing boilerplate code for common structures.Automatic Formatting
SlickEdit includes features like syntax indenting, SmartPaste, and code beautifiers that automatically format your code as you type. This ensures your code is consistently formatted and readable.DIFFzilla and Three-Way Merge
DIFFzilla is a file and directory comparison tool that allows you to compare and edit files and directories graphically. The three-way merge feature helps in resolving conflicts during version control operations.Integration with Other Tools
SlickEdit integrates with various development tools, including source control systems, compilers, debuggers, profilers, and analyzers. This integration makes it a complete development environment.Large File Handling
SlickEdit can handle large files up to 2 Terabytes in size, making it suitable for working with massive codebases and data files.Debugging Support
The editor includes integrated debuggers for several languages and environments, such as GNU C/C , Java, WinDbg, Clang C/C , LLDB, and more. This allows for comprehensive debugging capabilities within the editor.Visual Indicators and Tool Windows
SlickEdit uses visual indicators like syntax highlighting and color coding to provide information about your code. Special tool windows are available for viewing information about files, classes, symbols, and definitions.Conclusion
While SlickEdit incorporates advanced features that significantly enhance coding efficiency, there is no explicit mention of AI-driven functionalities in the available resources. The features described are based on advanced coding tools and integrations rather than AI-specific technologies. SlickEdit - Performance and Accuracy
Performance
SlickEdit is known for its advanced features and multi-language support, but like any powerful tool, it can sometimes encounter performance issues. Here are a few areas where users have reported slowdowns:File Saving
Some users have noted delays when saving files, which can take up to 10 seconds in some cases, although 2-3 seconds is more typical. This might be related to the backup history feature.Search and Navigation
There can be slight delays when using search functions to move to the next occurrence in a file, taking around 1-2 seconds.Typing and Auto-Complete
Users have also reported occasional lags when typing text, which could be attributed to the auto-complete feature. To mitigate these issues, users can try disabling certain features like the context tagging option to show information for the symbol under the mouse.Accuracy
SlickEdit is highly regarded for its accuracy in code editing and management:Context Tagging
The tool offers advanced context tagging, which provides accurate argument completion, auto-list members, and auto-parameter information. This feature is particularly enhanced for languages like Python, with updates to support Python 3.x run-time libraries.Code Beautifiers and Smart Editing
SlickEdit includes features like smart indenting, smart tabs, and SmartPaste, which help maintain code consistency and accuracy. The beautifier feature ensures that code is formatted correctly according to the chosen standards.Multi-Language Support
With support for over 70 programming languages, SlickEdit ensures accurate syntax highlighting, color coding, and other language-specific features, making it a reliable choice for developers working with diverse codebases.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
While SlickEdit is highly capable, there are some areas where it could be improved:Resource Intensive Features
Some of the advanced features, such as context tagging and auto-complete, can consume significant resources, leading to performance issues if not managed properly.Large File Handling
Although SlickEdit is generally better at handling large files compared to some other editors, it may still encounter performance issues with extremely large files. However, this is not as pronounced as with some other editors like VSCode.Conclusion
SlickEdit is a powerful and accurate tool for developers, offering a wide range of features that enhance coding efficiency and accuracy. While it may have some performance issues, especially with resource-intensive features, these can often be managed by adjusting settings or profiling the application to identify bottlenecks. Overall, SlickEdit remains a strong choice for developers needing a reliable and feature-rich code editor. SlickEdit - Pricing and Plans
SlickEdit Pricing Plans
SlickEdit Standard Edition
- Price: $125 (one-time payment)
- Key Features:
- Syntax expansion and indenting
- SmartPaste®
- Keystroke emulations
- Multiple cursors and selections
- Backup History
- Macro recording in Slick-C
- Ability to edit files up to 2 TB
SlickEdit Pro Edition
- Price: $299 (one-time payment)
- Features:
- Includes all features from the Standard Edition
- Symbol analysis and navigation
- Debuggers
- Integrated builds
- Beautifiers
- Diffzilla with editing and folder diff support
- Version control support with Shelving
- Java Live Errors
- JUnit Integration
- Unlimited macro development in Slick-C
Free Trial
- SlickEdit also offers a free trial, allowing users to test the software before making a purchase.
This structure provides a clear distinction between the two plans, ensuring that users can choose the one that best fits their needs and budget.
SlickEdit - Integration and Compatibility
Integration with Other Tools
SlickEdit integrates well with several development tools and version control systems. Here are some key integrations:Version Control Systems
SlickEdit supports integration with various source control providers such as Team Foundation Server, Visual Source Safe, CVS, and SVN. This allows features like Version Visualizations and Find Version to work directly within the editor, enabling developers to see version details and search for specific changes across different versions of files.
Debuggers
It includes integrated debuggers for several languages, including GNU C/C , Java, WinDbg, Clang C/C , LLDB, Groovy, Google Go, Python, Perl, Ruby, Scala, PHP, Xcode, and Android JVM/NDK. This integration facilitates debugging directly from the editor.
Third-Party Tools
SlickEdit can integrate with third-party tools, enhancing its functionality. For example, the DIFFZilla tool allows for file comparisons, and the Auto Code Doc Viewer generates MSDN-like documentation from header comments.
Compatibility Across Platforms
SlickEdit is highly compatible across various operating systems and platforms:Operating Systems
It runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, and Solaris (both SPARC and x86). This cross-platform support makes it a reliable choice for developers working in different environments.
File and Project Support
SlickEdit can open and manage files from different project types, including Visual Studio solutions and Xcode projects, allowing developers to work seamlessly across different development environments.
Additional Compatibility Features
Large File Handling
SlickEdit is capable of handling very large files, up to 2 Terabytes in size, which is particularly useful for managing extensive codebases or large data files.
Scripting and Customization
The editor uses Slick-C, a proprietary scripting language, which allows users to customize and extend the editor’s functionality. This scripting language is similar to C but includes elements from REXX, enabling users to modify the editor’s behavior according to their needs.
Overall, SlickEdit’s broad compatibility and integration capabilities make it a highly adaptable and useful tool for developers across various platforms and development environments.
SlickEdit - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
- Users can access unlimited technical support via telephone or email for 12 months by subscribing to the Maintenance and Support Service. This service also includes access to new releases, upgrades, and fixes at no additional charge.
- For immediate assistance, you can contact SlickEdit’s support team directly through their website or by calling 1.919.473.0070 or 1.800.934.EDIT (USA).
Resources
- Documentation and User Guides: SlickEdit provides extensive documentation, including user guides that cover installation, new features, supported languages, and performance tuning. These resources are available on their website and within the application itself.
- FAQ and Cool Features: The application includes a section on “Cool Features” that describes unique and powerful features with short demos. Additionally, an FAQ page is available for common queries.
- Quick Start Configuration Wizard: This wizard helps users configure the most commonly changed options and set up a workspace and project quickly, ensuring a smooth start with the software.
- Toolbars and Tool Windows: SlickEdit offers various tool windows for viewing information about files, classes, symbols, definitions, and more. These tools help in accessing information quickly and efficiently.
Additional Support Services
- Maintenance and Support Web Page: Users can check the status of their Maintenance and Support Service from within SlickEdit, which launches the relevant web page in a browser.
- Beta Programs: Subscribers to the Maintenance and Support Service can participate in SlickEdit beta programs and receive a free copy of the beta software as a preview of the next release.
Contact Information
- For any sales-related inquiries or to subscribe to the Maintenance and Support Service, you can email sales@slickedit.com or call 919-780-0880.
By leveraging these support options and resources, users can optimize their use of SlickEdit and address any issues or questions they may have efficiently.
SlickEdit - Pros and Cons
Advantages of SlickEdit
Cross-Platform Compatibility
SlickEdit is a versatile code editor that supports over 70 programming languages and operates on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Customization and Key Bindings
It offers extensive customization options, including customizable key bindings and support for emulating keystrokes from other editors like Emacs and Vim. This feature helps reduce the learning curve for users familiar with other editing environments.
Smart Editing Features
SlickEdit includes advanced editing features such as smart indenting, smart tabs, SmartPaste, and code beautification. These features enhance coding efficiency and maintain code readability.
Debugging and Development Tools
The editor comes with powerful debugging tools, integrated builds, and version control support, including Git, SVN, and CVS. It also features tools like Diffzilla for multi-file and folder diffs, and Version Visualizations to track code changes.
Performance and Responsiveness
SlickEdit is known for its fast startup, quick search and replace operations, and efficient file handling, making it responsive even on older hardware configurations.
Additional Productivity Features
It includes features like syntax highlighting, code completion, refactoring, symbol analysis, and project management. The editor also supports FTP access for remote repositories and has tools for managing comments and generating documentation.
Integration and Compatibility
SlickEdit can integrate with various development environments, such as Eclipse, and offers tools that can be used within Visual Studio, enhancing its versatility.
Disadvantages of SlickEdit
Cost
One of the significant drawbacks is the cost. SlickEdit is priced at $125 for the Standard Edition and $299 for the Pro Edition, which may be prohibitive for some users, especially those who are not professional developers.
Limited Predefined Configurations
While SlickEdit offers extensive customization options, it lacks a large corpus of predefined configuration packages compared to editors like Emacs. Users often have to set up their own key bindings and macros from scratch.
Stability Issues
Some users have reported minor stability issues, such as occasional lockups when configuring Git or strange menu behaviors, although these are not typically showstoppers.
Learning Curve
Although the keyboard emulation feature helps, the extensive set of features and customization options can still present a learning curve for new users, especially those not familiar with advanced code editors.
Overall, SlickEdit is a powerful and feature-rich code editor that can significantly enhance productivity for developers, but it comes with a cost and some minor usability issues.
SlickEdit - Comparison with Competitors
When comparing SlickEdit to other AI-driven developer tools, several key features and differences stand out:
SlickEdit Unique Features
- Multi-Language Support: SlickEdit supports coding in over 70 languages, making it a versatile choice for developers working with various programming languages.
- Advanced Editing Tools: It includes features like smart editing (smart indenting, smart tab, and SmartPaste), beautifier, and comment wrapping, which automate and streamline coding tasks.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: SlickEdit is available on Windows, Linux, macOS, and other platforms, ensuring developers can use it regardless of their operating system.
- Context Tagging: SlickEdit offers improved Context Tagging for languages like Python, including support for the latest Python 3.x run-time libraries and features like the match statement.
GitHub Copilot
- AI-Powered Code Generation: GitHub Copilot is renowned for its advanced code autocompletion, suggesting entire code blocks and providing context-aware suggestions. It also supports multiple programming languages and integrates seamlessly with popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains.
- Natural Language Interface: Copilot features an interactive chat interface for natural language coding queries and automated code documentation generation, which can be particularly useful for beginners in AI-assisted development.
- Collaborative Development: It offers pull request summarization, change description generation, and context-aware test suggestions, enhancing team collaboration.
Windsurf IDE
- AI-Enhanced Development: Windsurf IDE by Codeium stands out with its intelligent code suggestions, Cascade Technology for continuous contextual support, and deep contextual understanding of complex codebases. It also supports real-time AI collaboration and multi-file smart editing.
- Rapid Prototyping: Windsurf IDE allows for quick transformation of ideas into functional prototypes using AI-generated frameworks, significantly accelerating the initial development phase.
- Advanced Productivity Tools: Features include command integration, natural language code generation, and codelenses for quick insights and refactoring options.
JetBrains AI Assistant
- Smart Code Generation: JetBrains AI Assistant offers code snippets from natural language descriptions and context-aware completion for variables, methods, and documentation. It also includes proactive bug detection and automated testing.
- Seamless IDE Integration: This tool integrates smoothly with all JetBrains development environments, providing in-line code generation, an interactive chat interface, and automated documentation generation.
- Intelligent Refactoring: It suggests code optimization and better naming conventions based on project context, enhancing overall code quality.
Amazon Q Developer
- Advanced Coding Features: Amazon Q Developer integrates with popular IDEs like Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, offering code completion, inline code suggestions, debugging, and security vulnerability scanning. It is particularly valuable for developers working within the AWS ecosystem.
- AWS-Focused Assistance: This tool provides answers to questions related to AWS architecture, best practices, and specific AWS resources, making it an invaluable resource for those in the AWS ecosystem.
Key Differences and Alternatives
- AI Integration: While SlickEdit focuses on traditional coding tools with some AI enhancements, tools like GitHub Copilot, Windsurf IDE, and JetBrains AI Assistant are more heavily integrated with AI, offering advanced features like intelligent code suggestions and natural language interfaces.
- Platform Integration: SlickEdit is highly versatile in terms of platform support, but tools like Amazon Q Developer and GitHub Copilot are more specialized in their integration with specific ecosystems (AWS and GitHub, respectively).
- Collaborative Features: Windsurf IDE and GitHub Copilot offer strong collaborative features, including real-time AI collaboration and pull request summarization, which may be more appealing for team-based development projects.
Summary
In summary, while SlickEdit excels in its broad language support and traditional editing tools, other AI-driven tools like GitHub Copilot, Windsurf IDE, and JetBrains AI Assistant offer more advanced AI integration and collaborative features that can significantly enhance developer productivity and efficiency.
SlickEdit - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about SlickEdit
What are the main differences between SlickEdit Standard and SlickEdit Pro?
SlickEdit Standard is geared towards single-file operations and includes features like syntax expansion, SmartPaste®, keystroke emulations, multiple cursors and selections, backup history, and macro recording in Slick-C. SlickEdit Pro, on the other hand, includes all the Standard features plus additional functionalities such as symbol analysis and navigation, debuggers, integrated builds, beautifiers, Diffzilla with editing and folder diff support, version control support with Shelving, Java Live Errors, and JUnit Integration. The Pro version also allows for unlimited macro recording in Slick-C.How does SlickEdit support version control systems?
SlickEdit integrates with popular version control systems including Git, Mercurial, Subversion, CVS, Perforce, PVCS, and ClearCase. This integration allows for common operations like check-in and check-out to be performed directly within the editor. Additionally, SlickEdit’s Diffzilla tool helps in viewing differences between versions of a file or the entire project/workspace.What is Diffzilla and how does it work?
Diffzilla is a powerful file differencing tool in SlickEdit that allows you to compare directories and files. It highlights the lines and characters that do not match between files. You can even edit the files while they are being compared. This tool is particularly useful for viewing and managing changes in your codebase.How does SlickEdit handle large files and multiple document layouts?
SlickEdit can edit files up to 2 TB in size, making it capable of handling very large files. The editor also features a tiled MDI layout, allowing you to split document windows to view different parts of the same file. You can drag a document off the main window to float it in a separate document group and create named layouts for these floating groups to easily switch between different tool window layouts.Does SlickEdit support multiple programming languages?
Yes, SlickEdit is a multi-language code editor that supports over 60 programming languages. It provides features like syntax expansion, completions, and smart editing that are tailored to various languages, making it a versatile tool for developers working with different languages.How does SlickEdit integrate with third-party workspaces and build systems?
SlickEdit understands and can open third-party workspace formats directly. It supports many popular build systems including Visual Studio, Maven, Ant, NAnt, Xcode, Android, and more. This integration allows you to manage your projects seamlessly across different development environments.What kind of macro support does SlickEdit offer?
SlickEdit supports macro recording and development in its proprietary Slick-C language. The Standard edition allows for macro recording, while the Pro edition offers unlimited macro recording and more advanced macro development capabilities.How does SlickEdit help in reducing keystrokes and improving coding efficiency?
SlickEdit includes several features to reduce keystrokes and improve coding efficiency, such as completions, syntax expansion, aliases, and code templates. It also supports 14 editor emulations with predefined key bindings, allowing you to define your own key bindings or invoke editor operations from the command line.Does SlickEdit offer any time-saving utilities and tools?
Yes, SlickEdit provides various time-saving utilities, including a spell checker, FTP support, a RegEx evaluator, math commands, and even a calculator. It also integrates with other tools like compilers, debuggers, profilers, and analyzers to make your development process more efficient.How can I get support and updates for SlickEdit?
SlickEdit offers Maintenance and Support Service, which includes free upgrades, fixes, and the ability to participate in beta programs. You can check the status of your service from within SlickEdit by going to the Help menu and selecting “Check Maintenance.” SlickEdit - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of SlickEdit
SlickEdit is a highly versatile and powerful code editor that caters to the needs of a wide range of developers, making it a strong contender in the Developer Tools category.Key Features
- Multi-Language Support: SlickEdit supports coding in over 50 languages, making it a go-to tool for developers working on diverse projects.
- Smart Editing: It includes features like syntax expansion, SmartPaste®, and code beautifiers that help reduce keystrokes and improve code readability.
- Debugging and Integration: The editor offers integrated debugging for various languages and platforms, including GNU C/C , Java, and Python. It also integrates with popular version control systems like Git, Mercurial, and Subversion.
- Large File Handling: SlickEdit can handle files up to 2TB, which is particularly useful for managing large codebases.
- Productivity Tools: Features such as DIFFzilla for file comparisons, macro recording, and multiple cursors and selections enhance productivity significantly.
Who Would Benefit Most
SlickEdit is particularly beneficial for several types of users:- Professional Developers: Those working on complex, multi-language projects will appreciate the extensive feature set, including advanced debugging, symbol analysis, and version control integration.
- Cross-Platform Developers: Since SlickEdit supports coding on 9 different platforms, it is ideal for developers who need to work across various operating systems.
- Teams and Enterprises: The Pro edition offers additional features like integrated builds, beautifiers, and JUnit integration, making it a valuable tool for team environments.
Overall Recommendation
SlickEdit is highly recommended for developers seeking a comprehensive and efficient coding environment. Here are some key points to consider:- Efficiency: The editor’s focus on reducing keystrokes and providing smart editing features can significantly boost productivity.
- Versatility: Support for multiple languages and platforms makes it a versatile tool that can adapt to various development needs.
- Integration: Seamless integration with other development tools such as debuggers, version control systems, and build systems streamlines the development process.
Editions
Choosing between the Standard and Pro editions depends on your specific needs:- Standard Edition: Suitable for individual developers who need basic but powerful editing features like syntax expansion and SmartPaste®.
- Pro Edition: Ideal for professional developers and teams who require advanced features such as symbol analysis, integrated debugging, and version control support.