Code Craft

Which Tools?

There’s a staggering array of software development tools. Over the years they have been developed to scratch particular itches, the needs that often crop up. When a task has been done many times, you can bet that someone has written a tool for it.

Exactly what comprises your tool kit will depend on your line of work. The available tools for embedded platforms are rarely as rich as those for desktop applications. We’ll consider the common components below. Some are really obvious; others are less so.

While we’ll look individually at each class of tool, don’t forget that modern IDEs collect these disparate programs into a single, streamlined interface. This is undoubtedly convenient, but it’s important to understand how each tool stands ...