The V IDE for GNU g++ and Java

Object Central needs your help! I've run ObjectCentral for over 5 years now for free, but it has recently become a significant financial burden, and so I've decided to ask for voluntary donations to help me keep it going! These donations will help me to continue to support VIDE and V GUI. Anything, $10 or whatever you find appropriate, will help. I know everyone won't be able to help, but please donate if you can. Click on the PayPal button, and you can use your credit card to make a donation. Thanks!

Announcing VIDE 2.00!

VIDE Version 2.00 was released on April 20, 2003. It has lots of great new features.

The V Integrated Development Environment

VIDE is the V Integrated Development Environment for the GNU g++ compiler and the standard Sun Java Development Kit. The current release is Version 2.00 for MS-Windows and Linux (RedHat 6.x, 7.x, 8.x; Mandrake 8.x; others). Executables for MS-Windows 9x/NT and Linux are available for download.

VIDE Debug Session
Click to see full
size view.
(50K)

VIDE has been designed by a programmer for programmers. It makes the task of developing software for C/C++, Java, and HTML much easier than using command line mode. It is easy to learn, so it is a good tool for the beginner. It also has the critical features needed to enhance the productivity of the experienced programmer.

The source code is available under the GNU Public License (GPL), and many parts of its design reflect the philosophy of GNU and Open Source. Whenever possible, VIDE takes advantage of existing GPL or freely available software. It is designed to use the GNU gcc compiler and the free Sun Java kit. It also uses the GPL ctags program, and the addition of more integrated support for other GNU tools is planned.

While VIDE doesn't have every feature found in many commercial development systems, it is an ongoing project, with more features included in each release. And best of all, VIDE is free! And since it is GPLed, you can help add even more features if you want.

The main features in the current release of VIDE include:

A great editor - The VIDE editor is a very good editor designed for the programmer. Editor features include:

Syntax Highlighting for C/C++, Java, Perl, Fortran, TeX and HTML.
Several menu-selectable editor command sets, including:
- A generic modeless command set, similar to many Windows editors.
- Vi - the standard Unix editor, with extensions.
- The See editor command set, an editor designed and used by Bruce Wampler, the author of V and VIDE.
- Others easily added by extending a C++ class.
Beautifies C/C++ and Java code
Powerful command macro capability
Complete support for ctags (symbol lookup)

Project Files - specify source files, compiler options, and other details required for g++ or Java. Project files simplify and hide most of the details of using the underlying tools.

gcc and Sun JDK - Supports development of both C/C++ with the GNU gcc/g++ compiler for MS-Windows and Linux, (OS/2 environment soon), as well as the Java development using the Sun JDK.

Borland C++ Compiler 5.5 - VIDE has very good support for the free Borland command line compiler tools. It can build Console, GUI, and static library project files. It also includes some extra documentation about the Borland environment. VIDE also supports Borland's Turbo Debugger TD32.

Building Projects - Uses standard GNU make to build projects for g++, and the standard features of the JDK to build Java projects.

Syntax errors - Point and click to go to errors in source files.

Supports gdb and jdb - Integrated support for the GNU gdb debugger for C/C++ and Sun's jdb debugger for Java. The most common debugging tasks, such as stepping through a program, are fully integrated, yet all the more advanced features of gdb and jdb are available through a command line window.

V GUI - Integrated support for the V GUI for C++, including the V app generator and the V icon editor.

HTML - Extra support for HTML development. While VIDE doesn't support WYSIWYG HTML development, you can send the current HTML file to your browser for immediate viewing. A comprehensive HTML help document is included. Future versions will include more HTML features such as table generation and image sizing.

SMALL - The entire VIDE package is distributed in a file that still fits on one floppy (about 1.1 Megs). The VIDE executable is only about 500K, and it will run well on slower machines with as little as 16Megs!

The VIDE Help System - Many useful documents for using HTML, gnu tools, and C++ are available on the web. For links to this help, see Help Links.

Available Windows Resource Editor - WeditRes, the free Windows resource editor from the LCC-Win32 compiler package is available as a stand alone add-on for VIDE. See the download page.

New Features in VIDE 2.00

Version 2.00 is a major new release of VIDE. The new features include:

Tabbed MDI Interface - This is the major change for the Windows version of VIDE. There is a new file tab bar just under the tool bar. This tab bar will show up to 8 file names (shortened to fit on the buttons). You can easily switch from file to file using the tab buttons. This will work either in regular cascaded windows, or with each file window maximized. The little right arrow button will move from file window to file window, while the double up/down arrow will toggle the windows from cascaded to maximized and back. This is a major enhancement for the Windows version, and I will also try to add this feature to the X version for Linux.
Three Window Arrangements Modes - The tabbed MDI bar has allowed VIDE to support three basic ways of arranging file windows. The first is the traditional Windows MDI mode, but with file tabs. The second is using VIDE with the Windows maximized, again using the file tabs to switch windows. Finally, there is a tiled display mode that places the Console Window that shows output from the compiler at the top, with files displayed in the bottom of the main window. When using gdb, the debug window will also show at the top, which makes debugging much easier. Click on the button that shows two Windows on the tool bar to toggle in and out of tiled display. Depending on just what you are working on, you can pick which of these window display arrangements to work with.
Reopen previous - When you first run VIDE, if you use File:Reopen previous, the Project and files (up to 10, at any rate) that you had open in your previous session will be reopened. You can use the Options->VIDE dialog to make VIDE automatically reopen the last session when it starts.
Support for MinGW 2 - With the MinGW 2.0 version of gcc, the make tool was renamed to mingw32-make in the new distribution, which made things a bit confusing for VIDE. This version will attempt to look for both mingw32-make and the regular make tools.
gcc DLLs for Windows - The project wizard now can generate project files to build DLLs on Windows.
Better support for other compilers - A new build generic project option lets you start a VIDE project file that can be customized for other compilers such as Fortran or Pascal.
New Project File - linker spec, library files, relative paths - The format of the project file has been changed a bit. All source files are now specified using relative paths for more flexibility where you keep your source files. Library files are now specified as a list rather than options on the linker specification.
Better support for grep - Support for grep has been more closely integrated into VIDE. This makes it even easier to grep for patterns across files.
.ini file in Application Data - The VIDE .ini file will now be stored in the user Application Data directory on Windows XP/2000 rather than in Windows.
Better right click menu - The right mouse click drop down menu has been improved. You can now use it to look up ctags and grep patterns. You can also select a file name (like a .h file), and right click to open it.
Mixed C++/C projects - There is new support for mixing C and C++ source files.
Improved documentation - The documentation has been updated, and documentation for several GNU tools is now included.
New function key short cuts - New function key short cuts have been added to the menus.
Bug Fixes - Some minor bugs were fixed. There was a problem when the Borland compiler path had a space in the name. The MinGW make file stamp problem will occur less frequently. Interaction with gdb has been improved.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR BORLAND BCC32 5.5 USERS

VIDE support for BORLAND BCC 5.5 is was very stable, however, it appears that this compiler is no longer available. (2/15/08)

Important VIDE Links

VIDE Documentation	View the complete documentation for VIDE. (Documentation is also included in executable download.)
Screen shot	Sample screen shot of VIDE.
Download Central	Download latest vrsions of VIDE.

The executable version of VIDE is totally freeware. Use it, share it, do whatever you want. The source of VIDE falls under the GNU General Public License, and is normally included with the V GUI distribution. See the file COPYING included with the distribution for more information.

This program is provided on an "as is" basis, without warranty of any kind. The entire risk as to the quality and performance of the program is borne by you.

This page last updated 15 Feb 2008.

Object Central Home

Questions and comments to: bw AT objectcentral DOT com