Editing Programming tool (section)

{{short description|Computer program used to develop another program}}
{{distinguish|Programmable tooling}}
{{software development process}}
A '''programming tool''' or '''software development tool''' is a [[computer program]] that is used to [[software development|develop]] another computer program, usually by helping the developer manage [[computer file]]s. For example, a [[programmer]] may use a tool called a [[source code editor]] to edit [[source code]] files, and then a [[compiler]] to convert the source code into [[machine code]] files. They may also use [[Build automation|build tools]] that automatically package executable program and data files into shareable [[package manager|packages]] or [[Installation (computer programs)|install kits]].

A set of tools that are run one after another, with each tool feeding its output to the next one, is called a [[toolchain]]. An [[integrated development environment]] (IDE) integrates the function of several tools into a single program. Usually, an IDE provides a source code editor as well as other built-in or [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-in]] tools that help with [[compiler|compiling]], [[debugging]], and [[software test|testing]].

Whether a program is considered a development tool can be subjective. Some programs, such as the [[GNU compiler collection]], are used exclusively for software development while others, such as [[Windows Notepad|Notepad]], are not meant specifically for development but are nevertheless often used for programming.