IDE & Editor Setup¶

Your IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is like your workbench: it holds your tools, shortcuts, and workspace layout. Setting it up consistently across the team prevents confusion, speeds up help and feedback, and makes everyone feel “at home” no matter whose laptop they use.

Glossary¶

IDE (Integrated Development Environment) – A software tool that combines an editor, debugger, version control, and project management in one place (e.g. VS Code, PyCharm, IntelliJ).
Editor – A simpler tool focused mainly on code editing (e.g. Sublime Text).
Plugin / Extension – Small add-ons that expand the IDE’s features.
Settings Export / Import – Built-in way to back up or share your preferences.
Layout / Workspace – How panels, terminals, and editors are arranged on screen.
Settings Sync – A feature that automatically uploads your IDE configuration to the cloud or to a file.
Conventional Commits – A standardized format for commit messages (e.g. feat: add login page).
Formatter / Linter – Tools that enforce consistent code style and catch issues before running the program.

Choosing and Installing the IDE¶

Every craftsman picks tools that fit the job — carpenters have saws, developers have IDEs. But teamwork needs consistency.
If half your team uses VS Code and the rest PyCharm, small mismatches (like file encodings or auto-formatting) can become real problems.

Tip

Agree on one main IDE that everyone can support and test.
You can still use others personally, but the team must verify compatibility.

Check that your chosen IDE: - Supports your language (syntax highlighting, debugger, runner).
- Works on all team operating systems.
- Integrates with Git smoothly.

Keep your version documented. If one person upgrades early and something breaks, you’ll know why.

Danger

Skipping version alignment leads to silent incompatibilities — like “it works on my machine” syndrome.

Think of settings as the blueprint of your workspace. Exporting them lets you rebuild or share the same setup quickly — useful when your laptop dies or a new teammate joins.

Good practice: - Export or sync your configuration regularly.
- Store shared settings (.zip, .json) under /config/ide/.
- Decide which settings are team-wide (indentation, encoding, formatter) and which are personal (fonts, themes).

Example

A good split:
Shared → Formatting, line endings, color rules for code reviews.
Personal → Theme color, font family, keymap.

Tip

Add a short recovery note: how to reset defaults if an import fails. This saves time when something goes wrong.

Plugin Policies¶

Plugins are like spices — they add flavor, but too many can ruin the dish.
Each team should define a plugin policy that keeps everyone’s setup predictable.

Common tiers: - Mandatory – Needed for teamwork (Git, formatter, linter, Conventional Commits).
- Recommended – Improve comfort or visibility (theme packs, TODO panels).
- Allowed / Optional – Harmless personal helpers.
- Prohibited – Tools that undermine learning (e.g. AI autocompletion for beginners).

Info

Record plugin names and versions. Document how to export and import them.
Check for performance issues after adding new ones.

Danger

Unverified plugins may slow the IDE or expose privacy risks.
Choose maintained, reputable extensions.

A consistent UI layout makes collaboration smoother. When screens look alike, teammates can instantly guide each other — “check the terminal bottom right” means the same thing for everyone.

Typical setup: - Left: Project or Explorer tree
- Center: Editor
- Bottom: Terminal, Problems, or Test panels
- Right: Git/Changes or TODO panel

For pair-programming or screen sharing, increase the font (14–16 pt), enable word wrap, and keep line numbers visible.
Add screenshots of your baseline layout to /docs/ui-layout.md.

Tip

Pick one light and one dark theme that all can read comfortably — especially when projecting or helping remotely.

Example

Imagine walking into a shared workshop: every hammer, wrench, and drill has its place. That’s what a well-kept IDE layout feels like.

Updating and Maintaining Consistency¶

Over time, IDEs and plugins update. To avoid chaos: - Track which versions were tested together.
- Update settings and plugin lists through labeled issues (ide-settings, ide-plugins).
- Verify new setups by having each teammate post their IDE + version + OS.

Info

A 10-minute check now prevents hours of “why does it crash only on your laptop?” later.

Final Thoughts¶

An IDE setup might feel personal, but in a team project it’s a shared infrastructure.
Treat it with the same discipline as your codebase — documented, tested, and reproducible.

Ask why each plugin, setting, or layout exists. If the answer is “because I like it,” reconsider.
If the answer is “because it helps the team work faster and learn together,” keep it.

Quote

“Consistency is not about control — it’s about lowering the cost of helping each other.”