Advancing the IDL Computing Environment

IDL 7.0's new development environment - the IDL Workbench- is based on the popular Eclipse development platform. This new development platform gives you the advantages of a modern, full-featured, cross-platform development environment, including modern code management, development and debugging tools. The IDL Workbench includes:

Cross-platform Native User Interface
New interface gives users the same features and workflow on all platforms and platform-native interface controls and conventions.

Project-based Organizational Scheme
Organizes source code, images and files in known directories for efficient storage and searching.

Code Editing Tools
Tools such as syntax highlighting, drag-and-drop editing, hover help for syntax information about routines, and content assist to help you complete routine names.

Code Debugging
IDL helps you quickly identify variables, breakpoints and problems with your code.

User Assistance Features
Features including cheat sheets that automatically execute IDL code examples, and online help tutorials with more extensive examples.

A Plugin Architecture
Allows easy integration of other components written for IDL and the IDL Workbench or Eclipse.

Support for Internationalization
The IDL Workbench textual elements and labels to be localized in numerous Asian and European languages.

A Welcome Screen
Access live RSS feeds for continual access to news, new IDL functionality, new plugins, code contribution items and more.