CodeWarrior Learning Edition by Metrowerks

Description

One thing to note immediately about CodeWarrior Learning Edition: it's designed to help you, the beginning or aspiring programmer, learn how to use CodeWarrior and its vast array of tools. In other words, CodeWarrior Learning Edition doesn't teach programming languages; rather, it provides the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) used to create software programs. The average IDE consists of an editor for typing and modifying code, a means for compiling and executing a program, and a debugger. You will find that this package does more for your programming knowledge in terms of giving you an introduction to the software development cycle, from the initial creation to compiling, debugging, and release. The Learning Edition serves largely to encourage beginning programmers not only to sharpen their knowledge but to become comfortable with (and loyal to) Metrowerks' programming packages and online community–including their free classes.

The content appears in a graphical book with tabs, selected glossary phrases, and video clips. The multimedia learning modules are very similar to regular help menu formats, with the exception of a pop-up glossary and video segments that demonstrate key concepts. Fortunately, there is an option in the preferences that allows for a transcript to appear alongside the video segment, an excellent resource for those who may want information from a variety of sources. One complaint we had was the unnecessary use of sound effects and animations that seemed to negate the mature content presented: we found swishy page-turning noises and sounds that should accompany a magician's tricks pretty distracting. The preferences allow for turning off the sound effects but not the animations.

The content reads easily and covers both CodeWarrior for C and C++ as well as CodeWarrior for Java. While the wording does not cover programming concepts, it does assume that you either have a project that you're ready to work on in the CodeWarrior IDE or that you'd like to create one from scratch. The most beneficial aspect of CodeWarrior Learning Edition is the introduction it gives to Metrowerks' unique terminology: for example, it might not be intuitive off the bat that CodeWarrior “stationary” files are really templates, or what you can do in the Breakpoints Window.

Included with the package is the complete online documentation included with other CodeWarrior packages: the nearly 800-page IDE User's Guide, the CodeWarrior Scripting Reference, C Compiler's Reference, MSL C Reference, MSL C++ Reference, Targeting the Java VM, and Targeting Windows. These provide the ambitious learner with the opportunity to polish their budding programming skills, and do well to support the content presented in the learning environment.

For the cost of the package, this is a great bargain for those who are ready to apply their conceptual programming knowledge to a commonly used development environment. –Emilie Dirks

Platforms

Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 95