As an attempt to simplify it down to a non-programmer: If you're writing in English, it's perfectly fine to write in a basic text editor such as Notepad (see: GRRM the fat bastard). However, there are alternatives that add grammar and spell checking to text editing, such as Word, Google Docs, etc, which will make your text much more understandable by non-English speakers (especially when translating between languages) without requiring a secondary editor. IDEs are similar, but they add grammar and spell checking specifically for code (also known as syntax checking). Most, if not all, programming languages require very specific combinations of punctuation in order to be understood, and an IDE will highlight any issues with your punctuation that need to be corrected before they can be executed as actual programs. E.g. for Python (a programming language that relies on whitespace), combining tab characters and spaces results in a program that will never work. An IDE will identify the combination of tabs and spaces and point it out as an issue while you're writing the code. If you're completely fluent in a programming language, an IDE is pointless since you can write code that will always be understood by the code interpreter (or compiler), similar to how a fluent English speaker can write phrases that can always be perfectly translated by an interpreter. However, if you're not fluent in a programming language, an IDE picks up the slack and points out the minor problems that will prevent your code from being understood by the interpreter. TL;DR: an IDE points out the minor problems in any code you write, so you can focus on the bigger issues.