Are there programs that make computer programming easier?

For example, I'm fairly skilled at writing formulas in Excel and also using Macro Express, but I'm not currently so good at writing code from scratch. Are there programs that would allow me to make programs without having to know the detailed structure of every programming language?
 

beers

Moderator
Staff member
If you're just manipulating a lot of data then a scripting language would be more beneficial like bash, powershell or python. What code are you trying to write now and what are you trying to do?
 
If you're just manipulating a lot of data then a scripting language would be more beneficial like bash, powershell or python. What code are you trying to write now and what are you trying to do?

I am trying to make a Macro (using Macro Express) that enters me into the sweepstakes to win a $5,000 Home Depot gift card. Every receipt I get is a new chance to win, but I have so many receipts that it would take hours to enter them all. I want to make a MS Excel spreadsheet that contains the "ID#" and "Password" of every receipt. Those are the only 2 variables. Everything else can be done just by pressing tab, enter, and space bar in a certain order.

But as a different question, are there programs that make writing programs in C+, Java, etc. easier? I remember I have used programs that allow you to make webpages without knowing HTML. You just design the website in the program and the program does all the coding for you. It's very graphical and user friendly.
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
What you're asking for is fundamentally not programming, but using software that does it for you. Once you're into that territory the language is irrelevant and you're just "programming" by manipulating the software.

You want to be using a good IDE like Visual Studio or even Notepad++ for super simple stuff. That helps with conventions and organizing your code but it definitely doesn't write it. If it did the job of programmers wouldn't exist. Sounds like you just need a script though, in which case yeah you gotta write that by hand.
 

Cromewell

Administrator
Staff member
That's a web form isn't it? I'd probably use Selenium. There are guides out there for Data Driven Testing that is more or less what you want.
 

Darren

Moderator
Staff member
That's a web form isn't it? I'd probably use Selenium. There are guides out there for Data Driven Testing that is more or less what you want.
Responses like this remind me I'm still just barely scratching the surface in this industry yet. :D
 
What you're asking for is fundamentally not programming, but using software that does it for you. Once you're into that territory the language is irrelevant and you're just "programming" by manipulating the software.

I know. And I'm okay with that. I use a program called Macro Express for things like this.
 
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