What is the term for IntelliSense in a non-Microsoft world?

Question

When talking about IDE software or about what a programming language allows you to do or not at the source level, I often use the word IntelliSense, which has a precise meaning in the Microsoft world, but is inappropriate when talking to people who don't have to be familiar with Visual Studio.

In this case, what is the appropriate term to use?

I usually use the term "auto-completion", but it doesn't always work. In fact, IntelliSense includes auto-completion, but it also provides documentation and hints.

score 34 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 15 '11 at 16:48

34

We have always called it "Auto Code Completion" or just "Code Completion". I have heard the term "code hinting" used as well.

answered Jul 15 '11 at 16:48

jworrin

456

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 15 '11 at 23:52

5

It is also called "content assist" in Eclipse.

edited Jul 15 '11 at 23:52

Adam Lear

32,069

answered Jul 15 '11 at 22:30

nicolas

349

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 16 '20 at 10:01

When talking about IDE software or about what a programming language allows to do or not at source level, I often use the word IntelliSense, which has a precise meaning in Microsoft world, but is inappropriate when talking to people who don't have to be familiar with Visual Studio.

In this case, what is the appropriate term to use?

While Microsoft popularized the word IntelliSense, there wasn't a standardize usage until around 2000 with "code completion", or "auto-completion". Back in 1988 one whitepaper uses the phrase "intelligent assistance"

Intelligent assistance for software development and maintenance

I usually use the term "auto-completion", but it doesn't always work. In fact, IntelliSense includes auto-completion, but also provides documentation and hints.

Those who know of it, call it like that. Those who don't, are not familiar with it and therefore do not need a name for it. To them it is described as other answers here hinted already: "auto-completion with code hinting", or "auto-completion with documentation and hints" and so on.

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 15 '11 at 16:48

2

See this article, where it starts off referring to IntelliSense as an "implementation of autocompletion".

I'm afraid you will have to be more descriptive when speaking with someone about IntelliSense that is not familiar with it or Visual Studio.

answered Jul 15 '11 at 16:48

Bernard

8,869

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 15 '11 at 17:01

0

"Intelligent editor"?

I had a co-worker once who had a good phrase, academic and non-Microsofty, but I can't remember it, unless it was "intelligent editor" (and I think it was).

Is that enough characters, StackExchange?

answered Jul 15 '11 at 17:01

JohnL4

634

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 15 '11 at 20:08

0

Once upon a time it was also called a "picklist" a list of values you pick from to paste into your code.

I don't hear the term used much any more.

answered Jul 15 '11 at 20:08

Jim C

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4
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What is the term for IntelliSense in a non-Microsoft world?

6 Answers6