Comment IDE Optional (Score 1) 848
If the students want to use an IDE, let them. If they don't, let them. If they want to touch-type, if they want to hunt-and-peck, if they want to bring in a Dvorak keyboard, let them.
Show them how to invoke the compilers from the OS. Tell them what editors and IDEs you will give them help with in class, and give them a list of some other common and/or newbie environments that they might like but that you won't support.
(If you provide them starter code, be generous and give them a makefile too.)
Grade the final product -- the source files -- not the process.
