There are a few good programs to write programs / scripts. These are editors / IDE’s that can be used for scripting or writing programs in linux.

These are listed in no particular order

1. Quanta plus
   Environment: Kde
   Languages: PHP, Perl, Python, XML, C
2. KDevelop
   Environment: Kde
   Languages: PHP, Perl, Python, XML, C, Ruby, Rails
   
3. Anjuta
   Environment: gnome
   Languages: C
4. Kate
   Environment: KDE
   Languages: Anything. Has Syntax Highlight
5. Gedit
   Environment: gnome
   Languages: Anything. Has Syntax Highlight. Basic lightweight editor
6. Screem
   Environment: gnome
   Languages: Web based, HTML, XML, some PHP
7. Eclipse with PHPeclipse and DLTK
   Environment:  Anything – JAVA
   Languages: Anything. Plugins for all possible languages
   [heavy weight editor. But one size fits all for most open source projects and languages]
8. gPHPedit
   Environment: gnome
   Languages: HTML, CSS, PHP – Simple, lightweight, Syntax highlight
9. jEdit
   Environment:  Anything – Java
   Languages: Anything. Has plugins for any possible language. Customizable
10. Netbeans
    Environment:  Anything – Java
    Languages: Anything. Has plugins for any possible language. Customizable
    [has a cool debugger, no need to switch to Browser for debugging]
11. glimmer
    [refer to Eclipse]
    [not ready for production use. Unless you're looking for a challenge]
12. geany
    Environment – gnome
    Languages – PHP, C, and many more.
    [My personal favorite, lightweight, has some critical items that basic editors like kate / gedit doesn't]
13. Bluefish and KompoZer (forked from nvu) deservers a mention.Although it’s popular enough to not need it..

There are important packages that don’t come default with kubuntu which I would need for development. So after setting up a new installation of Kubuntu this is what I’d do:

sudo aptitude install openssh-server build-essential vim kdesvn mysql-server-5.0

These are needed as of kubuntu 9.04 – Jaunty and as you can see installs:

• openssh-server – which will immediately listen on port 22
• build-essential – compilers, etc
• vim – because I don’t like using vi
• kdesvn – Cuz can be easier to diff my devels
• mysql-server – well… i need it and Mysql 5.1 does not have great reviews.

Even if you don’t want kdesvn, I’d take kompare any day. The best diff front end for KDE. Although kdiff3 (sudo aptitude install kdiff3) isn’t too bad.