When you want to create a web page or write a program, one of the most important elements is to use a code editor. There are many different types of editors out there, but some are easier to use than others. The list below which will go over numerous codes in detail will help you find that perfect editor.
If you are looking for a code editor, look no further. In this guide, I will show you the ultimate guide on downloading and installing a code editor.
Notepad++
One of the most well-known code editors that developers all over the world have been using for quite a while is Notepad++. This amazing application was developed in C++. The initial launch version was very simple. It didn’t have a lot of functions back then, but Notepad++ garnered tons of positive reviews.
Not only developers but casual users also prefer using this tool over Windows’ native notepad application.
Using the pure win32 API, the Notepad++ has an amazing execution speed, which is great for modern gen machines. Thanks to improved execution times, code compilation spans over a matter of a few seconds. This helps programmers to get things done right away.
This application is only compatible with the Windows platform at the moment. It uses a GPL license to work. If you are a Mac fan, don’t worry. We have a couple of code editors appended down the list. Just keep glossing over it.
Key Features
- Auto-completion: Word completion, Function completion
- User-defined Syntax highlighting and folding
- Multi-view and Multi-Language support
- Support syntax highlighting for languages like PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
- Macro recording and playback
- Entirely customizable GUI
- Autosave
- Guided indentation
- Macros
- Split-screen editing and synchronized scrolling
Pricing
- Free
Codespaces
A browser-based code editor from Microsoft and Github. Launched in May 2020, Codespaces is a browser-based code editor based on Visual Studio Code. It has support for Git Repos, extensions, and a built-in command-line interface so you can edit, run, and debug your applications from any device. Obviously, this enables you to work from anywhere and makes collaboration with other devs easier.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Price: Free
- Platform: Browser
- Developer: Microsoft
REASONS TO BUY
- Work from anywhere
- Good for collaboration
- Functions offline
REASONS TO AVOID
- New and untested
Github’s owner, Microsoft, made it clear that its vision for the 2020s is all about the cloud, and here’s a good example.
Code-editing functionality in GitHub will always be free, although Microsoft plans to offer simple pay-as-you-go pricing for Codespaces cloud environments. You launch Codespaces straight from Github, which makes for a nice bit of synergy. If you prefer not to use a browser, that’s fine too, as support for Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio is built in.
Visual Studio Code [VS Code]
Belonging from the Family of software developed by the tech giant Microsoft, Visual Studio Code is an excellent code editor we have on the list. The application is an amazing piece of software that offers deep built-in support for Node.js, TypeScript, and JavaScript.
One of the most effective and time-saving features of this application is its infusion with A.I.
That means that all of the code that the developer writes in the application is read by the software. As a result, it generates auto-responses for code writing. These responses are based on variable types, function definitions, and essential modules.
This application is available for download on Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX.
Key Features
- Code refactoring & debugging
- Easy working with Git and other SCM (Software Configuration Management) providers
- Easily extensible and customizable
- Visual Studio Code CLI
- Live Share
- Helpers (Intellisense, Context Menus)
- Plugins and Themes
- Debugging
- Split Views, Zen Mode
- Integrated Terminal
Pricing
- Free
Atom
The best free code editor, with a friendly UI. Atom is an open-source code editior developed by GitHub. In its initial development, it was heavily influenced by the new style of editor made popular by Sublime Text, but there are key differences. Atom is free and open-source, and it offers easy out-of-box integration with Git and GitHub.
SPECIFICATIONS
Price: Free
Platform: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Developer: Github
REASONS TO USE
- Integrated with Git and GitHub
- Quick and reliable
REASONS TO AVOID
- Slow to launch
- Historical performance issues
It has historically had performance and stability problems, but those have diminished as Atom has matured. It’s true that it still launches more slowly than some code editors, but it’s just as reliable and quick to use as any once it’s running. See more in our piece on how to get more from Atom text editor.
Brackets
Although this list recommends some of the best code editors in the market, there is still no comparison to Brackets code editor. Yes, it is free, but what makes it really useful is the full barrage of extensive new features.
This application has a lightweight framework designed by the people over at Adobe. Believe me, those people know what they are doing. It is one of the best code editors that is completely open-source and you can modify it to your liking.
One of the most amazing features of this application is that you can choose between a browser view to look at how your code is doing or you can view the source code in its original form and modify it from there.
This application is available to be used on Windows, Linux, and Mac devices.
Key Features
- Offers live preview, pre-processor support, and inline editors
- Especially developed tool for macOS
- Quick Edit UI feature puts context-specific code and tools inline
- Pleasant looking UI
- It comes with the inbuilt extension manager for fast & effective extension management
- Quick Docs
- JSLint
- Live Preview
- LESS support
Pricing
- Free
Sublime Text
The Sublime Text editor is definitely one of our favorites! It offers a free version for testing, but all continual users are required to pay $99 to keep it active. While $99 might sound steep for a text editor, it’s important to note that the licenses are per-user, rather than per-machine, so you can enjoy Sublime Text on as many computers and operating systems as you wish with your license.
As for the features, Sublime Text has an advantage in that it’s extremely lightweight (low resource usage), but still keeps around some of the more advanced features you would expect out of a top text editor. The primary benefit is that Sublime Text offers shortcuts and search tools for immediately finding certain functions and making changes to multiple lines at once. Jumping to specific symbols or words takes only a few seconds.
In addition, Sublime Text automatically creates an index of all functions and methods so that you can work with the shortcuts and customize it for locating bits of code while working.
Sublime Text editor
Going along with the trend of shortcuts in Sublime Text, the text editor lets you type in a few keystrokes to move directly to menu items. So, if you wanted to sort something in your document, you wouldn’t be required to sift through the entire menu to find that functionality.
Sublime Text has a Python API, meaning that a wide variety of plugins can be integrated with the text editing solution. This includes the thousands of plugins that are consistently created by the Sublime Text community.
Sumblime Text Top Features that Makes it One of the Best Text Editor Tools
- Sublime Text lets you test out the text editor before committing to the investment. Although it’s a bummer you have to pay for this text editor, you at least get to try it out–and the pricing isn’t that expensive.
- The text editor runs on multiple platforms such as Mac, Windows, and Linux. It’s also cross-platform, so one license will work on all of your devices–no need to purchase more.
- Sublime Text provides split editing for managing and editing files next to each other. You can also open multiple windows and place them on different monitors.
- The Python API opens up opportunities to upgrade Sublime Text with plugins you, or other people, create.
- Sublime Text has extremely user-friendly and powerful shortcuts. From finding and modifying multiple lines to locating certain functions in the menu, Sublime Text should make shortcut lovers happy.
- You can also customize just about anything in Sublime Text. This is especially true when talking about shortcuts and menus. We recommend tweaking the settings to open files in the same window (new tab).
- Has some great community themes available. Check out the Dracula Sublime theme.
Sublime Text makes the most sense for heavy coders. These developers will enjoy the shortcut functionality and the high level of customization. The cross-platform abilities are also nice for launching the same text editor on all machines.
TextMate
TextMate comes offered as a free download, but you can also decide to upgrade to the premium version for $59. Keep in mind that this payment only gets you one license, so you would have to pay for multiple seats if you have a whole team of people in need of the text editor.
To get started, TextMate strictly works on the macOS. It seems like a simple editor at first, but it actually has quite a bit of functionality crammed into a small package. Some of the standards you would expect from a text editor include find search and replace tools, autocompletion, and board management. All programming languages are supported by TextMate, and it does have a tool for Xcode projects.
TextMate text editor
TextMate lets you create multiple insertion points for editing and swapping out pieces of code in bulk. You also receive a list of all version modifications. So, the list includes file changes and allows you to jump back in time if needed.
Top TextMate Features that Makes it One of the Best Text Editor Tools
- TextMate comes with free and paid versions, both of which provide excellent features.
- It’s a lightweight text editor with a clean interface.
- TextMate offers bundles so that you can customize almost every element in the text editor. Want to change languages? That’s possible. Want to adjust your workflows? Go for it.
- You have the option to generate macros to speed up your production processes. All of your repetitive work is eliminated with these macros.
- An advanced file searching tool is included, along with multiple carets for swapping and adjusting multiple lines of code all at once.
If you’re using a Mac, and would like a text editor that supports all coding languages, TextMate is a solid choice for you. It also appears to be a nice solution for those who like bundles and macros.
Conclusion
So you’re are a coder or web developer who’s tired of coding in Notepad before, you will know how tedious and challenging it can be. However, since the advent of “code editors” writing codes have become more faster, cleaner and more efficient.
This list will guide you in choosing the top code editor that best suite your needs and will will help you code faster and more efficiently.