Best Text Editor for Programming Free

One of the most important parts of doing any kind of programming is using a code editor. So what is the best code editor? Well, there are dozens of editors out there, each with their own set of features, themes, and plug-in support.

Choosing which one is for you sometimes comes down to your individual preferences. However, I’ve made this guide which should serve as a good starting point for anyone looking to find the best text editor.”

BBEdit

Best for Developers and Web Designers.

BBEdit is limited to Mac. It boasts a wide range of cutting-edge features, but it also tries to seem basic, like the acronym BB. Git integration and auto-completion are excellent features of BBEdit.

For easy editing, they provide syntax highlighting and fast lookups and editing windows you can split apart and position next to one other. At the moment, BBEdit has a single-user license for $49.99. Additionally, you may update to new versions for less money.

Features: Split windows, syntax highlighting, git integration, auto-completion.

Pricing: $49.99.

Website: BBEdit

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#13) Komodo Edit

Best for beginners.

Komodo Edit seeks to provide something strong, but also simple enough for beginners to understand. The Mac and Windows versions of Komodo Edit are available for download. It’s free and open-source, so beginners can work with it on simpler tasks.

The Komodo IDE’s developer features like code profiling and unit testing are very valuable if you require these sophisticated tools. Komodo IDE includes full support for all languages and frameworks, making it an excellent choice for web development. Additionally, the upgrade is completely free because it is an open-source project.

Features: Multi-Language Editor, Auto-Complete & Calltips, Unit Testing, Print Debugging, Live Previewing, Project Wizard, Dependency Detector.

Pricing: Free.

Website: Komodo Edit

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#14) Blue Fish

Best for programmers and web developers.

Bluefish is an open-source freeware text editor with several features for web development and programming. This tool supports HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript, Java, and other such programming languages, and shell coding languages.

Ubuntu One is available for macOS, Linux, and Windows and integrates with GNOME, although it may also be used as a stand-alone program.

Meant to work as a middle ground between free-form text editors and programming IDEs with heavy IDE capabilities, Bluefish is required lesser space, is quick, and is accessible to newer users while including numerous IDE functions. The translations are available in seventeen languages.

Features: Combine external filters, undo/redo as many times as you want, line-by-line spell checks, all changes can be recovered automatically, Unicode characters have a character map.

Pricing: Free

Website: Blue Fish

Sublime Text

What makes Sublime Text stand out is its ability to make use of each OS’ native functionalities. That makes Sublime Text one of the more resource-efficient options.

Pros: Sublime Text is highly customizable, both in appearance and in functionality (using plugins). In addition to having many of the basic editor features (like colored syntax and searchability), Sublime adds a Goto Anything feature. You can search inside or outside the application or open and manipulate files with a quick keystroke. It also allows multiple selections, so you can highlight multiple lines and edit them all at once.

Cons: Sublime Text has a steep learning curve even though it’s designed to simplify workflows. You can use it free of charge, but it has a very intrusive popup system asking users to buy a license.

How to Install

Sublime Text is not a default application on most Linux installations. Install it with the following command:

wget -qO - https://download.sublimetext.com/sublimehq-pub.gpg | sudo apt-key add -

echo "deb https://download.sublimetext.com/ apt/stable/" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sublime-text.list

sudo apt update

sudo apt install sublime-text

Vim

Almost all Linux distributions, even older versions, come with the Vim editor installed. Vim stands for Vi Improved, meaning that Vim is a modified and improved version of the old Vi text editor.

Pros: Vim supports automatic commands, digraph inputs (useful in programming), split and session screens, tabs, colored schemes (color-coded by function), and tagging. It can be configured with plugins and comes with a tutorial (invoked with the vimtutor command). When you master the commands, Vim is very efficient.

Cons: It does not have a GUI. The only way you can initiate Vim is from the command line. The interface is user-unfriendly, while some commands are not intuitive. Coding a file from scratch would be too complicated. The learning curve can be steep, but Vim is very popular in the Linux community.

Nano Editor

Nano is a revision of an older editor called Pico and comes pre-loaded on most Linux installations. Nano is an ideal lightweight editor for beginners. It’s a lot easier to use than Vim, so it’s worth learning Nano for quick configuration edits.

Pros: It supports GNU Autoconf, interactive search-and-replace, auto-indent, and spellcheck. Nano is intuitive and easy to use. It lists the keystroke commands at the bottom of the editor, so you don’t have to memorize or look them up.

Cons: The list of commands is short and some may be unintuitive.

Atom

Atom is a popular open-source code/text editor that works across several platforms such as Windows, Mac, or Linux. Atom is also considered to be one of the best Python code editors.

Pros: Atom has color-coded syntax, a smart autocomplete feature, multiple panes, and a search-and-replace feature. It also has its own package manager for plugins, so you can easily expand its functionality. You can also customize the appearance manually by using themes. A new plugin – called teletype – allows you to share workspaces with other Atom users.

Cons: Most users will have to tweak the default configuration. Low-spec computers will struggle to run Atom, especially if you load multiple projects.

How to Install

Atom is not typically included in a default Linux installation. Install it with the following commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/atom

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install atom

For RedHat or CentOS systems, use the yum install command instead of apt-get install.

Gedit

Gedit is a text editor that comes with the GNOME desktop environment. The design emphasizes simplicity so gedit is a great editor for beginners. Even though simple in design, gedit is a powerful tool.

Pros: The uncomplicated interface includes clipboard support, multilanguage spellchecking, undo/redo, syntax highlighting for various languages (C, C++, Java, Python, etc,), color-coded syntax, and has a flexible plugin system.

Cons: This editor works well if you do not need too many features, or if you simply prefer a clean interface. Gedit works great with GNOME, but there are better options for other desktop environments.

How to Install

On older versions of Linux, or versions without GNOME, it may not come pre-installed. Install gedit with the following command:

sudo apt-get install gedit

Note: Can’t decide between CentOS and Ubuntu? Read our CentOS vs Ubuntu comparison article.

Visual Studio Code

If you’ve installed Anaconda on Linux, you may be familiar with the option to install Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Even though it’s from Microsoft, VSCode is cross-platform, meaning it works on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Pros: Visual Studio Code is lightweight but powerful, and it offers an extensive library of add-ons. These include additional programming language support, debuggers, and commands. This text editor is an excellent choice for developing JavaScript applications and working in cross-platform environments.

Cons: Compared to other text editors on this list, VSCode might not always run properly on Linux, especially Ubuntu. It is also known to use a lot of memory and CPU resources. Furthermore, it may run slower compared to other text editors.

How to Install

Install VSCode with the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-desktop/ubuntu-make

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-make

GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs is a text/code editor for Linux professionals created by Richard Stallman, the founder of the GNU project. Emacs allows you to write code, display a manual, or draft an email from the same interface.

Pros: It has content-aware editing modes, extensive documentation and a tutorial, incredible language support, and a package manager for extensions. It also offers cross-compatibility with other GNU apps, including an organizer, mail app, calendar, and debugger.

Cons: It’s not for everyone. You might choose Emacs if you have multiple different tasks and want a standard interface. It’s designed for the Linux power user, so if that’s you, it’s worth a try.

How to Install

Install GNU Emacs with the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kelleyk/emacs

sudo apt update

sudo apt install emacs26

How to Install

Install Geany with the following command:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install geany

gVim

The gVim text editor is an enhanced version of Vi and Vim.

Pros: If you’re already familiar with Vi and Vim, you’ll appreciate the added functionality of gVim. The options include encryption, pop-out menus, and cross-platform compatibility. gVim handles huge files better than other text editors. Another handy feature is that gVim uses a different cursor for insert and command modes.

Cons: The gVim editor requires a graphical interface, making it unavailable on systems that run without a GUI. Like Vi and Vim, gVim has a steep learning curve, so if you’re not familiar with the Vi/Vim editor, gVim might not be the best choice.

Neovim

As the name suggests, Neovim is another editor based on Vi/Vim. Neovim aims to update the Vim-style editor with modern features, such as compatibility with other applications.

Pros: Like other Vi/Vim-based editors, Neovim uses the same basic commands. It adds robust support for plugins and integration with other applications. It was designed to be faster and use less memory, making it an excellent choice for resource-conscious users. Neovim also includes a terminal emulator, which allows you to run terminal commands from the interface.

Cons: Some users report that, despite the improvements, switching between insert and command mode slows their input. It’s also not available on many older systems. Although Neovim is much more customizable, personalization can be time-consuming. Finally, like other Vi/Vim-based editors, there is a steep learning curve to use Neovim effectively.

Pico

Pico stands for Pine Composer. It’s a text editor that comes with the Pine email application. Pico is the precursor to the Nano text editor.

Pros: Pico displays commands on the screen, making it easier to use without memorizing key combinations. It includes most basic text-editor functions, including find/replace (in a single document). Users like Pico because it’s simple to use. Many plugins are available to add functionality and customization.

Cons: There is no support for working with multiple files, copying/pasting between files, or searching/replacing them on multiple files.

Lime Text

The Lime text editor was a project designed as an alternative to the Sublime editor. Some prefer it because the Sublime text editor isn’t open-source.

Pros: Lime aims to duplicate all the features of Sublime, in an open-source format.

Cons: Support and development for the Lime Text project are spotty. You can install it with instructions from the Github page, but it appears to still be under development.

Kate / Kwrite

Kate stands for KDE Advanced Text Editor. KDE is a desktop environment (graphical interface) for Linux.  The KDE desktop isn’t required to use Kate – you can install it on Windows, Linux, and Mac.

Pros: Kate allows you to edit multiple documents at the same time.  It supports color-coded syntax, customization, and plugins. Kwrite is a lighter utility, used to open and edit a single file quickly. If you use the KDE desktop environment, Kate / Kwrite is a solid editor to use.

Cons: Not many users have complaints about the Kate editor.

Microsoft Visual Studio Code

Best for Python coders.

Developers have flocked to Visual Studio Code (VS Code) since it is a Microsoft product. It is equipped with several packages and free extensions that are available in its marketplace. You can also modify the code editor to your specifications.

Besides supporting organizations quickly and debugging, Visual Studio Code includes its built-in terminal and provides syntax checking and interaction with a variety of source control technologies. As it proposes completions and on-the-fly pop-ups that reveal the documentation for classes and methods, we consider it to be one of the finest IDEs for Python coders.

Features: Auto-complete, free extensions, community-developed packages.

Pricing: Free

Website: Microsoft Visual Studio Code

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Sublime Text

Best for split editing.

Sublime Text sets the standard for text editors for certain people. The code editor is feature-rich and attractive. In addition to quick shortcuts and search, the device has distraction-free writing mode and split editing.

Shortcuts also help you in displaying and concealing the sidebar, duplicating lines, selecting a certain line number, checking for misspelled words, and more.

A huge repository like Atom’s “open-source library of sample applications, plugins, themes, extensions, documentation,” and more will continue to add new capabilities long after your first installation.

Features: Split editing, distraction-free mode, auto-complete.

Pricing: $99

Website: Sublime Text

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Atom

Best for community-developed packages.

Atom has several community-developed packages, and if something isn’t currently available, you may build it by customizing the CSS on the back end.

On the install side, developers who like lightweight programs may chafe at Atom’s somewhat high install footprint, given it is cross-platform and built on the Electron framework.

Features: Cross-platform editing, Built-in package manager, Smart autocompletion, File system browser, Multiple panes, Find and replace.

Pricing: Free

Website: Atom

Conclusion

Atom and some others are open source text editors used to develop website. brackets text editor is also free and open source. Sublime text editor also free and powerful. The braces and brackets plugin like HTML and CSS for vim and the sublime project plugin like package control for atom and visual studio code. Atom and brackets both work on Windows, Linux, and Mac. Atom use to develop website tabs package control has more than 20000 tabs for developing website.