There are many text editors for code. If you’re searching for the best text editor, there are quite a few places to look. There are tons of forums online, everyone always has an opinion about something, but they don’t show you what they use themselves.
I’m going to break it down and help you find the best text editor for programming, what kind of text editor is best for a programmer on a budget and how to improve your workflow using a text editor instead of a traditional IDE.
Notepad++
Notepad++ is an advanced and feature-rich sibling of the Notepad text editor you find in Windows OS. There is a major interface difference between the two which you may notice immediately after starting Notepad++.
The application supports various programming languages, but it is typically known for being the best HTML editor. The application supports colored lines while writing the syntax of the language and further highlights the mistakes in the code immediately.
Pros
- Being built for the Windows platform, it can also run on Linux, Unix, Mac OS X(using Wine).
- It is a lightweight application and launches quickly.
- Supports external plugins including macros.
- The interface supports tabbed editing.
- Add Bookmarks for future concerns
- Drag and Drop Option for beginners.
- Option to find and replace text
- Full-Screen Mode
- Minimize to tray window
- Smart syntax highlighting
- Auto indentation and auto complete
- Code and text folding
- Compiler Integration
- FTP support
- Spell check with file comparison
Cons
- Remote file editing does not support HTTP, SSH or WebDAV
- Does not support large files
- Third party program (wine) is needed to run the application on Mac OS X.
Price: Free
Verdict:
It is one of the best free text editors for coding in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Many advance code editors don’t provide the option for Code Highlighting in case of any mistake in the code but, Notepad++ supports this functionality and helps in writing error-free code.
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a widely known text editor that gets the job done effortlessly. The features are indeed very plentiful as well. concerns Sublime Text , ensuring every user gets the most out of it without breaking a sweat. Some of the highlights include multiple selection, split editing, instant project change, Cross-platform compatibility and nothing. With effortless JSON files, Sublime Text offers you to customize just about anything Sublime Text. Plus, SublimeText also has a fairly active forum where the whole community has come together to share knowledge, ask questions and stuff. And if you ever need the assistance of the Sublime Text team, get in touch with them whenever you want.
Sublime text is another lightweight text editor. It is compact but powerful. It provides powerful IDE-like features along with Python Scripting and with an ability to customize the editor and letting the coders program with great speed and efficiency.
There are many code editors that support the black background for enhanced view and Sublime Text is one of them.
Pros
- Multi-Line select and editing
- Offers a cross-platform support
- Instant file switching
- Beginner-friendly interface
- Black screen supports distraction-free editing mode
- Fully customizable
- Support for TextMate and Windows Decoration themes
- Haxe and OpenFL integration via plugin support
- Syntax detection and highlighting the error
Cons
- Poor Support for Linux
- Opening big files takes time
- Crashes Frequently
- The much-used package manager is missing from the software
- The code editor does not support the print option
- No toolbar of its own
Verdict:
If you are starting with the basics of programming, Sublime Text is the best HTML and PHP editor to go with. Almost all the code editors support these basic programming languages but, they have an advanced interface and are good for mainly server side programming.
Atom
Atom toggle all necessary , then some, which makes it one of the best text editors. Features are vast, ensuring you have a great experience and smooth coding. Intelligent autocomplete, multiple panes, find and replace, File system browser and great customization options are just a few of the benefits that Atom has in store for you. Another cool feature of the tool is Teletype – an option that helps you connect your team to work on the code remotely – from the text editor itself.We can also save time with one of the 8,000 packages that make Atom really powerful.
Atom is the invention of GitHub’s greatest minds and looks very similar to the Sublime Text. The interface looks just like the clone of the latter text editor. Many programmers would feel more comfortable in using Atom as it has got a simple interface as compared to the Sublime Text.
Pros
- Easy to navigate interface
- Supports Command Palette
- Special Developer Tools
- Package Manager Integrated for Plugins support
- Customizing UI is easier as compared to other code editors
- The GitHub community is pretty active in getting any issues resolved if the developer is stuck somewhere while programming
- Fuzzy File Finder
Cons
- Slow as compared to other text editors
- CoffeeScript needed to write the packages.
- No Corona Package
- Difficulty in handling large files
Price: Free
Verdict:
It is a product for developers created by developers. The community is very helpful and helps a lot in resolving the issues faced by any developer. Being an Open Source platform, it is the best text editor for basic as well as advanced programming. Atom is among those few code editors that is regularly updated with new functionalities and bug fixes.
Coda
So, here comes a Mac supported Text Editor for the flashy programmers who like speed and optimization in a single code editor.
Coda supports OS X 10.7.5 and later versions of Mac and is one of the very few code editors that have been carefully designed for the Mac systems only.
The application has evolved much from its initial release in 2007 from a simple text editor to a previewed.
It included every essential feature that you will need to power up your coding session including the syntax, reviewing and uploading your web pages. The Transmit Turbo Engine supports the quick uploads from a remote location.
Pros
- The core features are integrated compactly
- Leopard GUI
- Auto code completion
- Block editing and syntax coloring
- Drag and drop option
- Terminal window support for MySQL queries
Cons
- Best suited for programming in HTML and CSS
- Supports Mac-based systems only
- Support for network drives causes to crash frequently
- Expensive application as compared to other code editors
Price: 7 day Trial/ $99 for full version
Verdict:
Coda is the best alternative for expensive Web design suites. It combines all the necessary tools that you need to develop a website from scratch. Coda is the best text editor for Mac considering price and features. The app also supports proper notification for any updates.
TextMate
TextMate is another Mac-based text editor. This text editor is mostly preferred for programming in Ruby and Ruby on Rails. It is a well-known Code-Editor for developers who code on a Mac system.
The application is excellent for development in modern programming languages. Let’s us look at some of its pros and cons.
Pros
- Search and Replace
- Auto Indentation
- Clipboard History
- Column Selection and Column Typing
- Auto Completion
- Support for Foldable Code Blocks
- Support for Perforce, Darcs, SVK and Subversion
- Supports more than 50 programming languages
- Syntax Highlight and coloring
- Supports Xcode
- FTP support
Cons
- Outdated UI is the biggest drawback of this highly optimized Mac text editor.
- No fullscreen support
- Only available for Mac OSX.
Price: Free
Verdict:
Without any doubt, if you are looking for a free text editor, TextMate is the best text editor for Mac. You may find many free text editors for Windows but there are very few free applications which are available for Mac and TextMate is one of them.
NetBeans
Supported by a worldwide community, NetBeans is a fantastic open-source example of IDE software for development with C++ as well as Java, JavaScript, and other languages. Whether you need to edit an existing project or start from scratch, a simple drag-and-drop interface will make creating apps much easier.
NetBeans features numerous project templates and an integrated debugger, which makes it one of the best web development IDE. It is compatible with all major operating systems and supports many compilers, such as Cygwin and GNU. It is also, undoubtedly, one of the best C++ IDE options.
Pros:
- Powerful debugging
- Cross-platform software
- Free
- Supports custom plugins
Cons:
- Slows down occasionally
Eclipse
This web development IDE is free, flexible, and has great functionality which both beginners and professional users can benefit from. Eclipse was originally a Java environment, but it has extended to support C++, Python, PHP, and others.
The standard edition features debugging tools, Git/CVS support, and a plugin development toolkit. Backed by a global community, Eclipse can be empowered with various extensions. If you need to boost its functionality for modelling, testing, and/or charting, you can search for a solution via the Eclipse Marketplace Client.
Pros:
- Multiple language support
- A wide selection of plugins
- Fast compiler
Cons:
- Complex for newcomers
- Lacks advanced functionality
Visual Studio Code
Our list of best web development IDE would be incomplete without Visual Studio Code, another fantastic product created by Microsoft. It is a relatively lightweight cross-platform software solution with extensive support for many languages, both in-built and via extensions.
It supplies developers with all the basic features, from simple syntax highlighting and autocomplete to advanced code editing based on variable types and imported modules. On top of that, you can debug code with breakpoints and an interactive console directly from your editor.
Pros:
- Open-source
- Fast and powerful
- Can be customized and extended with plugins
Cons:
- Requires a lot of memory
- Lacks advanced IDE features
Conclusion
Every programmer needs a decent text editor however picking the best one can be tricky. This article explains what to look for, helps you decide which is the best text editor for you and provides a list of great alternatives.