For many web developers, code writers, and designers, the code editor app is an important toolset when coding. Before even learning web development, you need to decide which code editing tool you will use. As a matter of fact, you will find various code editors available online. Therefore we narrowed down your options and pick the best ones that will give an impact on your productivity and efficiency at coding. Check out the list below.
10 Best Code Editor Apps
- Atom
- Sublime Text 3
- Notepad++
- Visual Studio Code
- Bluefish
- NetBeans
- CoffeeCup HTML Editor
- Brackets
- Vim
- GNU Emacs
Atom (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Can open multiple panes or windows
- Cross-platform editing
- Supports search function for files
The first code editor on the list is Atom. This is a famous editor for developers for its friendly UI making it great when it comes to usability. Coupled with that, the tool supports cross-platform editing which means you can modify the codes from every platform. Moreover, it allows you to open the tool in multiple panes that help you to compare and write codes conveniently. You may also maximize this feature when using multiple monitors for a larger workspace.
Sublime Text 3(Mac OS, Windows, Linux)
Pricing: Free; $80
Key features:
- Responsive user-interface
- Offers support to keyboard shortcuts
- Highly customizable and extendable
Another text editor for codes you can use for free is Sublime Text. What makes this the best code editor is that it is lightweight and fast compared to similar programs. Not to mention it supports keyboard shortcuts that provide a smooth experience when writing codes. Also, it features themes to personalize the appearance of the editor, color pickers, code linters, and more. You may find the reminder popup annoying but you can remove it by shelling out 80$ for license and enjoy additional useful features.
Notepad++ (Windows)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Supports PHP, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
- Collapse and hide codes
- Multiple document interface
If you’re looking for a free code editor alternative, Notepad++ is a great choice. It is a source code and text editor as a Microsoft notepad replacement supporting several languages. Furthermore, it supports syntax highlighting for languages like HTML, PHP, JavaScript, and CSS. Additionally, it has collapse and hide feature making it much easier to navigate the program and focus on a certain line of codes.
Visual Studio Code (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- IntelliSense feature for autocompletion of code
- Works with Git and SCM providers
- Customizable themes
As far as the best code editor, Visual Studio Code indeed sets the bar. VS Code is a feature-rich and customizable text editor which can be considered an IDE itself. This means that it gives you the ability to perform the functions of an IDE in the form of a text editor. Also, its IntelliSense facility is something to look forward to because this feature helps you autocomplete codes and information based on the parameters of the function definition, variable types, and names.
Bluefish (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Can handle loads of files with fast interface
- Features Auto-recovery
- Write or edit codes in Full-screen
Another free code editor you should consider using is Bluefish. This application is designed for programmers who do multi-tasking working on different software. It helps users to load hundreds of files in a matter of seconds. In fact, it also comes with an auto-recovery feature making sure changes are saved after a system crash or shutdown. Still, it’s best to save your program codes from time to time especially when working with large documents.
NetBeans (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Code analyzers for debugging
- Multiple programming language support
- Built-in project management
One of the highlights of NetBeans lies in its code analyzers feature which assists users in locating errors in codes more quickly. This code editor also includes support to multiple programming languages gives you the ability to develop various applications using just one software. With it, you can develop programs with C++, Java, PHP, and a lot more.
CoffeeCup HTML Editor (Windows)
Pricing: Free; $49
Key features:
- Code validation toolkit
- Great support for HTML development and design
- FTP capability
This list is not complete without CoffeeCup HTML Editor. While the tool offers very basic features, it’s the best code editor to start learning HTML, PHP, and CSS. Likewise, it comes with a feature for autocompletion of codes, plus the ability to move files or documents from computer to the program you are working on which also known as FTP.
Brackets (Windows, Linux, Mac OS)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Offers live preview
- Inline editor support
- Extract PSD as CSS
Brackets is specifically developed for web designing. Thus, this is a good place to start when learning about web development for the first time. You can use the tool to quickly preview the changes made to CSS or HTML after the modification. Beyond that, this free code editor can extract CSS codes from PSD files. It does include the information of colors, fonts, measurements of the extracted PSD file.
Vim (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Command-line based
- For hard-core keyboarders
- Record and playback macro
When looking for a software that is a command centric, Vim is the best code editor for that matter. Upfront the tool is not user-friendly, but if you get past to its UI and learned how to operate, it can do everything just like the other best text editors. Besides that, it enables you to record and replay Vim commands to review the program.
GNU Emacs (Windows, Linux, Mac OS)
Pricing: Free
Key features:
- Content-aware editing
- Available in Unicode for many script types
- Compatible to major platforms
The last text editor on the list is GNU Emacs. It is a free code editor that offers powerful features for coding. It comes with content-aware editing modes for different file types. Moreover, the tool completely supports Unicode characters allowing it to interpret and understand human language.
Conclusion
Now you have learned the top 10 best free code editors. Generally, you may categorize the selection into two parts. Apps with simple GUI and while the others are command centric like Vim. If you are accustomed to GUI you should choose the apps with friendly UI. But trying out an advanced editor is also a good way to hone your craft so you should consider the latter option.
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