You could be a baby in terms of web development, or you might be an experienced coder with a world of finished projects filed in your done folder, whichever you are, you will need a reliable code editor to help you along. As a coder, this is the most important software you can get your hands on.
The code editors on this list share many fundamental qualities, and equally, they all have their own unique aspects. Ultimately, deciding on the editor you want to use will be a personal choice that depends on your working habits and the software you have become familiar with using.
The following list is a breakdown of the 10 most awesome Code Editors currently available.
Notepad ++
This windows-based open-source code editor is one of the most well-known code editors on the market, and not only because it is free. It has the dual benefits of being easy to use for beginners and also extremely powerful for advanced users. Notepad ++ is equipped with syntax highlighting for several oft used languages. In addition, you can connect to your server from the editor with the built-in FTP plugin. However, the downside is that this is a windows only code editor so not available for Mac or Linux users. Ideal for anyone on windows who are starting out in coding.
Features
- Syntax Highlighting & Folding
- Search/Replace
- Highly customizable
- Auto-completion
- Multi-document tab interface
- Zoom in and out
- Multi-language environment supported
Sublime Text
This beautiful looking cross-platform code editor is available on Linux, Windows, and Mac. In addition, it boasts probably the smoothest UX design of all its competitors. Likewise, Sublime Text wins a lot of fans based on its excellent list of features including split editing, distraction-free writing, and an intuitive keyboard shortcut system. This is a one-stop-shop for code and prose writing that allows you to take care of your workflow in one place.
Features
- lightning-fast shortcuts
- Command Palette
- Keyboard shortcuts make everything smoother
- Split Editing
- Highly customizable
- Multiple selections
- Distraction-free writing mode
- Instant project switch
- Plugin API
Vim
Another excellent cross-platform open-source code editor. This is an advanced text editor that combines all the power of Vi with a fully loaded feature set. This is not an easy software for beginners to get adapted to and has a reputation as the coders’ choice of code editor. Another excellent and well thought out array of keyboard shortcuts means those who are willing to go through the steep learning curve will have a rapid code editor on their hands.
Features
- Designed for coders and developers
- Brutalist UI
- IDE and text editor
- Unix-based
- Huge plug-in system
- Secure login
- Gamified learning process
- Support for every programming language imaginable
Brackets
Created by the people over at Abode with the aim of pushing editors into the new age. The best way to describe Brackets is simple and powerful. Some of its useful features include the Extract tool which allows you to take colors, fonts, and measurements directly from PSDs and reuse them as CSS. All this makes it the perfect choice for any front end developer who also meddles with design and mock-ups.
Features
- Extract
- A constantly growing library of extensions
- JavaScript refactoring
- Git integration
- W3C validation
- Massive extension library
- Inline editors
- Live preview
- Preprocessor report
CoffeeCup HTML Editor
In the sense that they are both free code editors then CoffeeCup and Notepad ++ are in direct competition with each other. A feature-rich editor, CoffeCup supports HTML, PHP, CSS, and Markdown, as well as offering autocomplete, syntax validation, and semantic code. Available free of charge or as a premium variation, on either Windows or Mac, CoffeeCup is an excellent option, especially for HTML editing.
Features
- Quick startup
- Syntax highlighting
- Code validation tools
- Project organization
- FTP sync
- Site preview
Atom
Quite simply one of the best code and text editors that is currently available. Atom – a project started by Github and owned by Microsoft – is a free, open-source, and customizable code editor that lends itself to multiple code languages. The great thing about Atom is that it can be altered to suit your needs, so whatever it may lack as a code editor can simply be programmed into place as you adapt the software to suit your needs. Assuming you have the coding background that is.
Features
- File system browser
- Teletype
- Fuzzy finder for quickly opening files
- Fast project-wide search and replace
- Multiple cursors and selections
- Multiple panes
- Snippets
- Code folding
- A clean preferences UI
- Import TextMate grammars and themes
Visual Studio Code
Since its release a few short years ago, Microsoft’s VS Code has become possibly the best-loved code editor in the whole world of software development (we said possibly – there is always room for debate). The reasons why are clear: powerful, adaptable, and backed by an extremely passionate community of coders – VS Code has everything you need to write the code you dream of writing. This code editor is the new kid on the block and it intends to stick around.
Features
- open source via MIT license (Github link)
- built-in Git (including merge conflicts, diff checking, and modified file tracking from within the editor)
- in-editor debugging
- large library of extensions and plugins
- compatible with nearly every programming language
- very lightweight in comparison to other, similarly robust editors
- quick and responsive
- specific Linux distros for Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE, Red Hat, and Debian
- IntelliSense highlighting and autocomplete works like a dream
Coda
This Mac-friendly editor comes complete with a raft of awesome features. Developed by Panic Inc, Coda has everything you need to code a modern website built into one app. Some of the features include the “Find and Replace” token that makes a simple one-button RegEx, and Coda Pops which gives you the option to create colors and gradients while using easy controls. Couple these features with the built-in terminal, debugger, and inspector, and you have an excellent package on your hands.
Features
- Syntax highlighting
- Code folding
- Project-wide autocomplete
- Fast find and replace
- Indentation guides
- Automatic tag closing
- Fast commenting and shifting of code
- Great file management
- FTP/SFTP/WebDAV/Amazon S3
UltraEdit
This HTML and code editor is available across all platforms, Mac, Linux, and Windows included. It comes as a part of a package of developer programs developed by IDM computer solutions. In addition, UltraEdit can edit just about any programming language including HTML, PHP, JavaScript, Perl, C/C++, and Python. This is a feature-heavy premium product that is doing its best to stand out from the crowd.
Features
- Column/block editing
- Multi-caret editing
- Multi-select
- Syntax highlighting
- Integrated FTP client
- Integrated SSH/telnet
- Editor themes
- File/data sorting
TextWrangler
TextWrangler has now become a part of the popular Bare Bones Edit text editor software. As a result, it has gone on to stake its own claim in the world of popular code editors. Potent and multi-purpose, TextWrangler is also feature-rich and free to use. Among its qualities are its intuitive and easy to use interface and its multi program syntax highlighting. As a plus, TextWrangler also allows you to convert character encoding of text documents.
Features
- Search and replace across multiple files
- Project definition tools
- Function navigation and syntax coloring
- Numerous source code languages
- Code folding
- FTP/SFTP
Summary
These code editors all come with different features, different names, and even different price tags (although many are free!). Despite that, it is hard to make a case for one over the other.
One of the key distinguishing features is which platforms they are available on, Windows, Mac, or Linux for example. Other than that, you can look at whether the software coincides with the type of work you will be doing. If you are a beginner there are several options that would work well for you.
In conclusion, any one of the editors on this list would be a worthy addition to the coders’ arsenal, and if need be you could even use two or three!
