Design your way

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Regardless of the operating system they’re using, all web developers and designers need good text editors.

With a solid text editor, they can write down notes as ideas come to their mind, manage codes, or simply write not being distracted by other activities.

Technology is developing more and more, and it might happen that after few years editors will be replaced by less obsolete visual apps, but even in these conditions there will be designers who prefer to complete projects the ‘traditional way’.

In fact, most developers and designers believe it is highly unlikely for an app to surpass the speed and control of the best text editors, or to make them more efficient.

We’ve collated some of the best free text editors you should consider when working on iMac screens, conventional PC laptops, or updating clients’ websites from your tablet.

We made sure to include the best code editors and to compare them, so that it would be easier for you to choose an appropriate one.

Notepad++

Notepad++ is a pioneer text editor for Windows users like because of its simplicity and intuitiveness. For many designers and developers, Notepad and Wordpad are in fact the only text editors they’ve ever used.

What is really good about Notepad++ is that you get to use it for free, both when you install it on your device and when you run it from a cloud service or a portable flash drive.

We also believe it is great for beginners who are still familiarizing with the potential of html text editors.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a cross-platform editor with numerous amazing features, and one of the most popular apps in designers’ call for contender thread.

You can use it with all specific programming languages as long as you install the right add-on, and expand its functionality with a number of keyboard commands and go-to features.

Among other functionalities, you will get a powerful search filter, APIs and developer-friendly plugins, side by side comparisons, and distraction mode, thanks to which you can deliver projects in time regardless of where you are.

Vim

Vim is another free cross-platform editor intended to serve programmers with a functional interface that is easy to use and navigate. For inexperienced users, nevertheless, it may take a while to maximize its potential, and to learn how to configure it to make it work for them.

There are several specific keyboard commands and shortcuts you have to learn, but with all user scripts and training materials available on the net you will get hands around it sooner than you think. Vim doesn’t take long to help streamlining your work, which is why most developers find it to be an essential editing tool.

Vim also has a number of editing iterations, including such that enrich it with GUI, and thanks to which you shouldn’t necessarily resort to the command line to launch it. Most of them are free and compatible with every operating system with command lines.

Atom

Atom is a modern text editor many experts like to praise as the ‘tool of the 21^st century’. It is believed to respond to the needs of any designer and nominated for some of the most prominent developer awards.

The product is signed by GitHub’s development team, and based on the team’s personal code management experience. It is flexible, customizable, and packed with premium themes, and has open developer APIs to help you connect it with the rest of your software architecture.

Komodo Edit

If looking for a free and practical IDE, Komodo Edit has you covered. This multi-language and multi-selection editor offers a Markdown viewer, auto-completion, and change tracking and management.

Emacs

GNU Emacs is the most frequently used Emacs incarnation, as it is customizable and completely free. Despite of the fact you don’t have to pay for it, Emacs is also one of the most powerful editors that respond to particular requirements and expectations. The only drawback for inexperienced users may be the steep learning curve.

ICEcoder

ICEcoder is a lightweight code editor you can access directly from your browser. As it is an open-source system, you can use both online and offline, and run it from the very first moment you’ve installed it. Inside, you will find all common editing features, but also few unexpected ones such as highlighting themes, broken tag indicators, and secure logins.

Coda

Coda is a detail-oriented and modern Mac app developed for web designers to build beautiful and functional websites.

The company has released a version of the app Coda 2 that offers a vast array of features that streamline their initial release, and makes coding more enjoyable.

What is really specific about it is the inbuilt MySQL editor, code folding, and great clips that were not available in the original version.

DroidEdit Pro

There aren’t that many Android text editors to compare, but even in such circumstances DroidEdit is a worthy alternative for the low price you’d pay for it.

It is a beautiful and effort-free tool you can use to write code on the go, and one that supports bracket matching, SFTP/FTP, syntax highlighting, and Dropbox.

The cool and configurable keyboard shortcuts are other distinctive advantages that enhance visibility, and thanks to which you can forget about pecking and hunting on your small device.

Brackets

Brackets is a very simple, easy-to-learn text editor that blends all important visual tools in a single product. Modern and powerful, Brackets helps designers make the most of their creativity, and turns coding into an enjoyable and memorable experience.

UltraEdit

UltraEdit is a popular member of IDM Computer Solutions’ productivity suite that can be used with almost every programming language (Java Script, HTML, PHP, Python, Perl, C/C++, and many more).

It is applied by many leading developers around the world who appreciate its robust feature suite, and like the fact they can extend its functionality with plugins and add-ons.

CoffeeCup

Developers and designers working on HTML and CSS projects should definitely consider CoffeeCup as one of the simplest and most advanced web editor that can help them complete and organize their work. This quality tool is equally suitable for beginners and professionals.

CodeRunner 2

CodeRunner 2 gives Mac users a friendly and affordable code writing tool that doesn’t take too much to learn. Setup is also made easy (you can literally download it and install it in few minutes), and the tool is ready to be configured and meet your most specific needs.