DEV Community

Cover image for What is the best code editor?
Fulton Browne
Fulton Browne

Posted on

What is the best code editor?

I am on the search for the best code editor, what are your picks?

Top comments (43)

Collapse
 
elmuerte profile image
Michiel Hendriks

The one that also does my laundry.

Collapse
 
ale_jacques profile image
Alexandre Jacques • Edited

It varies on what I need to do. My main editor is VIM. I use it for Python and JS. My setup is pretty slick and not many plugins or configurations.

I have some freelance stuff that needs to be done in Java. And for that, no better choice than IntelliJ Idea (I even pay for the commercial version).

From time-to-time I try VS Code but, as far as it goes, my brain is too deep into VIM. Even with VIM keybidings I don't feel confortable enough.

Collapse
 
ferricoxide profile image
Thomas H Jones II

VIM? Ugh. ed is the one, true editor. =)

Collapse
 
developertharun profile image
Tharun Shiv

VS Code is my preference.

Reasons:

  1. Boots and works fast
  2. Extentions like live server, prettier, programming language based extentions, Emmet, Git Lens and more
  3. Git integration
  4. Integrated terminal
  5. Themes

🙂

tharunshiv image
Collapse
 
marcusatlocalhost profile image
Marcus

Sublime Text for performance reasons. VS Code is ok once in a while, but I come back to ST.

Collapse
 
rfaulhaber profile image
Ryan Faulhaber

I'm a recent convert to emacs, so, emacs.

I think the editor you use is largely a personal preference, as each editor offers different things for different needs, and everyone has different needs! But the thing that blows me away about emacs is that it's so flexible that it can be pretty much anything. Sure atom, vscode, and vim are extensible, but with emacs it feels much less limited. emacs isn't the fastest or flashiest editor, sure, but what it lacks in trendiness it makes up for in features.

I specifically use doom emacs because emacs out of the box is quite a daunting program, and, as a former vim user, it's made the transition to emacs quite seamless (in fact it's like using a more sophisticated vscode).

Collapse
 
simanto_rahman profile image
Simanto Rahman • Edited

Till now, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) has been a text editor that has blurred the line between IDE and text editors. I use it like an IDE with heavy extensions helping me making things simpler. My main use-cases are ASP.NET Core, Docker and React. I work with python here and there. And the support it has for all 4 of those is phenomenal.

Collapse
 
lazerfx profile image
Peter Street • Edited

I'd suggest that this is dependent on what you want to do and what your requirements are. Use the best tools for your job. For some, this will be the likes of Visual Studio Code. Others will use Eclipse, JetBrains solutions, 'full-fat' Visual Studio or even something like Vim, emacs or Notepad++...

For scratch operations, things like LinqPad or certain cloud services are useful.

In the interests of answering honestly, I don't think there is a true 'one-size-fits-all' answer to this question.

Collapse
 
riidom profile image
riidom • Edited

I like to have a specialist, a generalist and an occasionalist.

Specialist depends on the language. If you write a lot Lua, it might be worth evaluating Zerobrane, for example. For Java and PHP such specialists exist too, and probably for other languages as well.

Generalist should deal equally well with all languages. I hail with the VS Code mob here.

Occasionalist should be mostly crazy fast to start up. I use these when I do quick edits in single files (so, nothing project-based, or let's call it folder-based). Start, edit, save, quit. And when I do the same a minute later, I dont feel stupid, because it's my occasionalist :) On Windows, Notepad++ is a solid choice, on Kubuntu, I use Kate, for example.

Collapse
 
janpauldahlke profile image
jan paul • Edited

my journey:

notepadd++, sublime, atom, und now finally VSC

it would still be atom, but the perf issues, idk

Collapse
 
krishnakakade profile image
krishna kakade

VSCODE takes the cup 🏆🥇

Collapse
 
taylorbeeston profile image
Taylor Beeston

I have found neovim with the right combination of plug-ins and init.vim settings to be better than any other editor I've tried despite giving VSCode, Atom and Sublime Text tries every once in a while.

Collapse
 
jonrandy profile image
Jon Randy 🎖️

SublimeText

Collapse
 
adnanbabakan profile image
Adnan Babakan (he/him)

I think PhpStorm is the best IDE for web development. All in all, IntelliJ based IDEs are the best.

Collapse
 
buphmin profile image
buphmin

Same, it's features just save you so much time. Worth every penny.

Collapse
 
quasipickle profile image
Dylan Anderson

SublimeText. I've tried VS Code and it is pretty nice, but for my workflow it doesn't do anything SublimeText doesn't already.

Collapse
 
dogers profile image
Dogers

Are you a unicorn that's actually bought a license?

Collapse
 
quasipickle profile image
Dylan Anderson

"Unicorn" is awfully kind ;)

But yes, I did buy a license - I like to support the software that makes my life easier. Plus, work actually bought the license.

Thread Thread
 
dogers profile image
Dogers

Well good job! :)

I see a lot of people using it with the unlimited trial who just shrug when I ask why.. I just shake my head and go back to VSC :(

Thread Thread
 
maciejcieslik profile image
Maciej Cieslik

Why licence when there's limetext?

Collapse
 
caelinsutch profile image
caelinsutch

Jetbrains products are the bomb! I love the functionality of Webstorm, Clion, and Intellij, integrations are amazing and their intellisense is second to none!

Only downside is they are a little heavy weight :(.