How to Choose A Code Editor?

#editor #programming #tooling

Using a professional code editor isn’t just for show – it is a necessity given the complexity of software development today. Gone are the days of writing your code in a Notepad file. To code efficiently, every programmer worth their salt needs to employ a set of developer tools to not only write their code in, but to optimize their coding experience and reduce errors as much as possible. One such tool a developer relies on is an integrated developer environment (IDE). Another option is a code editor.

Code editors allow coders to open multiple coding files and windows in conjunction with a built-in terminal environment. They help programmers shorten development time and code more efficiently, with features like syntax highlighting and code lookup.

In today’s article, we will discuss what a code editor is, the role it plays in the software development lifecycle (SDL), and how to choose a good code editor, regardless of the language you write your applications in. We will also discuss the difference between a code editor and an IDE.

What is a Code Editor?
Just as a rich text editor is a custom application for editing articles and books – with many advanced features custom-made for writing and editing, a code editor has many custom features especially designed to meet the needs of a software developer. At the same time, it’s lightweight and more practical than an integrated development environment (IDE), which has its own benefits and drawbacks, depending upon a programmer’s needs.