For many developers, a reliable text editor is all you need to build even the most complex web applications. Whether you are creating a website from scratch, editing a CSS file or tinkering with server configuration files, a good, dependable text editor will get the job done. Just last week, over 600 developers cast their votes to select the text editor they considered the best among the many options available in the market. A reliable text editor helps streamline your workflow, enhance productivity and simplify even the most complex coding tasks. From building web applications to debugging scripts, the ideal text editor supports a variety of programming languages, offers customizable features and ensures a smooth coding experience. In this article, our WebsCare research team has compiled a list of 10 most popular text editors for developers.
Looking for the best web development tools to enhance your workflow? Let’s explore 8 top tools that can improve your development experience!
Which text editor is best for you?
When choosing a text editor, think about what you actually need. Free editors may offer basic features but if you need advanced tools, a paid editor might be more useful. While free or low-cost options can be limited in features, higher-end editors often provide everything you need. Make sure to understand the features you require before making your choice. It is a good option for those who need a lightweight, quick and simple editor for smaller tasks or scripting.
10 Highly Rated Text Editors for Software Developers
Here is the list of 10 best text editors for efficient coding, mentioned as:
Visual Studio Code
VSCode has a vast library of extensions available via the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. These extensions allow developers to add functionality such as language support, themes, debuggers and integrations with tools like Git, Docker and Kubernetes. VSCode has a vast library of extensions available via the Visual Studio Code Marketplace. These extensions allow developers to add functionality such as language support, themes, debuggers and integrations with tools like Git, Docker and Kubernetes. It simplifies version control by integrating Git features directly into the editor, enabling users to commit, push, pull and resolve merge conflicts without leaving the IDE.
| Language Support | Extensions provide syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and other language-specific features. |
| Themes | Customizes the appearance of the IDE with a variety of color themes and UI designs. |
| Debuggers | Adds support for debugging code within the editor, offering breakpoints and variable inspection. |
| Git Integration | Allows users to commit, push, pull, and resolve merge conflicts directly within VSCode. |
| Docker & Kubernetes | Integrates with Docker and Kubernetes for container management and orchestration. |
SciTE
SciTE download page SciTE, an open-source text editor for Windows and Linux was originally developed to demonstrate the power of Scintilla. It has since grown into a fully featured text editor for developers. You can extend the default SciTE installation with user-generated configuration files like the SciTE command line launcher (a simple Windows command-line tool for opening files in SciTE). SciTE is designed to be minimalistic and efficient, making it ideal for users who need a quick and responsive editor. It supports syntax highlighting and code folding for numerous programming languages including Python, C++, JavaScript, HTML and more.
| Open-Source | SciTE is free to use and open-source, available for both Windows and Linux. |
| Lightweight and Efficient | Designed to be minimalistic and fast, offering a quick and responsive text editor experience. |
| Syntax Highlighting | Supports syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages like Python, C++, JavaScript, HTML, and more. |
| Code Folding | Allows users to collapse and expand code blocks for easier navigation and better code management. |
| Customizable | Extendable with user-generated configuration files, including the SciTE command line launcher for Windows. |
| Scintilla-Based | Developed to demonstrate the Scintilla text editor component, providing advanced text editing features for developers. |
Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a powerful, lightweight and highly customizable text editor that is popular among developers for its speed, efficiency and strong features. Developed by Jon Skinner, it is designed to handle a variety of programming and markup languages, making it a versatile tool for coding, scripting, and text editing tasks. By using this, Users can personalize themes, color schemes and key bindings by editing configuration files in JSON format. Sublime Text is a beautiful feature rich text editor for editing code that puts a premium on user experience. With the Package Control manager, you can install plugins to extend functionality such as linters, language support and additional themes.
| Lightweight and Fast | Sublime Text is known for its speed and efficiency, providing a fast, responsive experience. |
| Customizable | Personalize themes, color schemes, and key bindings using JSON configuration files. |
| Multi-Language Support | Supports a wide range of programming and markup languages, making it versatile for coding, scripting, and text editing tasks. |
| Distraction-Free Mode | Offers a distraction-free writing mode to help users focus solely on their code or writing. |
| Split Editing | Allows users to split the editor into multiple views for simultaneous editing of different parts of code. |
| Quick Shortcuts and Search | Provides powerful search and quick shortcuts for fast navigation and efficient editing. |
| Package Control | Install plugins via Package Control to extend functionality with linters, language support, additional themes, and more. |
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Notepad++
A free, open-source editor for Windows with support for various programming languages and features like syntax highlighting, regex search and code folding. Notepad++ is a versatile and powerful tool for anyone needing a reliable text and code editor. Notepad++ is built on the Scintilla editing component and is designed to replace the standard Notepad application with a more powerful tool. While it lacks some advanced features found in modern IDEs, its lightweight design, ease of use and wide range of features make it a favorite for many developers, sysadmins and casual users. Comes with a built-in Plugin Manager to install and manage plugins that enable features like FTP integration, JSON viewer and more.
| Open-Source and Free | Notepad++ is free to use and open-source, providing a cost-effective solution for text and code editing. |
| Syntax Highlighting | Supports syntax highlighting for various programming languages, making code more readable and easier to navigate. |
| Regex Search | Features regular expression (regex) search for advanced text searching and manipulation. |
| Code Folding | Allows users to fold and collapse code blocks, improving code navigation and organization. |
| Lightweight | Designed to be lightweight and fast, offering a simple yet powerful alternative to standard text editors. |
| Plugin Manager | Comes with a built-in Plugin Manager for installing and managing plugins, enabling additional features like FTP integration. |
| Built on Scintilla | Based on the Scintilla editing component, ensuring high performance and rich editing capabilities. |
Vim
Vim (Vi Improved) is a highly configurable and efficient text editor derived from the classic Unix editor, vi. It is designed for power users and developers who prefer a keyboard-centric approach to text editing, offering unmatched speed and flexibility for coding, scripting and general text editing. Vim is free, open-source and available on most platforms including Unix/Linux, macOS and Windows. It is a highly configurable and efficient text editor for those who prefer keyboard shortcuts and efficiency over a GUI-based interface. It offers powerful keyboard commands for navigation, editing and text manipulation, enabling users to work efficiently without relying on a mouse.
| Highly Configurable | Vim offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the editor to their needs with scripts and configuration files. |
| Keyboard-Centric | Designed for power users who prefer keyboard shortcuts for efficient text editing and navigation over a GUI interface. |
| Cross-Platform | Vim is available on Unix/Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it a versatile tool for developers across different platforms. |
| Free and Open-Source | Vim is free to use and open-source, with a large community contributing to its development. |
| Efficient Navigation and Editing | Provides powerful keyboard commands for fast navigation, editing, and text manipulation, enabling users to work without a mouse. |
| Extensive Plugin Support | Vim allows users to extend its functionality with plugins for enhanced features like syntax highlighting, linting, and more. |
Brackets
Brackets is a free, open-source text editor primarily designed for front-end developers and web designers. Developed by Adobe and later transferred to the community, Brackets focuses on creating an efficient editing experience for HTML, CSS and JavaScript. With its clean interface, built-in developer tools and real-time preview features, Brackets is a go-to choice for building and designing websites. It allows you to see changes in your code reflected instantly in a web browser, providing a real-time connection between your code editor and browser. It supports preprocessors like LESS and Sass, enabling developers to write cleaner, more organized CSS.
| Open-Source and Free | Brackets is a free, open-source text editor, initially developed by Adobe and now maintained by the community. |
| Front-End Focused | Designed for front-end developers and web designers, Brackets is ideal for working with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. |
| Real-Time Preview | Provides real-time updates, reflecting changes in your code instantly in a web browser for seamless design and development. |
| Preprocessor Support | Supports preprocessors like LESS and Sass, enabling cleaner and more organized CSS development. |
| Clean Interface | Offers a simple, distraction-free interface, focusing on providing an efficient editing experience for web developers. |
| Built-in Developer Tools | Includes built-in tools for inspecting and debugging code, improving productivity during development. |
| Live Browser Connection | Enables a live connection between the editor and the browser, showing updates without having to manually refresh the page. |
Espresso
Espresso is a gorgeous Mac-only code editor that’s powerful and smooth like the caffeinated beverage it’s named after. This text editor has been credited with helping its users edit CSS in less time and that’s partly down to its editing interface. Built for real-time editing, it is split into three columns comprising your files, code editor and navigator which lets you see the numerous sections of code you are working on. And anything that’s edited in the window is reflected in the browser, you can drag and drop content into Espresso’s interface to see it update in the back end in real-time. Espresso is a sleek and powerful text editor for macOS users, focusing on simplicity and efficiency for web development. It was created by MacRabbit, Espresso combines a clean, intuitive interface with advanced features.
| Mac-Only | Espresso is a Mac-exclusive text editor, designed specifically for macOS users with a sleek and efficient interface. |
| Real-Time Editing | Allows for real-time code editing with instant updates reflected in the browser, enhancing development efficiency. |
| Split Interface | The interface is divided into three columns: files, code editor, and navigator, providing a clear overview of your work. |
| Drag and Drop | You can drag and drop content into Espresso’s interface, and it will automatically update in the back end. |
| Focus on Web Development | Designed for web developers, especially for editing CSS, with tools that speed up the coding process. |
| Intuitive and Clean UI | Features a clean, user-friendly interface, ensuring simplicity and productivity while coding. |
| Advanced Features | Combines powerful features with simplicity, offering an efficient solution for professional web development. |
Komodo Edit
The Komodo Edit download page offers Komodo Edit, a free and open-source text editor that works on Windows, Linux and Mac. It is designed for server-side languages and comes with Komodo IDE although you can download them separately. Komodo Edit includes useful features for developers such as code folding to hide parts of code you are not working on, real time syntax checking and the ability to add extra features through plugins. Komodo Edit supports a wide range of programming languages including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby and many more.
| Platform Support | Windows, Linux, Mac |
| Free and Open-Source | Yes, available for free download |
| Code Folding | Hide parts of code you are not working on |
| Real-Time Syntax Checking | Automatically checks syntax errors in real-time |
| Plugin Support | Ability to add extra features through plugins |
| Supported Languages | HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, and more |
| Komodo IDE | Available separately, but comes with Komodo Edit |
| Developer-Focused Features | Designed for server-side languages and web development |
GNU Emacs
GNU Emacs is a free, open-source text editor that works on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. It’s highly customizable to suit your needs and includes features you’d expect from a developer’s code editor like syntax highlighting and support for many file types. You can also extend its functionality with add-ons such as debuggers and note organizers. Emacs allows users to write custom extensions and configurations using its built-in Lisp programming language called Emacs Lisp (Elisp). GNU Emacs supports multiple file types and advanced editing features such as search and replace, undo/redo and automatic indentation.
| Visual Studio Code (VSCode) | Windows, Linux, macOS | Extensions, Git Integration, Docker & Kubernetes Support, Debugging, Customizable Themes |
| SciTE | Windows, Linux | Lightweight, Open-Source, Syntax Highlighting, Code Folding, Customizable |
| Sublime Text | Windows, Linux, macOS | Lightweight, Multi-Language Support, Distraction-Free Mode, Package Control, Split Editing |
| Notepad++ | Windows | Open-Source, Syntax Highlighting, Regex Search, Code Folding, Lightweight |
| Vim | Windows, Linux, macOS | Highly Configurable, Keyboard-Centric, Extensive Plugin Support, Free & Open-Source |
| Brackets | Windows, Linux, macOS | Real-Time Preview, Preprocessor Support, Live Browser Connection, Clean Interface |
| Espresso | macOS | Mac-Only, Real-Time Editing, Split Interface, Drag and Drop, Focus on Web Development |
| Komodo Edit | Windows, Linux, macOS | Free & Open-Source, Code Folding, Real-Time Syntax Checking, Plugin Support, Server-Side Focus |
| GNU Emacs | Windows, Linux, macOS | Highly Customizable, Syntax Highlighting, Advanced Editing Features, Elisp Extensions |
EditPlus
EditPlus is a text editor for Windows designed for HTML and programming. It features syntax highlighting for a variety of languages including HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript, among others. It also includes a built-in web browser called the Seamless Web Browser which allows you to preview your work and browse the web. Plus, EditPlus offers auto-completion to enhance your coding experience. While EditPlus is not free, it is available for $35 for a single user license. EditPlus supports syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages includes a built-in FTP client for file transfers and offers features like search and replace, code folding and customizable keyboard shortcuts.
| Syntax Highlighting | Supports multiple programming languages like HTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, etc. |
| Seamless Web Browser | Built-in web browser for previewing work and browsing the web. |
| Auto-Completion | Enhances coding experience by providing code suggestions. |
| FTP Client | Built-in FTP client for transferring files. |
| Search and Replace | Advanced search and replace functionality for text and code. |
| Code Folding | Allows users to collapse and expand code blocks for easier navigation. |
| Customizable Shortcuts | Enables users to define personalized keyboard shortcuts for efficiency. |
| License | Available for $35 for a single user license. |
| Platform | Windows-only text editor. |
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Conclusion
In this comprehensive article, the WebsCare research team has highlighted the 7 most popular text editors that developers rely on for their coding needs. Each editor comes with its unique strengths, serving a variety of workflows and programming styles. From the versatile and extensible Visual Studio Code to the minimalist yet powerful SciTE and the efficient, keyboard-centric Vim, these tools demonstrate how diverse the coding landscape can be. Editors like Sublime Text and Notepad++ balance speed and functionality while Brackets and Espresso stand out with features designed specifically for front-end development.