For a programmer, your text editor not just a text editor, but it is a part of you. As someone who has to do some programming myself, selecting the right text editor can help you to enjoy what you are coding and also improve your productivity.
So let’s review the best text editor for 2021.
Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Microsoft VS code is a free and open-source text editor developed by Microsoft.
Currently, I am using Microsoft VS code as my everyday text editor and have been for more than a couple of years.
VS Code is developed using javascript and web technologies and packaged using the electron wrapper.
Pros
Microsoft is releasing monthly updates to the editor, which means it’s an actively developed project. The editor also comes with some extensions enabled by default. Such as auto-complete, emmet, and comes with Git integration as well.
There is a good eco-system of extensions made by the VS Code community. You can easily install these extensions within the VS Code or via VS Code marketplace, and enable them with just a click of a button.
There is no steep learning curve to use Microsoft’s VS Code. Anyone can install and start coding right away.
The editor also has a terminal that you can easily open to run your terminal commands within the editor.
If you are good at Javascript and CSS, you can write your own VS code extensions and publish them on the VS Code extension marketplace.
Cons
Since the VS code is created using web-technologies, instead of a native programming language to the computer, the editor can be slow to open, and sometimes you will experience delays between keystrokes difficulties such as slowing down of the editor when working with large files.
It will use some significant memory and processing power as well. However, because Microsoft is actively developing the editor, it is getting faster and improved with every update, so in the future, you will not experience such delays.
Sublime Text
Sublime Text was one of the most popular editors among developers several years back, before VS Code became the number one editor. It was also my go-to editor before I switched to VS Code.
Pros
Sublime Text is free to use, but you will get a pop-up once in a while, asking you to register the product. However, you can continue to use it for free ignoring pop-up. Unlike VS Code, Sublime Text is not open-source software.
Sublime Text became popular among programmers because it was super fast to open and to edit files, even large files. After all, unline VS Code, Sublime Text is written in C++ and Python, which makes it very fast.
Cons
Even though Sublime Text is still actively developed, it is not getting regular updates as VS Code. Usually, Sublime Text gets two to three updates every year.
The plugin eco-system is also diverse. However, most of the plugins for the Sublime Text are not actively developed or maintained. Even the popular plugins are not updated for a very long time.
Plugin installation in Sublime Text is not as easy as Microsoft VS code. You will need to install Package Control, a package manager for Sublime Text. And your plugin installations and updates are carried out by Package Control. When compared with VS code configuring plugins can also be difficult in Sublime Text.
Due to all the above reasons, Sublime Text’s popularity has gradually decreased. However, Sublime Text is still a popular text editor among developers, and SubmlimeText is an alternative to VS Code.
VIM
Vim, also known as VI Improved, is one of the oldest editors. You will find VIM in almost all Linux distributions and macOS.
Vim does not have a graphical interface like the VS code, and almost all the text editing and navigation is done using the keyboard. However, that means you can customize the editor as anyway as you want, you won’t even get a file tree when you install the Vim editor.
Pros
Vim is popular among power users because it dramatically improves productivity. For example, a simple copy and paste can be done much faster by using vim keys rather than clicking through the menus. Vim can also handle large files without any issues.
Even though you have a go-to editor, everyone should know Vim, because if you have to work on a server or backend, you will have come across situations where your Vim skills will be useful.
Cons
Vim also has a good plugin ecosystem, installing plugins on Vim can be tricky and even more difficult than in Sublime Text.
You will have to install a plugin manager like Vundle and install plugins using the ~vimrc file. Which is not as easy as installing and start coding, like in Sublime Text or Vs code. However, when properly configured, Vim can be the most advanced editor available.
Plugin development can also be difficult for Vim, you will have to learn a language called Vim script, and all the plugins are written using Vim scripts.
One reason most users find vim frustrating is the steep learning curve. You will have to learn a lot of shortcuts, keys that are exclusive to Vim. However, once you properly master the shortcuts, you will see that the learning is worth its effort, and you’ll see your productivity increased dramatically.
I love Vim so much that I use the Vim keybinding extension on my VS code setup. So I will get similar shortcuts and keys on my VS code setup as Vim.
NeoVim
Since Vim is a very old project, NeoVim was created to streamline the codebase and to make Vim more modern.
However NeoVim has its own advantages, NeoVim is still not popular as Vim.
GitHub Atom
The GitHub atom editor is also developed using web technologies like Javascript and CSS, wrapped in an Electron wrapper. GitHub Atom has been here even before Microsoft VS Code.
Atom has all the benefits of Microsoft’s VS code, and since it also shares the Electron Wrapper and web technologies, it also has the same disadvantages as VS Code.
GitHub Atom also has a diverse extension marketplace where you can easily install and customize your editor as VS Code.
The Atom editor has the best integration with GitHub out of the box because GitHub is behind the development of Atom.
Brackets
I was a Bracket user several years back before I switched to GitHub Atom and finally to Microsoft VS code.
Brackets editor is developed by Adobe. It is focused on web development, with features that you will not find in other editors, such as support for live-reload and SCSS and LESS support.
Brackets also support extensions. However, there are a limited number of extensions available when you compare with other editors.
The development of brackets has also slowed down in recent times, where the last update at the time of writing is eight months ago.
Even though it has some features for web development, I believe that you can get similar functionality, or even more by using a modern editor such as VS Code or Atom with extensions.
Final verdict – What is the best text editor for 2021?
What is the best text editor to use in 2021? Well, that would be Microsoft Vs code, because it has,
- A reliable company backing it up
- Regular updates
- A good community of developers supporting it
- Good extension eco-system to improve your editor
Ultimately the editor that you use comes down to what gives you the most satisfaction when writing code, what makes you work the most productive, and your personal preference.
Download an editor, install extensions, and make it your own, and enjoy writing code. I will be continuing to use VS code as my goto editor for 2021 unless something better comes up.