Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Posted by Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

What's the best text editor to use. I'm a begginer

What is the best text editor to use? I am starting to use Textmate, liking it but have questions on best way to learn how to use. Would you suggest keeping with this text editor or working in another one. I'd rather stick with one instead of switching. What do you pros suggest?

9 Answers

Erik McClintock
Erik McClintock
45,783 Points
Erik McClintock
Erik McClintock
45,783 Points

Kimberly,

Branching off of your other question, the answer really is based on your personal preferences! If you like the feature in Workspaces that allows you to see various pages open at once, I would recommend either PSPad or Sublime Text 2. Both are free text editors that you can download online, and both are great and easy to use, and customizable (note: Sublime Text 2 will prompt you every few times you save files to upgrade to their paid service or donate some money, but don't worry, you don't have to to continue using the product. You can simply click "No" or whatever the cancel option is, and you can still use the full product as before. If you continue to use it as your main editor, and you start making money, it wouldn't be bad to consider donating at that point, but until then, don't worry about it).

Again, though, it's all based on preference! Google a couple of good options, download and try them all, and see what helps you get the most out of your work!

Happy coding!

Erik

notf0und
notf0und
11,940 Points
notf0und
notf0und
11,940 Points

Personally, I'm all for Sublime Text. It's simple to use, and very easy on the eyes :)

Sako Kassabian
Sako Kassabian
13,796 Points
Sako Kassabian
Sako Kassabian
13,796 Points

Most people like Sublime text and a lot of the tracks on this website use Sublime text as their text editor of choice. I personally use Sublime Text. It really boils down to preference as Erik mentioned.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

Thanks Guys! Think I'm going to definitely test out Sublime Text 2.

I've heard for the 3rd time that's the way to go...So I will check out! Also any other advice to give to a beginner like me would be most appreciated...LOL!

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points
Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

Okay...I just heard from the 6th person now that "Sublime Text 2" is the one to go with! Yee-haw!

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

Sublime Text is what is used by the teachers here at Treehouse. Since many people come here with no knowledge of what a text editor is, they use the one their teacher as often happens in a class.

I wouldn't call it an unbiased opinion just part of Treehouse forum culture, that's all they know.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

Hey James, thanks for the honest opinion. What do you think about Text wrangler? Or what other Text Editors do you like?

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

I think sublime text is solid software but so are several other commercial options. I've also heard good things about brackets.

The list of things you need from a text editor to make web pages is pretty short. I'd say syntax highlighting and tag matching are both essential most other things are just gravy.

So I think Text Wrangler looks like a solid choice for writing HTML & CSS and before brackets came along that's what I've recommended people on a mac start with.

Of course, I think Text Mate probably is a good a choice as Text Wrangler if not a better one.

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

Thank you!@

Nemanja Pribilovic
Nemanja Pribilovic
5,366 Points
Nemanja Pribilovic
Nemanja Pribilovic
5,366 Points

Not just sublime, you should know about snippets and zen coding. Go through this great tutorial by Jeffrey Way http://code.tutsplus.com/articles/perfect-workflow-in-sublime-text-free-course--net-27293

Unsubscribed User
Unsubscribed User
2,512 Points

Thank you...Will check out for sure

kenton sweckard
PLUS
kenton sweckard
Courses Plus Student 862 Points
kenton sweckard
kenton sweckard
Courses Plus Student 862 Points

Textpad does the same as well a nag screen but lets keep using no matter.

Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson
3,866 Points
Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson
3,866 Points

One of your statements was 'I'd rather stick with one instead of switching', so Sublime is a good choice because it is multi-platform (Windows, OSX & Linux). As your career advances you may work on all these OS's and it is great to bring your editor along. If you consider any other editors make sure multi-platform support is factored in to your choice.

James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points
James Barnett
James Barnett
39,199 Points

http://brackets.io is multi-platform (Windows, OSX & Linux),tailor-made for frontend web development and free