Choosing the Best Text Editor for Your Coding Needs

As someone with extensive experience slinging code, one of the most critical decisions for any developer is choosing the best text editor for their needs. This decision can greatly impact their productivity and overall experience.

EVMS: The Vi and Emacs Rivalry

For longer than many people have been writing code, there has been a mostly good-natured rivalry between users of Vi and Emacs. Both editors are excellent in specific ways, but once they both are good enough, the biggest issue is familiarity. The key is knowing the editor well enough that you don’t have to think about which keys to hit to perform most routine editing operations. Speed is not the issue; it’s about not being distracted by the details of how to use the editor. When you need to ‘delete everything to the end of the current line,’ your fingers should instinctively know the key combination without any thought.

Everyone has their own editor of choice. When you know an editor well, you can focus entirely on the code. If the editor is integrated into your development environment, it can offer additional benefits. For instance, many people enjoy Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) with various autocomplete functions. While I find such features too distracting, they appeal to many developers and can significantly boost productivity.

Vim: A Low-Distraction Choice

I personally prefer using Vim. It is known for its low distraction and efficiency, working nearly the same across all platforms. However, my DAYJOB helps by providing a default configuration tuned to the corporate coding style. For many newer developers, Vim might seem entirely alien, as it was already considered a bit baroque when I learned it 30 years ago. Nevertheless, Vim continues to be a solid choice for those who want a distraction-free and efficient tool.

IDEs vs. Vim and Emacs

Some developers, particularly those who value autocomplete and other IDE features, might prefer using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). IDEs like Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and Atom are widely popular today. VS Code offers an easy and clear interface with numerous extensions that enhance developer productivity, making it a favorite for many. However, I find VS Code more suited for Python development, while I prefer Atom for Java. While VS Code is excellent for Python, its interface and extensions might not be as streamlined for Java.

Ultimately, the choice of text editor comes down to personal preference. To get the most out of any editor, it’s essential to know how to use it effectively. If you’re not sure how to drive your editor, seek out colleagues or coworkers who know their editors well and learn from them. Local support can be a significant advantage in mastering any tool.

Conclusion

The best text editor is one that enhances your productivity and allows you to focus on the code without distractions. Whether you choose Vim, VS Code, Atom, or an IDE, the key is to find an editor that aligns with your workflow and lets you write code efficiently.

Keywords: text editor, programming, IDEs, Python, Java