Post-Adobe future : Brackets alternatives
yhancik opened this issue · comments
Forking the discussion in issue #15329 into one focused on sharing with the community the best alternatives to Brackets.
I guess we all have different uses of Brackets, so I suggest you mention what's your main use (html/css, js, php, etc), and openly state the pros & cons.
I think the point should be more to help others pick the alternatives that suits them the best, not to convince people that your favourite alternative is the objective best for everyone ;)
Thanks I prefer to use the html buttin to get started
I first became aware of Adobe Brackets a couple of years ago, when it seemed that every Web developer was using Sublime Text unregistered on their personal computers. Clearly Sublime Text is better than Notepad. But if you don't want to pay the $70 or $80 license, is it really worthwhile to rationalize continuing to use it unregistered? For me it's not. So I tried Brackets and have been using it ever since.
I work with JavaScript once in a while, but mostly I use Brackets to write, update and manage groups of related HTML files. The program has vastly improved my accuracy for links and images, because when Brackets completes a relative URL for me, I don't have to worry about switching a couple of letters or using the wrong case. Also, editing three or four HTML files in tandem is much easier than with three or four Notepad instances.
For Java and Scala, I use a specialized IDE like NetBeans or IntelliJ, but I'm sure there are one or two people who use Brackets for those languages. Brackets has a JavaScript linter, but I haven't found it particularly helpful. Then again, I'm not really up on ES6, so take that with a grain of salt.
The alternatives to Brackets that I'm aware of are:
- Notepad++. I haven't tried it myself yet.
- Visual Studio Code. I have used it, but it seems more geared for programmers who do a lot with JavaScript.
- Lite. I haven't tried it, but I've read it uses very little resources compared to Brackets or Visual Studio Code.
- And of course Sublime Text, which, from my experience using it during a reasonably finite trial period, seems to perform very well on Macs as well as lower-end Windows laptops. I like it enough to recommend trying it, I don't like it enough to abuse the open-ended trial period.
back when i was choosing a tool to replace other tools ... i also looked at atom which i suppose is where i'll go next if brackets should break/languish
I guess MicroSoft's VIsual Studio Code conquered them? I am worried about the IDE market control Microsoft is getting, it could turn against us one day.
Would Nova (formerly Coda) do the trick?
Would Nova (formerly Coda) do the trick?
For Mac only users, definitely. As someone who uses both Windows and Mac, I think I like the idea that certain programs (Brackets, NetBeans, etc.) are pretty much the same on both platforms.
Looks promising albeit subscription based
I teach code and I recommend brackets for my students since it needs 0 configuration or extensions to start coding css and js.
VScode is good, fast, reliable and terminal friendly however, it doesn't have css quick edit and live preview highlighting stuff so when it comes to writing css, there isn't any good alternatives.
The first time I started to code, I used brackets as the editor. It was so much fun working with it, especially with features like Live Preview. I switched to VsCode about a year later, but I still use brackets for light and simple html/css/js projects.
Hope it will not die this soon!
I present my alternatives, however I think it would be better to fork brackets or make an alternative based on Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse Theia. If there is anyone who knows Java well and is able to deal with an Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA based editor, please open an issue in adobe / brackets and refer it here.
There are some nice editors that can replace Brackets in case nobody is interested:
Eclipse Theia
Eclipse Theia is a VSCode based code editor, however it has some valuable things:
Pro:
- Independent of M$ (subjective Pro)
- It can run in a browser instead of an electron application as well as a desktop application.
- Has its own add-on store and is compatible with VsCode add-ons
Cons:
- It was based on an older version of VSCode so some may be dissatisfied with its appearance / operation
- It is designed as a browser application
- It was designed as a Framework, so according to the Eclipse Foundation, it is not suitable for production use. In my opinion you can use it anyway.
If you want to use Eclipse Theia as a desktop application, use Eclipse Theia Blueprint. He's better in this case.
Geany
Geany is a simple editor designed to create standard applications (C, C ++, Java), but it also works well for web applications.
Pro:
- Fast, written in gtk
- designed as a code editor and not as an IDE for a specific language
- Information about stored variables, functions, classes, etc.
- Makefiles support
- Build command support
Cons:
- It is not possible to change the color to dark (or other) mode entirely. Only the code writing area can be changed.
- Focused on "traditional" applications.
Eclipse + Plugins
Eclipse is an IDE for Java, but by using a variety of plugins you can program in Python and other programming languages.
Pro:
- Based on Eclipse, it is extensible
- You can customize the language list
Cons:
- Written in Java + SWT (some custom platforms may not work)
- Mainly intended for Java
- You have to find the right plugs
Atom
Atom is a code editor, the first electron application. Created / developed by Microsoft (Github).
Haven't used, can't list Pro and Cons.
KDevelop
KDev is an IDE from KDE. I do not use it, but it looks good.
an alternative based on IntelliJ IDEA
That's called WebStorm, and that costs 100 bucks per year.
It is not possible to change the color to dark (or other) mode entirely. Only the code writing area can be changed.
On linux systems, you can use a dark GTK theme which will change the UI appearence.
##Atom
Looks like there's a slight formatting issue over there.
I'll add another alternaitive for those on a linux system :
GNOME Builder
An IDE designed f,or making GNOME Desktop apps, but seems to have pretty decent HTML/CSS/JS support. Has a modern GTK-based interface and most useful features, but it is not available on Windows or Mac.
That's called WebStorm, and that costs 100 bucks per year.
I know, but community can make a fork of IntelliJ Idea and make FLOSS alternative for WebStorm
On linux systems, you can use a dark GTK theme which will change the UI appearence.
Yes, I know, but Geany itself does not offer dark mode for all elements of UI.
Looks like there's a slight formatting issue over there.
Fixed
I was annoyed enough by this that I made my own (very buggy) code editor: https://scanuproductions.com/sierra/
have fun