Text Editors

Programming languages are written using text editor applications. These applications allow users to create and edit free text, which can then be run as programs. Text editors differ in complexity, some including extra functionality for easier, more efficient programming. Text editors with auto-complete suggest common functions or existing variables as the programmer begins to type, which the programmer can then select without needing to finish typing. Some text editors offer options to run individual lines of code or entire programs while editing files.

Popular Text Editors

Microsoft Visual Studio Code (recommended)

• Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems

• Includes support for debugging, syntax highlighting, auto-complete, and additional user-friendly functionality

• Download Microsoft Visual Studio Code

Jupyter Notebooks

• Web application text editor, no download necessary

• Includes options for interactive output (HTML, images, videos, LaTeX, and custom MIME types), support for big data tools, such as Apache Spark, and options for sharing notebooks with others

• Run individual lines of code or entire programs at once

• Get started with Jupyter Notebooks

VI/VIM

• Highly configurable

• Included in most UNIX operating systems (e.g., Linux, or MacOS), no download necessary

• Write files from the Terminal

• Interactive VIM Tutorial

Emacs

• Highly configurable

• Included in most UNIX operating systems (e.g., Linux, or MacOS), no download necessary, also available for Windows

• Wide range of built-in features for text editing, such as syntax highlighting, automatic indentation, and search and replace

• Learn more about Emacs

Pico

• Included in most UNIX operating systems (e.g., Linux, or MacOS), no download necessary

• Most of the editing commands are displayed at the bottom of the editing screen for easy reference

• Learn more about Pico