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
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
VI/VIM
Highly configurable
Included in most UNIX operating systems (e.g., Linux, or MacOS), no download necessary
Write files from the Terminal
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
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
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