#3 Choose Your Weapon

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A bit of background


Find out the basics of text editors

Text editors come in all many different forms, but at their hearts they all do the same thing - allow you to edit files that are composed of straight forward, everyday text. HTML & CSS files are like this, their contents are simply plain text.

Your computer may already have a text editor on it. If you're using a Windows based computer then you'll likely have Notepad (Programs > Accessories > Notepad). If you're using an Apple computer then you'll have VIM already installed (Applications > Utilities > Terminal and then type in VIM and press return). Finally, if you're running Linux (bonus points if you are) then you'll certainly have one of either VI/VIM, emacs, Kate or gedit. 
 
Not all text editors are created equally and whilst VIM is a truly splendid text editor, it has a steep learning curve. Unless you can already use it, then we'd recommend something else for now. You can always come back to VIM later on.
 
If you're running windows then Notepad has the opposite problem to VIM - it's too simple. You'll be fighting with it all the way to use it to do serious webcraft work.

Task Discussion


  • JitterBoggle said:

    I have chosen Notepad + +, because I like notepad, but this one comes with ++ on the end so you know it has to be good.

    on March 18, 2012, 7:35 p.m.

  • Doug Belshaw said:

    I'm going with TextWrangler because it's free on the Mac App Store:

    http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/textwrangler/id404010395?mt=12

    on March 15, 2012, 10:58 a.m.

  • Francesco Malagrino' said:

    Hello All

    At the University i used HTML Kit.

    it's a good editor  for make web pages and it have also many plugin

    also HTML pad is a good editor for make webpages.

    on March 15, 2012, 9:51 a.m.

  • TerraMeijar said:

    I've used gedit on Linux and i find it easy to use...i like how it automatically highlights code, so you know what works and what doesn't...unlike Notepad.........

    I'm yet to do a little more research into this since i don't have that much experience with HTML editors...

     

    You can find my blog here

    on March 13, 2012, 9:25 a.m.

  • daz1uk said:

    In Windows my choice is Notepad++ this is a simple a very efficient text editor that allows you to use ftp within the program with code highlighting. In linux there are some very useful plugins available for gedit if you take a look around the web.

    on March 10, 2012, 5:22 a.m.

  • Jose Maravillas said:

    Well I guess I have to post about the text editor that I have been using. I have been using Notepad++ for the longest time. It is super simple to use and has plugins to make it do more stuff. For example, if you like the tab expand feature on Textmate (If you have a Mac with textmate you know what I am talking about) there is a plugin for Notepad++ to have that same functionality.

    For those of you that don't know what I am talking about when you type:

    doc

    then press the tab key on your keyboard it will convert it to

    <!DOCTYPE html>

     

    A very useful feature that helps you could a whole lot faster.

     

    Another pluging that I like was the zen coding plugin. When you type:

    html>head+body>p*3

    and press ctrl + e (don't press the "+" key) on your keyboard

    it would turn into:

    <html>

    <head></head>

    <body>

    <p></p>

    <p></p>

    <p></p>

    </body>

    </html>

    Which also speeds ups coding

    on March 10, 2012, 2:44 a.m.

  • Charles Thomas said:

    I started this challenged by reading many of the previous comments and what they had learned at this stage of the challenge.  What I took from that was to try Komodo,

    http://www.activestate.com/komodo-edit ,

    but I then turned to my mentor and asked him about this challenge and his suggestion was for me to try eclipse.  While it appears a bit overwhelming for a novice such as myself, I'm going to give exlipse a try.  Thanks for the suggestion Corbit!

    http://www.eclipse.org/

    on March 5, 2012, 9:12 a.m.

  • Zach said:

    So, this task is just to read the description of the task, or is it to choose one? I'm a bit confused about what makes this task completed...

    on March 2, 2012, 4:29 p.m.

  • chrisbran said:

    I'm downloading crimson editor right now.  I think that is the one I tried before and liked.  If I am right, it displays in different colors.  That makes things more readable when they get long.

    on March 2, 2012, 3:10 p.m.

  • Brad Garlich said:

    I'm on a Mac and need to keep it free. Looks like my best options are TextWrangler or Komodo Edit. I'll give 'em both a run.

    on Feb. 27, 2012, 7:44 p.m.

  • LeslieD said:

    I'm stuck with notepad since I'm on a locked down office computer. 

    on Feb. 23, 2012, 3:45 p.m.

    Jose Maravillas said:

    I had the same problem in my high school class were they didn't let me install any software on their computers even if was free. That when I learned about portable apps. They can run from usbs, sd cards, and ipods. All you have to do is download the suite or just a single application you want. Then install it on to your usb or what ever device you plan to use. Then when you connect your device to the other computer, in this case it is your work computer, you find the folder where the program is and open it up. Then run the exe file and there you go, you now have a program running completely off of your device and not your works computer.

    Using this method you can try gvim, geany, notepad++, or notepad 2 (I recommend notepad++) and find out which one you like.

    Here is the link to the website:

    http://portableapps.com/

    Here is the link to the list of portable apps:

    http://portableapps.com/apps

    on March 10, 2012, 2:32 a.m. in reply to LeslieD

  • Mandred said:

    I can recommend zu Phase 5 html editor! Its for free, and has all functions you need! I just have the german version, but google will find the english one.

    Otherwise use this:

    http://www.pspad.com/en/

    on Feb. 23, 2012, 6:26 a.m.

  • KickKan said:

    OK, looked at Komodo editor, not bad - like the previewer but have seen others that do it better (for HTML and CSS). Have heard of Notepad++ but do not use it - no particular reason.

    Here's the editors I use for those interested and they are free to use or you can purchase if you wish.

    Programmers Notepad 2 (pn2), Coffeecup, sublime text 2
     

    Give tham a go or at least compare them.

    on Feb. 17, 2012, 1 p.m.

  • Douglas Leavitt said:

    It sounds good that we get extra credit for linux.

    on Feb. 17, 2012, 12:51 a.m.

  • Seun Sanni said:

    Based on what everyone's said. im going to download both Komodo and Notepad ++

    Ill let you know how it goes in the next section

    on Feb. 6, 2012, 12:26 p.m.

  • Dave Joe said:

    Most of my experience has been with vi, notepad, and most recently Dreamweaver. I'm comfortable reading/editing code in any program as long as everything is properly indented. Judging by my predecessors, it has been narrowed down to two - Komodo Edit and notepad++.

    Komodo Edit is the most logical choice because the Komodo IDE looks very powerful (debugging). Learning their line of products just makes sense. Notepadd++ looks to be a good alternative.

    on Feb. 5, 2012, 5:09 p.m.

  • Vamp said:

    Ok, I am using Komodo edit some time. So my editor choice would be it . However I have installed Notepad++ on my work, so I am trying it out now. Operating system is Windows ;)

    on Feb. 5, 2012, 11:57 a.m.

  • Tiago Sousa said:

    yey bonus points to me aswell :) Ubuntu 11.10 here...

    I like gedit, its very light and really easy to use with html. I also have aptana installed, and thats what I normally use.

    on Feb. 3, 2012, 5:37 a.m.

  • WebDevRobert said:

    Bonus points for Linux?

    Awesome! I never get extra credit smiley

    on Feb. 2, 2012, 7:34 p.m.

    Dave Joe said:

    And I'll give you more e-bonus points if you have mastered vi

    on Feb. 5, 2012, 4:55 p.m. in reply to WebDevRobert

  • Kronosaurus said:

    I downloaded Aptana Studio but can't figure it out. So I downloaded Komodo and I think that is going to work. 

    on Jan. 26, 2012, 9:53 p.m.

    WebDevRobert said:

    Can I ask what operating system you tried to use Aptana Studio on? I use Aptana Studio quite a bit, after trying many, many others. I would recommend Aptana Studio to just about anyone, but it isn't as easy to install/setup as one might think.

    on Feb. 2, 2012, 5:13 p.m. in reply to Kronosaurus