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Let the Editor Choose You


Find the best text editor option available for your operating system

Depending on the operating system that you're using, you'll have different options available to you in terms of which text editor you can install.Some of these editors are not free, but we've listed them because they're robust and available for a short period in a trial mode. Trying them out won't cost you anything financially.

 
There are many more text editors available for each platform and we'd encourage you to search around if none of the editors on this page choose you.
 
If you're running Windows –
  • Notepad++ 
  • ConTEXT
  • E Text Editor
 
If you're running OS X –
  • TextWrangler
  • TextMate
  • Sublime Text
 
If you're running Linux –
  • Gedit
  • Kate
  • Bluefish
 
Spend the next hour or so trying out the various text editors available for your operating system. With each one create a file called 'helloworld.html'. Into that file you should enter the html that you wrote by hand in the previous challenge.
 
If one of the text editors feels more comfortable than the others, then congratulations; a text editor just chose you. You are now a fierce webcraft warrior and you now have your trusty sword.
 
Spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Task Discussion


  • Daniel said:

    Text Wrangler for now, since I don't know the difference and it's free.  Although people keep talking about Coda, maybe when I have an idea of what I am doing I'll go for it.

    on Nov. 17, 2012, 11:25 a.m.
  • Aaron Marshall said:

    Complete Dreamweaver guy right here.

    on Nov. 9, 2012, 12:24 p.m.
  • schism- said:

    Using those 2 combinations, depending on what OS I'm using at the moment:

     - Windows + UltraEdit Text Editor

     - Ubuntu + Gedit

    on Nov. 2, 2012, 7:30 a.m.
  • Sonny_D said:

    I am doing Kompozer and dreamweaver, might ditch dreamweaver cos I am planning on ditching Windows but we'll see

    on Nov. 1, 2012, 11:23 p.m.
  • CoderGirlDesign said:

    I'm a Mac and I love Coda.

     

    -Meisha

    on Nov. 1, 2012, 2:47 p.m.
  • Anonym said:

    I'm on a Mac, and loving TextMate.

    on Oct. 29, 2012, 6:36 p.m.
  • Renato Balutto said:

    Looks like it's going to be Text wrangler for me...

    on Oct. 29, 2012, 11:29 a.m.
  • Keynuff said:

    Notepad++ all the way. I choose it because it is free and looks to be updated regularly.

    on Oct. 24, 2012, 2:16 p.m.
  • Lucas Rinaldi said:

    Sublime Text for the win!

    on Oct. 23, 2012, 7:25 a.m.
  • Mr Brightside 66 said:

    I decided  to start using Notepad++.

    on Oct. 22, 2012, 8:44 p.m.
  • Mario V Mtz said:

    i like Sublimetext but 59 bucks it's way too much, so i'll keep using Text wrangler

    on Oct. 15, 2012, 11:25 p.m.
  • sharjeel1992 said:

    dreamweaver is the best till now.

    on Oct. 5, 2012, 12:45 p.m.
  • sharjeel1992 said:

    i use notepad

    on Oct. 5, 2012, 12:44 p.m.
  • Lisa Shaner said:

    I'll be using my old trusty notepad++

    I had to switch computers for it but was thwarted by an outdated version of Mac OS

    on Sept. 25, 2012, 7:21 p.m.
  • op3ramix said:

    I prefare Notepad ++ .It got awesome structure.

    on Sept. 21, 2012, 10:01 a.m.
  • Rajesh.M said:

    I code in gedit on Linux and Notepad++ on Windows. But i've also tried Vim on Linux

    on Sept. 20, 2012, 7:50 a.m.
  • Duaa said:

    notepad++

    since i'm using windows ! and most of the users are recommending it so let's give it a try why not !:P i just downloaded couple of programs and 'll be using them and giving them a shot

    on Sept. 14, 2012, 6:09 a.m.
  • Anonym said:

    I've been using Notepad++ and gedit for quite some time! I am comfortabel with both!

    on Sept. 14, 2012, 2:40 a.m.
  • Daniel said:

    In Windows I usually use "Notepad++", but when I'm writing code I'm usually on Linux using "pluma" editor.

    on Sept. 12, 2012, 5:24 p.m.
  • Grim said:

    I go to a site for quite a few apps, from a site www.ninite.com  it is pretty decent for instant apps delivery...in one nice neat package. and i use notepad++

    on Sept. 7, 2012, 9:43 p.m.