Javascript is one of the more popular programming languages in use today and its use and capabilities are further enhanced by a variety of available frameworks, such as Node.js and AngularJS, and other libraries.
Although you can use almost any text editor to write Javascript, a language based Interactive Development Environment (IDE) or Code Editor can greatly improve your ability to write code more efficiently and effectively. This is especially true where syntax and case sensitive languages – like Javascript – are concerned.
I use WebStorm by JetBrains for the majority of my web-based applications, however, a number of less capable cross-platform IDE’s and editors are also available for writing JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. One such editor is Brackets created by Adobe Systems.
“Review: The 10 best JavaScript editors” by Martin Heller, Contributing Editor, InfoWorld (May 17, 2017) presents a number of JavaScript editors for consideration of which Brackets is among them. I prefer to use cross-platform tools wherever possible and I use a variety of IDE’s and editors that are best suited for the project at hand.
Brackets is a light-weight open-source cross-platform editor equipped with sufficient functionality to efficiently write HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code. A number of extensions are also available to further enhance your experience using Brackets.
Extensions are often written by third-party programmers or developers and should be installed with caution. I highly recommend researching and reading reviews by others to ensure they are worthwhile and trustworthy.
If you are just learning JavaScript or writing a quick a script, consider the simplicity of using an editor like Brackets where you can focus on writing your code rather than get bogged down with learning all the details and nuances of a full-featured IDE.
If you’re wondering what kind of programs can be written using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, you’ll have Brackets to serve as your source of inspiration as one of the many possibilities. For more information, visit the Brackets web page. As of this writing, Brackets 1.11 is available for download.
The excitement of learning a new language is often met with varying degrees of chaos and confusion when selecting the right tools to get started. I recommend starting with something simple and less distracting that will allow you to focus on the task at hand. Brackets is one such editor.
In time, you will learn which tools will best serve your needs and you can adjust your working and coding environment accordingly. Feature filled IDE’s and Editors will do little to serve your needs if you have yet to learn or don’t know how to program.
Until Next Time – STAY lean!
Related Articles, Resources, and References
- Stack OverFlow Developer Survey Results: In-depth review of developer survey results.
- Programming Language Index: Github lines changed vs Stack OverFlow tag counts
- Brackets
- Brackets Extensions
- Review: The 10 best JavaScript editors – InfoWorld
- Review: The 6 best JavaScript IDE’s – InfoWorld