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Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

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Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#1

Post by eob »

I've been using TextMate for a few years now, but recently have been doing a lot of work in projects that have either 1) a lot of files or 2) really big files. Both of these situations cause TextMate to crawl to a halt.

I've used Emacs in the past, but something about the way in which you can navigate code just makes me feel less than efficient in it. Maybe I didn't take enough time to memorize all the required shortcuts. Mastering an editor that can be used over an ssh session certainly seems a plus.

So a question to all the coders out there: what editor do you use? Why did you choose it? What are the downsides?

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#2

Post by pook »

Oy, a holy war is about to happen.

I'll open the Emacs lobby with http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/effective-emacs and http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/the-emacs-problem

To give the illusion of fairness, here is a blogpost in which I praise Vim: http://zipwith.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-vim.html

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#3

Post by MattJ100 »

I somewhat suspect I'll be unique on this one here. I use nano full-time.

I use it because it is simple, it gets the job done, and I don't find that I need anything more.

It's true it's missing a couple of features commonly found in code editors. But when I start thinking code folding would be useful, I take it as a sign that this file is getting too large and would be better split. Nano also obeys the simple UI principle of having a non-modal interface. I haven't used an editor with bells and whistles for some years, and I'm liking it.

Also contrary to popular belief, nano does support syntax highlighting - this just isn't enabled by default in most distros.

Now, laugh.

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#4

Post by eob »

pook wrote: post #2

Oy, a holy war is about to happen. I'll open the Emacs lobby with http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/effective-emacs and http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/the-emacs-problem To give the illusion of fairness, here is a blogpost in which I praise Vim: http://zipwith.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-vim.html

Thanks for the links. I don't mean to start a holy war, though they are fun :) I'm looking more for a reasoned discussion of the pros and cons of different editing environments.

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#5

Post by tjpick »

eob wrote: post #4
pook wrote: post #2

Oy, a holy war is about to happen. I'll open the Emacs lobby with http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/effective-emacs and http://sites.google.com/site/steveyegge2/the-emacs-problem To give the illusion of fairness, here is a blogpost in which I praise Vim: http://zipwith.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-vim.html

Thanks for the links. I don't mean to start a holy war, though they are fun :) I'm looking more for a reasoned discussion of the pros and cons of different editing environments.

> though they are fun

not the fifty thousandth time.

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#7

Post by frossie »

MattJ100 wrote: post #3

I somewhat suspect I'll be unique on this one here. I use nano full-time. I use it because it is simple, it gets the job done, and I don't find that I need anything more. It's true it's missing a couple of features commonly found in code editors. But when I start thinking code folding would be useful, I take it as a sign that this file is getting too large and would be better split. Nano also obeys the simple UI prin…

Now, laugh

Well, I'll admit that was... unexpected, but I am certainly not going to laugh. After all, the best code editor is the one you feel most productive in, and you seem to have a rational explanation for it so sure, knock yourself out :-)

Re: Ask HN: What code editor do you use?

#9

Post by adrianscott »

a) Fosdev ;) b) because I'm part of the team developing it, and it takes care of a lot of setup stuff, etc. c) plenty (almost everything) as it's a new, fresh product/project

I'd love to hear more about how the projects have 1) a lot of files or 2) really big files... and how you navigate around the proj. should the really big files be broken into smaller files? etc...

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