Best code editor
Posted by IndependentTruck7984@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 51 comments
I'm new to coding and am curious about the best beginner friendly editors
Posted by IndependentTruck7984@reddit | learnprogramming | View on Reddit | 51 comments
I'm new to coding and am curious about the best beginner friendly editors
Most_Blackberry_5513@reddit
Looking to build something in the space of code editors and web3...
stressed_Cucumber@reddit
I use NotePad
9peppe@reddit
Whatever is most comfortable for you.
VS Code is good. So are Emacs and neovim. If you want something simple, Notepad++.
EggMcMuffN@reddit
Code Blocks for C/C++ Visual Studio for C# & other .NET languages Eclipse for Java Visual Studio Code for anything else.
But in the end it doesnt really matter and you could use VSCode for everything. Vscode is basically just a text editor with plugins to make it an IDE. Its very lightweight out of the box.
ShoulderPast2433@reddit
Intellij Idea for Java, not eclipse.
RustyFreakMan@reddit
Why not Eclipse anymore? Granted, I haven't written a single line of Java code in over half a decade, but when I was a kid and in some of my college courses everyone used Eclipse.
ShoulderPast2433@reddit
And now everyone uses intellij Idea ;)
Of course eclipse still okay but not as good
Random-UserXD@reddit
I would recommend Vim I chose it as my first IDE after listening to a kind soul (may he live in eternal peace) and its def the best IDE you can use. Its simple and easy to use with a lot of cutting edge features 😊😊😊
pfmiller0@reddit
This, but seriously. Sure. vim isn't the easiest to learn, but it's not that hard either and the vim bindings are so powerful once you learn them you'll want to use them everywhere.
Excellent-Swan-4757@reddit
Yea i absolutely agree upon this, I use or at least want to use vim motions everywhere I can like I use nvim, I use the motions in obsidian and also like the vimium extension for browser is also neat
Random-UserXD@reddit
jokes aside i def agree its not that hard but not really the best choice for a beginner which is quite funny coming from me considering i too am a 1st year CS student
Ill_Nectarine7311@reddit
It's also very easy to exit, so that's a bonus!
Random-UserXD@reddit
fr it always feels like I and the IDE are connected to a metaphysical extent
Excellent-Swan-4757@reddit
Nvim is a really great code editor but it has a bit of learning to be done and if ur new u should care more about learning and writing the code much more than an editor so u should go with vscode as a beginner and then when ur good enough and u feel like being more faster than u can switch to nvim tho u can be pretty fast in vscode as well but nvim is definitely worth learning and using down the line
realanzco@reddit
Try Google's on-Take editor
Google Antigravity.
a fork of MS open-source VS Code but equipped with google's own tools and attributes that makes it their own powered by Google DeepMind. It makes coding more productive with their 'Agent-first' philosophy, that virtually turns your work ethic in like a group setup but your own. You're the project manager. just try it. It made my coding experience more intuitive.
replierII@reddit
theres no "best" obvioudly because they all have different features so its more of an opinion battle but try vscode
Auzzy7018@reddit
If your just starting out use vscode or sublime. Once you know learn how to code, try out vim or neovim
ImS0hungry@reddit
Neovim or VSCodium
vipin-pr@reddit
VScode with Vim extension works for me.
Environmental_Gap_65@reddit
Im sure you'll get a lot of a hipsters hating on vscode and tell you to use some niche editor no one has ever heard of, but I'd just go for vscode if I was you.
96dpi@reddit
I've literally never seen anyone hating on VS Code. How often do you honestly see this?
Environmental_Gap_65@reddit
I've seen it happen in this sub before, a couple of people saying it was inferior to some IDE's I honestly don't remember the name of
dhaniya_pudina21@reddit
I think VS Code is really good especially if you're a beginner, and like I'm a beginner myself, just started with python last week and, so far it's a really nice IDE
sinkwiththeship@reddit
It's a good beginner IDE, but since it's not made for a specific language, it can be a little janky. Like JetBrains' PyCharm is a better python editor, but vscode is totally 100% ok.
Dissentient@reddit
I see way more people suggesting using vscode in situations where there are better options (like IntelliJ or Visual Studio for their respective languages) than people blindly hating on it.
Opening-Internet-366@reddit
For beginners, the editor matters way less than people think.
I wasted months jumping between tools thinking it was the problem.
What actually helped was picking one (VS Code for me) and learning how to use AI properly with it.
Once I stopped switching editors and focused on workflow, everything clicked.
theMuhubi@reddit
C# or .NET go with Visual Studio (not code). It's the official IDE from Microsoft and it'll be what your future employer uses
C go with Notepad or Notepad++ you want to actually understand your code if your learning
Rust go with Notepad for same reasons as C
Zig same as C
Everything else go with Visual Studio Code
Once you understand how to code without AI tools and auto complete then you can move on to more advanced IDEs: - Pycharm for Python - IntelliJ IDEA for Java - JetBrains in general for most languages - whatever feels good for you.
The important this is coding and programming is a skill that you can only gain from coding and programming. Everything else is a tool upon which you use. Don't focus too much on the tools and instead learn to code and the language you're using.
csabinho@reddit
NEVER use Notepad(without ++) for anything. It's just major PITA for everything.
BertoLaDK@reddit
You can just replace notepad / ++ with vscode as they're all just text editors
theMuhubi@reddit
You're absolutely right, but I think using Notepad/Notepad++ is more in the "spirit" of languages like C/Rust/Zig but that being said VSCode is probably the best option for the overwhelming majority of developers
BertoLaDK@reddit
In the spirit of the language? Fair ig, personally I prefer clion and use visual studio professional at work.
Thereisonlyzero@reddit
Pen and paper, then manually write it out in Microsoft word, then to any of these other IDEs folks recommend
You will never make the same mistake twice
^((/s for those who need that))
neveralone59@reddit
Vscode or zed
JuicyPC@reddit
Vscodium
joranstark018@reddit
It may depend on what programming languages you use (and maybe what type of programs you write, ie wbapps, embedded,...), you may take a look in the FAQ/wiki for advice and info, ie https://www.reddit.com/r/learnprogramming/wiki/tools/
Ok-Advantage-308@reddit
Visual studio 2026 or vs code! Depends on your language
Kaugi_f@reddit
Would say Vs code or sublime text editor
egh128@reddit
Zed.
Zerodriven@reddit
I'm one of those "I get paid therefore whatever I get paid to use" kinda people, therefore: Visual Studio 2026 Professional.
(Also VS code)
vivianvixxxen@reddit
As others have said, VS Code. It's as simple or as complex as you want. When you start out, just get the plugin for the language you're going to use (so you get the nice highlighting/suggestion features) and go from there. Over time you can learn lots of handy shortcuts that make coding feel better, but that's the sort of thing you incorporate over time.
IshYume@reddit
Started with sublime, then tried out atom. Currently stuck with vscode because so far didn't really have a reason to switch you can easily turn off all the ai stuff so it doesn't bother you. It does take a lot of ram though
Historical-Camel4517@reddit
What ever you feel like but jetbrains has good ones
YT__@reddit
Just stick to a full up IDE when you start. Don't focus on the tools beyond that. Focus on learning programming, not learning tools.
Gordahnculous@reddit
I’d like to be chaotic and suggest Vim or Neovim, and it’s honestly a good IDE, but that might scare a beginner
Depending on the language and if they have a free community tier for the language’s IDE, I’d highly recommend JetBrains’ editors regardless of skill level. But VS Code is pretty good too for beginners
sekhon_jatt@reddit
learning curve too high. I tried it but realised in need to invest more time in learning it than the coding language lol
Thin-Routine5190@reddit
If you’re just starting out, the best approach is to experiment as much as possible and find something that lets you jump straight into coding without setup. C-Render.net is great for beginners because it’s a browser-based IDE with live previews, isolated projects, and easy-to-use tools. You can create and test code instantly, try out lots of ideas, and learn by doing, which is really the fastest way to get comfortable with programming.
LeadershipComplex958@reddit
VsCode without a doubt. You can explore later but for right now ignore anyone saying otherwise.
Different-Duck4997@reddit
VSCode is pretty much the gold standard for beginners - free, tons of extensions, and works great out of the box. Sublime Text is also solid if you want something lighter but you'll have to pay for it eventually
Acceptable_Simple877@reddit
True
HorrorJicama3709@reddit
I second this... Nothing truly better for a beginner and free to use.
meinrache94@reddit
VS or Eclipse in my opinion based on what languages you are using.