What's the best text editor?

[Tails]

I primarily use notepad until I hit that 56 kb limit and it persists on notepad. Then I use edit.com/exe that DOS uses. But the best so far I have found is Edit Plus http://www.editplus.com/. It has different highlight colors for html tags and supports many programming languages. It's simple enough that if you mispell an HTML tag, or have a undetermined string restraint in javascript, it will show the code in a certain color.

So have I found the best or has an even better tool been found? Share your findings! Afterall, we want to know our options if we don't purchase too much shareware. Oh yea, freeware is welcome too.

[Cherubae]

Thanks for the link :D I've been looking for a text editor that did some color-coordination since the one I use now (Editpad Lite) doesn't.

[Quiet Storm]

Not this question, again...

http://www.codingforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16252&highlight=ultraedit32
:)

[pardicity3]

:eek: I swear this topic has been talked about all the time. It's funny too, cause I always end up downloading all these text editors and then just uninstalling them and going back to notepad.

[redhead]

bah, this is always talked about.

the recurring conculsion*: editplus (http://editplus.com) is the best..

:thumbsup:

*this is not the forums recurring conclusion. it is actaully that its a personal thing and you need to go out there and find which is best for you

[Quiet Storm]

Originally posted by redhead
*this is not the forums recurring conclusion. it is actaully that its a personal thing and you need to go out there and find which is best for you

I agree... that would be UltraEdit32 (http://www.ultraedit.com). :D

[Tails]

Well I'm happy to see so many agree and had the same quest for the program as I have.

[joh6nn]

if you're looking for a notepad clone with large file support, there's a thing called Notepad++. if you google for it, you'll find the site, but the download link has gone bad. if it looks like what you want, you'll have to email the author for it

[Quiet Storm]

Originally posted by joh6nn
...but the download link has gone bad.

http://www.cs.southern.edu/~jbeckett/downloads/npadplus.exe
http://www.linkmania.ro/software/download.php?did=659
http://www.uni-koeln.de/ftp/pc/win32/editor/npadplus.exe
http://personal.triada.bg/Johny/Applications/npadplus.exe

1.70 MB :D

[Roy Sinclair]

Originally posted by joh6nn
if you're looking for a notepad clone with large file support, there's a thing called Notepad++. if you google for it, you'll find the site, but the download link has gone bad. if it looks like what you want, you'll have to email the author for it

If you're running Windows NT or a descendant of NT (Windows 2000 or XP) notepad can handle files as large as 4GB.

Edit:

P.S. I vote for UltraEdit :thumbsup:

[Tails]

But I wouldn't upgrade to xp or anything. XP doesn't support certain DOS commands like Truename work in DOS 6.22 and Windows 98 but not with XP. Try and see what I mean. Also XP doesn't have a choice.com. It's a ripoff. Not to mention 98 sound recorder can open mp3 while xp can't. http://XFox_Prower.tripod.com/download/system.gif <-- right click the image and paste as a url so there's no referrer.

[Quiet Storm]

I'm sticking with WinME &amp UltraEdit32 :D


Hey Tails,
How'd you get that image on there? (nevermind - figured it out)

(*can drag image URL to Addressbar, too)

[Tails]

The image on my properties? It's different for each OS and even sometimes it won't work (especially when you had no image to begin with). The file is c:\windows\system\oemlogo.bmp in 98 and ME. and c:\windows\system32 in XP

[cg9com]

Originally posted by Quiet Storm
I'm sticking with WinME &amp UltraEdit32 :D
you mean windows Many Errors? :D :D

i have not yet really contributed to one of the "text editor" threads, but i can say that i use notepad, and just incase i load the little squares in another file, i keep editplus around, but i like notepad. :)

[Sparky]

I use Homesite (http://www.macromedia.com/software/homesite/), which I personally think is about a billion times better than working in Notepad. I have not used any other text based editors, how does it compare too Edit Plus and the other programs that are listed here?

[liorean]

Must we discuss this again? I't been done SO many times, and nobody has been able to convert anyone else who's already chosen. For those who actually need a suggestion for a good editor, why not make a clean thread with pure suggestions (mods can filter out the editor-bashing) - sticky - and leave it up there?

Obviously, that is a question for the mods here. (Should be in general web design forum instead, though.)

[Roy Sinclair]

Tails,

I upgraded from Windows 3.1 to Windows NT 3.1 so I didn't get into the diversions that came with the various later flavors of the crash prone version of windows.

There are a lot of alternatives to truename and choice available for XP, are you really that wed to BAT files?

[Quiet Storm]

Originally posted by cg9com
you mean windows Many Errors?


It's funny, I hear that all the time about WinME.

But I've had it for about 2 years and in that time have never had a problem with it. No lockups, no BSOD, no hangs...

My system:
Intel Celeron 333
256MB
32Gig HD
WinMe

Now when I had Win95/98, I had all sorts of problems! Had to reinstall Windows several times, sometimes had to reformat the entire HD - it would lose (programs) and this was on a brand new HD, same one I use now for WinME...

I dunno...

[Roy Sinclair]

Originally posted by Quiet Storm
It's funny, I hear that all the time about WinME.

But I've had it for about 2 years and in that time have never had a problem with it. No lockups, no BSOD, no hangs...
...

Have you plugged it in yet? :D


Seriously though, stability is often a function of what the machine is running, the drivers and the reliability of the hardware. Back when I was a Netware admin I noticed one user's password had expired more than 6 months prior but I knew that she was still using the server resources and was currently logged in. It turns out that she hadn't rebooted her Windows for Workgroups 3.11 machine in nearly 8 months, Netware was patiently waiting for her next login to let her know she needed to change her password. For the record she used her PC every day for a number of different tasks.

[Tails]

Alternatives to BAT files? When you say alternative, you sound as if everyone would have such a 3rd party program. The point of BAT files for me is to detect existing folders or OS version, and do a proper install. If Choice is not found, then that is a problem. And no one else would have the alternatives, so it would make distributing useless. I have found a program called WBat though which does wonders as a 3rd party BAT program with an external program and language. I'd learn C++ if all the geniouses weren't snobs and could actually share their knowledge.

[liorean]

Tails - you know, you could use any WScript/ActiveScript language, such as JScript, VBScript, ActiveRuby, ActivePerl, C#, C/C++ etc.

You could even use a 3rd party language such as Ruby, JavaScript (KJS, Rhino or Spidermonkey, you chose), Cygwin's shell scripting tools, Scheme etc.

Ruby is drop dead simple to use for manupulating files and directories, in my opinion. (That's what I use if I want easy-to-write filesystem access.)

[zoobie]

You mean there are cyber snobs? :D

I remember a few years ago when I was trying to open a window with javascript...This snob in another forum wouldn't tell me how to do it. I actually see him around in other forums from time to time.

...and this one girl here...nevermind. :rolleyes:

Although this subject comes up monthly, it's always good to review any new editors out there. Perhaps a text-editor review sticky would be cooler...:cool:

[Skyzyx]

1. When I just need to fix something quickly, I use Notepad (XP).

2. When I actually sit down to write some code, I use Homesite.

3. Batch files are cool, but there are so many [current] technologies to do that stuff, I don't see how choice.com can outweigh the benefits of Windows 2000 and XP.

4. This is the very first conversation I've ever been a part of where some actually liked Windows Me. I had it for a year or so, hated it, and jumped to XP as soon as it was possible. I actually prefer Windows 3.1 over Windows Me (well, almost...).

[mouse]

WinME was excellent I thought, Win98se was very unstable. Just my experience though.

Text editor wise I use Editpadlite, some day I'll pay up for pro but I've used this fora couple of years, it's the best imo but then I don't need much really.

[Tails]

Yes there are cyber snobs! Everyone I know that knows how to program won't give away their secrets. If any of you guys know how, tell what compilers I can use that are free and where all the good tutorials are, please! If you do I'll do you favors and stuff if you ask. I'll also feel better about the snob thing.

[liorean]

Well, if you're running linux, or thinking about it, it comes with an excellent set of compilers, runtime environments and virtual machines - gcc (the GNU Compiler Collection) for C/C++/Objective C, Fortran, Java, Ada; GNU Cobol for Cobol; Ruby, Perl, Python scripting languages. It shouldn't be too hard to find a good Common LISP, Scheme, Pascal, Smalltalk or Simula. There's NASM for all your Assembly needs, too. You also have a lot of commersial but free-for-private use compiler sets.

On windows, it's not as easy to find THE compiler/debugger for a language, unless you look at for-money products. Visual C++ is THE C/C++ for the moment. Some years ago it was BCB, the Borland C++ Builder. Borland C/C++ compiler, called BCC is available for free. There's also at least three gcc ports that I know of: DJGPP (MS-DOS Based), MinGW32 (Native Win32), Cygwin (Emulates Unix - highest compatibility). When it comes to Assembly, MASM is the big assembler. TASM and NASM have their following, too. Java is available for free from Sun, but there are other free versions as well. For Pascal, you can get a free version of TP from Borland, or find slightlly newer ones from other sources. Most languages such as Ruby, Perl, Python can be gotten from their original sources. Scheme has fewer implementations for Win32, but there exists a few for free - MIT Scheme and PLT's MzScheme are the ones I've tried. As for Common LISP, I don't really know how easy it is to find a compiler, but I know there must be some free compiler around somewhere. You also have the scripting possibilities of JScript, VBScript and other ActiveScript languages through the Windows Scripting Host and .NET. Euphoria is also a language that might be usefu lto have a look at.


As for programming resources, there's too many to mention them all, and I only know a few, less known languages (which means they aren't C/C++/Java/PERL).

Scheme: Your primary resource is given, <http://www.scheme.com/tspl2d/index.html> is what you want.

Ruby: <http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/>, <http://www.rubycentral.com/>


For other resources, google is your friend. code.box.sk had a lot of good links, but last time I visited them was some time ago. For an overlook over some of the languages mentioned, see <http://www.engin.umd.umich.edu/CIS/course.des/cis400/index.html>. For some quick references and eBooks, look no further than <http://www.digilife.be/quickreferences/>.

And JavaScript/JScript I guess you know where to find your resources for already.

Hope you find that unsnobbish enough. ;)

[Tails]

Speaking of snobs, no one in the cgi forum would tell me what cgi fiels contains. When I view the source of a cgi file, get nothing but html and nothing I didn't know, even though their content mysteriously changes at the click of a submit button.

Anyway, you said DJGPP was free, right? And I'm also very accustomed to DOS (the usual XP hater lol). Where do I find that?

[Sparky]

Originally posted by Tails
If any of you guys know how, tell what compilers I can use that are free and where all the good tutorials are, please!

Heya Tails, I have been building up a list of various sites and tutorials here (http://www.awars.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=958) for the different area's off coding. I think you should find quite a few off the links pretty good and usefull.

[Tails]

Thanks, I'll check those out. Forums are great. The experience grows even when helping others ^_^. I make some tutorials myself. But only one person has ever gave me feedback, so chances are that it is very unclear. http://XFox_Prower.tripod.com/other

Ooh, I signed up at that place with the threads and the username Tails is mine there too. I'd do anything for a yahoo and aim name of it also, but the guy on aim isn't open for bribes. However, the yahoo name taken's whereabouts are unknown.

[whammy]

Ok,

1. I came in on the tail (pun intended) end of this conversation.

2. I haven't read the answers posted previously.

So - noting the above points, I can honestly say I've tried about 20-30 or more different text/HTML (not to mention UltraEdit, CoffeeCupHTML, blah blah blah) editors, and I own EditPad as well - and unless you try TextPad (which I depend upon every day - and always works without fail, and is overall the best, fastest, and most stable program I've ever used), you probably will not have tried the best PC text editor in existence.

;)

[liorean]

Maybe a mod should split off the programming part of this thread and move it to the appropriate forum... it's a sidetrack that might catch more eyes from "real" programmers if in the right place.

[whammy]

Bah, "real" programmers (whatever that is - lol; can you provide a definition for that? I would assume it to mean "people that are not stupid and want to learn") should be smart enough to figure out which IDE is best for the appropriate task at hand. ;)

No reason to beat a dead horse, I shouldn't have posted in this particular thread, but I was bored. :-|

[liorean]

Well, what "real" programmers are, is often depending on what language they are writing. Most C/C++/Java would say a programmer is someone writing for a compiled language. LISPers and ASM people often regard their own language as THE real programming lanugage. Ruby, Python, Perl, C#, VB, Delphi etc. programmers usually regard any interpreted or compiled language as a programming language.

The real point is often whether a language is a programming language or a scripting language, and whether it can be both. Personally, I would strech as far as saying JavaScript is a programming language. It has some power under the hood, and even though not many use it that way, it's on par with most other interpreted languages. It also has a really large user base.

[whammy]

No argument there... almost. Any language that can use CLASSES is a programming language?

;)

I'd consider (loosely?) CSS a programming language in that case.

Hmm... my personal definition (and apparently a lot of people agree with me) is programming is "giving a computer a set of instructions it understands".).

In my personal opinion, something as simple as a bit field in a database (interpreted properly) is programming. Wait, isn't that binary? ;)

P.S. I'm not trying to harp on you, it's just that programmers in general try to make their jobs seem "mysterious" or "enigmatic", when really programming is just common sense. Anyone can do it. I just think that anything that tells a program what to do (of course this can be propreitary, look at microsoft and vbscript!) is a programming language!

:D

[liorean]

No, no, no - there's different types of not-really-programming languages. CSS is one of them. XSLT is even more of one.


I would personally split in these groups:

Structural Languages
- Describes structure of data
- Often using either linear or hierarchical systematics.
Descriptive Lanugages
- Describes how to handle data
- Describes how to present data
- Describes how to transform data
Programming Languages
- Describes actions to handle data
- Describes actions to construct data
- Describes interfaces to actions


Note that there is some overlap - and you can often describe data in actions or actions in data, for example.

[whammy]

You have a point - but they're still programming. ;-)

2 : to work out a sequence of operations to be performed by (a mechanism) : provide with a program

[Tails]

Well, the description of Homesite looks good, but I'm disappointed that Macromedia hasn't put any screenshots to view.

[liorean]

Whammy - no, CSS merely explains what to render. The programming language, in the form of a browser's html and css implementations in most cases, is what works out what operations to execute to achieve the rendering CSS specifies.

CSS is merely descriptive, it doesn't in itself provide for the actual interpretation and application of what it specifies.

[Tails]

Umm, maybe there should be a forum to define all these acronyms. What's an LISPer? Those "real Programmers" (sometimes referred to as 'snobs' when it applies) don't speak the same language as I do! lol. But really, where could I begin? I tried to just jump in the forum with no knowledge to what they are talking about and my questions get the most views out of any and the least (0 or a useless response trying to change the subject) responses. What do I do?

[liorean]

A LISPer is a programmer of the LISP family of languages. Most often, that means either Scheme or CommonLISP. Scheme is more of a university lanugage while CommonLISP is more of an industrial strenght, commercial language.

LISP is one of the oldest living programming languages around, only trumped from the first place by it's parent FORTRAN.

As for where to begin, I don't really know. I've never reached the depths of the workings of any language but JavaScript, but I know the concepts underlying LISPs to some extend, and I have some understanding of object orientation and what it really mean, in a practical way. Really, programming split into two ways after FORTRAN, namely LISPs more computational/functional approach, and the objectified and object oriented approach of another child of FORTRAN, namely Smalltalk.


As for learning the jargon, I'd recommend you to look not on the net, but in books. Any 20+ years old book on programming will do. Or a newer version of such a book. The little LISPer, or it's newer incarnation The little schemer are very good books to learn the basics of programming languages. I've also heard that Essentials of Programming Languages second edition is a really good book. Both of those are of course primarily working with Scheme. Anotyher one that I've heard about but never had a look at, is Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. As for object orientation, you have to decide a way to go since this is forked almost into oblivion. For OO based languages, Simula -> Smalltalk -> Self, Ruby, (Python) is the main evolutionary track. Procedural turned into OO is the other main evolutionary way, Pascal, C, Basic -> Object Pascal, C++, VB -> Java, Objective C. Read more on <http://www.cyberdyne-object-sys.com/oofaq2/>. (Contains lots of book references that may be of interest).

Also, <http://www.wikipedia.org/> has a good coverage of programming concepts.

[Tails]

Sorry, but that didn't help. I don't even know what language those links links were for, and their search option wasn't returning anything for c++. To start, what language and compiler is best? Please tell me 1 thing.

[liorean]

What language is best depends. C/C++ are good languages, they are close to the machine (compile to be quite fast, in other words) and they have object orientation in a way, if you want it. Java is like C++ without the not object oriented parts. It's also a lot slower, even in compiled form. LISPs are functional, not imperative. The idea is to provide functionality, not a set of operations as with C/C++. They are good for AI, mathematics, graphics and can do most of what C/C++ can at about the same speed if compiled. They aren't very easy to understand if you're used to C/C++ style code (like JavaScript), but they are quite easy to learn. Ruby, Smalltalk, Python, Self are all very good languages when it comes to object orientation, but only Smalltalk provides any kind of speed.


If you have to chose one without having a specific interest in mind, I'd say C/C++ is the way to go. It's the near-standard language for program development in all operative systems. The best compilers are gcc on unix/linux, DJGPP on MSDOS, and MSVC++ on Win32. If you want a free Win32 one, try MinGW32 or BCC5.5. C/C++ is a jungle on non-POSIX platforms, and not many good compilers are free of charge.