• Question: What is the best type of coding software

    Asked by s2trapz on 16 Jun 2025. This question was also asked by zapperspeed.
    • Photo: John Easton

      John Easton answered on 16 Jun 2025:

      At it’s most basic, you need an editor and a compiler (assuming you are programming in a language that is compiled). It can get more complex (and automated) and additional testing and security checking etc can be added in using a toolchain composed of lots of different software development tools. It still starts with an editor though 😉

      In terms of editors, I used to use Atom but have now largely moved across to VS Code for anything where I need the sorts of plugins to help with the task. Quite often though, I’ll just use vi.

      In terms of languages, the ‘best’ language is one that allows you to do what you need to do easily. And that will depend on what you’re trying to do, what you have experience with and what the system / company wants you to use / has provided for your use. If performance is important then a compiled language will beat an interpreted one every time.

    • Photo: Marcus Davage

      Marcus Davage answered on 16 Jun 2025:

      It depends, but mostly, without a doubt, I’d use Visual Studio Code. It’s free, flexible, helpful, and generally awsome. It can be used to write in practically every programming language that has ever existed.

      However, if I need to write something quick on a remote machine somewhere else, and I don’t want to leave any crumbs, I’d use vi, vim, or nano.

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