Source Code Editor

Let’s consider source code editors that work well with Bash.

Potentially, we can write Bash scripts in any text editor. Even the standard Windows application, called Notepad, can work this way. However, text editors like Notepad are inconvenient for writing the source code because they do not have any coding features to help us. These features increase our productivity significantly, so it’s best to have them available.

Today, we can find plenty of free and proprietary source code editors. Some of them are more widespread than others. The popularity of the editor does not mean that it fits us perfectly. You should try several programs and choose one that you like.

Code editors

Here there is a list of three popular source code editors. You can start with them. If none fits us, you can find other alternatives on the internet.

MS Office and its open-source counterpart, LibreOffice, are not suitable for writing source code. They save files in binary or XML-like format, and interpreters and compilers cannot read them. These programs expect text files as input instead. Text data is the format of all source code editors.

Notepad++

Notepad++ is a fast and minimalistic source code editor that is available for free. We can only use it on Windows. If our OS is macOS or Linux, we should consider other editors. The latest Notepad++ version is available on the official website.

Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a proprietary cross-platform source code editor. Cross-platform means that the program runs on several OSs and hardware configurations. Sublime Text works well on Windows, Linux, and macOS. We can use it for free, without buying a license. Download the editor on the official website.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free cross-platform source code editor from Microsoft. It works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. We do not need to buy a license for using the editor. Download it on the official website.

All three editors have the following features for working with source code:

• Syntax highlighting
• Autocomplete
• Support of commonly used character encodings

It is possible to edit the source code without these features. However, they make it easier to read and edit the program. They also help us get used to the Bash syntax.