Xooxia Development

Over the past few weeks I’ve been looking for a code editor to use for development. I’ve been using Dreamweaver for the shear fact that I’ve just gotten used to it. When I began in web development over a decade ago, I started using Dreamweaver for the WYSIWYG capabilities along with the database integration of the software. As I’ve matured as a developer, I no longer use the WYSIWYG feature of the software and have started custom coding all of my php and database code. I used to use tons of components within Dreamweaver to get some features online and functional fast. However, as I’ve had clients ask for some customization of some of those features, I’ve come to prefer to custom code everything to allow easier customizations.

I’ve tried quite a few free and commercial editors recently.  The one I have decided to move forward with is the Aptana Studio Community Edition.  This one has all of the features that I’ll speak of below.  The best feature of all is that Aptana Studio Community is FREE!  You can’t beat that.  They offer a full paid version for $99 at the time of this writing, but the added features are not something that I feel I need at this time.  There is a JSON editor included in the full paid version, but not necessary for my work.  JSON is simple enough to follow, so I feel paying the money for that support is not justified.

So, in regards to code editors. I needed something with quite a few features. I hate to use various software programs to work within a file. I like to have one program that can do it all. This, of course, has always been a challenge. Listed below are the features that I required for my work flexibility:

• Syntax Highlighting
  • XHTML
  • CSS
  • JavaScript
  • PHP (via a plug-in)
  • XML
• Automatic Code Collapse
• Code Helpers
• Snippets Support
• Macros Support
• FTP Support
• SVN Support

Syntax Highlighting

First of all, as any code editor worth it’s time, syntax highlighting is important. I work in various languages (as all developers do) and need to have syntax highlighting for each of these languages.

Automatic Code Collapse

To work more efficiently, I collapse blocks of code in which I don’t necessarily need to see details at that time. This was the big push away from Dreamweaver. You can collapse code in DW CS3, but you have to highlight the code first. This means you have to find the beginning of the code block, highlight all the way to the end of the code block, and then collapse the code.  the Aptana Studio will collapse code blocks automatically based on opening and closing brackets.  This is a quick and easy method to hide sections that aren’t relevant at that time.  This doesn’t seem like a huge feature until you actually use it.  It can be a great time saver!

Code Helpers

OK, this is the feature that mostly sold me on Aptana Studio!  Most code editors have code helpers, however, not close to the support that is integrated into Aptana Studio.  Code helpers are those little pop-ups as you’re typing code that tell you the proper syntax of the code you’re typing.  With Aptana, you not only get the syntax in the pop-up, you also get the documentation to go along with the basic information.  This is a great feature to speed up your coding as well as allow you to learn as you work.  When you start typing code functions that you’re not familiar with, you can learn about it directly in the code window rather than going to any online documentation.

Even more useful is the ScriptDoc support in Aptana Studio.  This is a way you can write the code helper into your own code.  If you frequently write your own functions, then you can add the same code helper functionality by using specific comments in your code.  If you write a function with three parameters and two of those parameters should be strings and one should be an integer, you’ll be reminded of that while you code.  You won’t have to open the file with the function in it to refresh your memory.  This could be my most favorite feature!

Snippets Support

Any developer reuses code that they’ve written before.  Via the snippets support, you can add that code quickly.  This is an essential feature for any code editor.  Aptana has native snippets support, so I don’t have to use one of those snippet widgets.

Macros Support

I don’t use macros very often, but have found them very useful for a few tasks.  With Aptana Studio, you can record macros, save them and play them back.  A nice feature to have available, although not a deal breaker for me.

FTP Support

I do quite a lot of my updates directly on the server and like to have a quick and efficient way to upload/download files from within the code editor.  I prefer to have it integrated into the editor so I don’t have to keep alt-tabbing between an FTP program and the code editor.  This is mostly for efficiency, but an important feature for me.

Subversion Support

I use versioning support through Subversion and like to have the integration from within my code editor.  Dreamweaver has Subversion support through an extension that I had gotten pretty accustomed to, so I needed a code editor with integrated support.

I’ve found this to be a great software program and have only used it for a couple of weeks now.  I may find some trade-offs as I work more intimately with the software, but I’m definitely going to give it a full fighting chance.  If anyone has any other help for great code editors, please let me know!

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