You will need the best text editors for Mac that allow you to write the code to complete any coding project you wish to develop on your Mac, such as an application or a website.
Text editors are the name given to these programs. Text editors give users the ability to develop and run code in a variety of programming languages.
There are many different kinds of text editors. Still, you can divide them into simple text editors (sometimes rich text editors) and source-code editors.
The primary distinction between the two types is what you can find on the functions. It aims that each variety is designed to fulfill.
Best Text Editors for Mac
1. BBEdit
Bare Bones Software’s BBEdit is one of the best text editors for Mac that is exclusive to the Mac operating system.
It is a cost-free version of the popular TextWrangler text editor. It was off the market a few years ago and is currently only compatible with macOS.
In contrast to TextWrangler, however, the free version of BBEdit provides a sufficient number of features and programming functionalities, which elevates it to the status of an outstanding choice among the myriad of other text editors now available.
You can use it as a simple text editor to deal with plain text files, create code, or construct original scripts.
You can also use it to work with scripts. AppleScript, Python, Perl, RegEx, and Shell scripting are all on BBEdit’s list of supported programming languages.
BBEdit offers various capabilities, including tools for project definition, syntax coloring, code folding, auto code completion, and quick search and replace.
In addition, you will have support for FTP and SFTP, both used for file transmission, and the integration of various systems for managing code.
2. Vim
It is a clone of Vi that has been improved in several ways. It is also popular as Vi Improved.
Vi is an editor that conforms to the POSIX standard and is pre-installed on many operating systems that adhere to the Unix standard, including macOS.
Vim is unlike any of the other text editors on this list in terms of its appearance and overall feel.
It is a text editor that emphasizes getting the fundamentals right, unlike most modern text editors, which emphasize providing a nice-looking interface packed with many features and functionalities.
In addition to that, it does it very effectively. However, you gain access to substantial plugin support, with new plugins produced continuously so that you can customize the editor to conform to the way you code and the process you follow.
All your interactions with Vim will occur in the command line or the terminal window because it does not have a graphical user interface.
Additionally, given that Vim is a modal editor, it features a variety of modes, each of which may require some practice before you feel completely at ease using it.
Having said that, once you have a working knowledge of Vim, you can effectively use it. In addition, it is highly unlikely that you will return to using a standard text editor.
3. Visual Studio Code
Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code, sometimes popular as VS Code, is a source code editor available for free.
It is built on the Electron framework and is compatible with all major operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.
VS Code is unique compared to other source-code editors because, unlike those editors, it does not use a project-based system.
Instead, it allows you to work with multiple directories simultaneously and separates those directories into separate workspaces.
In this way, it is similar to an editor, not specific to any programming language.
In terms of its capabilities, Visual Studio Code enables users to develop code in a variety of programming languages, including C/C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, and Go.
It offers a comprehensive collection of tools that can assist you in the coding process, such as support for syntax highlighting, snippets, code refactoring, debugging, intelligent code completion (also known as autocomplete), and interaction with Git.
Some of these features include the following: You can communicate and work in real time with other users, even if they are located in different locations.
If you’re starting with programming, Visual Studio Code can be one of the best text editors for Mac because it has several capabilities, such as IntelliSense and Peek Definition, that can assist you in comprehending various facets of the languages you’re using.
4. Atom
Atom is a source-code editor developed by GitHub, which Microsoft now owns. It is both free and open-source.
Consequently, the community develops and maintains many of the features you obtain on it.
Atom is an alternative to Visual Studio Code based on the Electron framework. However, unlike VS Code, Atom has fewer features built-in by default.
However, because it has support for plugins, you can modify different aspects of Atom and selectively add functionality to it to make it fit your needs and your project’s workflow.
In addition to the ability to be customized, Atom provides you with a standard set of capabilities.
These include syntax highlighting, intelligent auto-completion, and a file system browser.
It includes a built-in package manager that will assist you in searching for and installing new packages on your system and integrate with Git, allowing you to store and manage your projects without leaving the editor.
In terms of the programming languages that Atom supports, you can write code in C/C++/C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, Scala, and various additional languages.
In addition, collaborating and working with coworkers is also feasible in Atom owing to a feature called Teletype. Teletype makes use of WebRTC to encrypt every communication that takes place between collaborators to provide a secure working platform.
5. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is another one of the best text editors for Mac that shareware source code editor.
It makes most of its features available for free but restricts access to a few of them to the paid offering.
You can upgrade to the paid offering or purchase the missing functionalities separately if you require the missing functionalities.
One of the most popular choices among Mac users for text editors came into existence with Python and web programming in mind from the beginning.
However, in addition to that, you can use it for other programming and markup languages.
Much like Atom, Sublime Text has plugin support, enabling users to enhance their editing experience by adding functionality that may be lacking in their current editor.
The command palette, snippets, code auto-completion goto, anything, and goto definition are some helpful features that come standard with Sublime Text.
The built-in package manager with Sublime Text makes locating and adding third-party add-ons to the editor simple.
This makes it one of the most attractive features of this text editor. In addition to Sublime Text, SublimeHQ offers a product called Sublime Merge.
This product is a graphical user interface (GUI) version control (Git and merging tool) for Sublime Text that makes it easier to search your repository, commit changes, and resolve conflicts promptly.
6. Komodo Edit
It is a free, open-source text editor compatible with macOS 10.14 and has a powerful user interface. Komodo Edit is among the best text editors for Mac that users may utilize for various tasks, including creating code.
The software contains various helpful capabilities that can assist you in editing, such as the ability to monitor changes, numerous sections, autocomplete, skin and icon sets, and more.
7. UltraEdit
IDM Computer Solutions is responsible for developing one of Mac’s popular best text editors, known as UltraEdit, which functions faultlessly with distant files.
Not only is it quick, but it is also reliable and simple to operate. It effectively manages files of sizes more than 1 gigabyte in size.
UltraEdit’s wide variety of functionality will assist you in performing various tasks, including highlighting syntax, sorting files or data, editing columns or blocks, and many more.
Additionally, SSH and telnet support are what you will see in the software.
8. TextMate
TextMate is a graphical user interface (GUI) program that utilizes the incredibly powerful capabilities of the UNIX command console in a way that is friendly to users.
This allows the user to make the most of both worlds, functioning as a dedicated coder or a basic code user.
TextMate has a wide variety of features, some of which include auto-indentation, search and replace capabilities within the project, dynamic outlining, and column selection.
9. Emacs
Another one of the best text editors for Mac worth mentioning is Emacs, which stands for Editor MACroS.
It is the option that the vast majority of programmers favor. It has a rivalry with Vim, and enthusiasts of both text editors are confident about declaring that their preferred text editor is better than the other.
Much like Vim, Emacs enables users to personalize their experience by providing various configuration options; however, Emacs’s configuration options are more subtle than those provided by Vim.
It includes over 10,000 instructions, and the interface enables you to mix these commands and use them to construct macros for automating tasks in your workflow. The number of commands is impressive.
In terms of its usability, Emacs is comparable to Vim because it requires some initial training before users can effectively use it.
The features that come packaged with it make it a potentially useful text editor for programmers who seek an environment that enables them to carry out and control virtually every step of the programming process.
Text editing, project planning, an integrated mail client and newsfeed, a built-in packaging system, and an integrated IRC client are just some of the features included in Emacs.
Conclusion
When writing and editing documents on your Mac using one of the Best Text Editors for Mac above, you will have greater control over the Text.
You can get the best out of it if you take advantage of the capabilities specifically for software development if you want to use them to create code, which is highly likely that you are currently reading this.
