Review of Sublime Text 2: An efficient code editor
Sublime Text 2 is one of the efficient and lightweight code editor, which is available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. This code editor supports almost all programming languages. It also offers a lot of extensions, plugins, themes, code auto-completion and a lot more features. Let's find out its new features and how it is different from other similar applications.
For a web developer, choosing between an IDE or text editor is a huge task, and may have huge impact on output, efficiency and style of coding. But if you would like an application with the simplicity of notepad, among a lot of others to choose from, Sublime Text 2 would be the best for you. It is one of the efficient and lightweight code editor, which is available for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. This code editor supports almost all programming languages, you can even use coffees and LESS in it. Apart from simplicity and the support for wide range of programming languages, it also offers a lot of extensions, plugins, themes, code auto-completion and a lot more. Of course, there are many other similar applications out there, such as Dreamweaver, Textmate, Notepad, Aptana Studio and Zend Studio which offer similar functionalities as Sublime Text. Let's find out its new features and how it is differ from other similar applications.Features of Sublime Text 2
Sublime Text 2 looks visually same across Mac OS X, Windows and Linux and it is incredibly beautiful. It comes with many color schemes, precisely 22 color schemes available to choose from, so that you can set an eye friendly background color. If those are not enough, still you can easily add more color schemes via Package Control. Thankfully, here you can customize anything, such as Snippets, Menus and more. Most importantly, you get the option to specify the settings on the basis of projects or files. Another noticeable feature in this code editor is its Minimap, which is a scrollable column viewable on the right side. This functionality enables you to jump in between different areas of the working file, and get an overview of whole code. This functionality is very helpful, especially if you have to work with big files that contains too many code lines
It comes with a really incredible feature called Command palette which offers wide range of inferior modes helping you manage the code editor through a 'Spotlight' mode. Pressing the CTRL+SHIFT+P (COMMAND+SHIFT+P on Mac OS) keys will pop up the command palette, where you can type pretty much any kind of commands, such as Sort Lines, Select All, Clear All and Close All, without ever needing to navigate through various menus. Just like other similar applications, it also offers features like code suggestions, auto code completion, warnings and so on. Unlike any other code editor, here you have another incredible feature called Multiple Selections, which allows you select multiple code lines simultaneously with ease. This feature especially comes in very handy when you need to make changes on a big file with in a limited amount of time.
Sublime Text 2 comes with option to download and install Python-powered extensions and plugins. With the help of this feature, you can add many custom abilities such as grammar handling, color changing and many more with ease while it is not easy in many other code editors. Talking about plugins, first of all you must check on package control plugin, which let you easily find out other plugins from within this code editor. And of course, this plugin makes it possible to download and install plugins right from the application. In fact, without this plugin, installation of other plugins would be a pain.
Finally, there is a distraction free editing mode and split editing mode is also available. Distraction free mode feature is really very useful if you don't need any distractions while coding. When you turn on this mode, the code pallet goes to full screen mode hiding the menu bars and sidebars so that you don't get distracted from code. Keep in mind that there is also a normal full screen mode available with menus and sidebars. Split Editing mode is an another great feature which lets you get the most out from your wide screen display by making it possible to edit side-by-side editing.Price, Availability and Support
Considering its features, it is very reasonably priced. For personal license, you have to pay $70/license. One license is good enough to use this code editor on every computer you have, no matter what operating system you installed on your computers. Even if you want to try it out first, you can download its unlimited trial version, directly from its official website. Coming to the support, there you have documentation with a huge amount of information regarding new features and functionalities of this code editor. You can also make use of Sublime Forum, in case you need any assistance regarding the working of this application. For more information, visit its official website: www.sublimetext.com.Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Sublime Text 2 earned its position among many other similar applications out there. It is one of the best and efficient code editors, which come with the simplicity of a text editor. At the price tag of $70 for a single user license that can be used on Mac OS X, Windows and Linux versions makes it a perfect code editor that meets all your needs.
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