Of course, not all code editors are equal. Here are some of the features that you should look for when selecting a code editing application:
- PHP syntax highlighting
- Completion of PHP function names
- Ability to search in multiple files simultaneously
- Ability to highlight all instances of search keyword(s) or selected text
- Line numbering
- Ability to resize the editor text or specify a replacement font
- Possibility of opening multiple files simultaneously
The following editors contain most or all of these key features. Most are free tools, but some are paid applications:
On the Windows platform:
- Programmer's Notepad (http://www.pnotepad.org)
- Notepad++ (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/)
- Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com)
On the Mac platform:
- TextMate (https://macromates.com)
- TextWrangler (https://www.barebones.com/products/TextWrangler)
On the Linux platform:
- Screem (http://www.screem.org/)
Cross-platform:
- Sublime Text (https://www.sublimetext.com)
This recipe explains how to install a dedicated code editor and shows basic editor operations. It provides detailed steps using Programmer's Notepad for Windows.