Development environments have evolved, allowing developers to integrate web development steps like coding, editing, testing, and debugging. These environments are known as Integrated Development Environment (IDE). An IDE helps developers quickly build websites or web apps.
IDE lets developers select and manage all software testing and writing tools under a single framework. A standard IDE comprises a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger. An advanced IDE offers unique features like automation, visualization, and customization for a robust programming experience.
Moreover, these web development IDEs support various programming languages, frameworks, and CMS. With rising demand and competition around web development, firms must achieve quick deployments. Hence, choosing the proper web development IDE is essential.
Here are the top 5 web development IDEs.
1. IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is a Java-centric IDE. One of the best features of this IDE is its ability to add handy tools that are relevant to the context automatically. Additionally, it supports HTML, PHP, Python, and Ruby with other Java languages. Its paid version offers more development tools.
Features
- Supports numerous build systems and Google App Engine, Grails, GWT
- Offers extensive database editor and UML designer
- Provides smart text editors for HTML, CSS, and Java
- It has built-in static code analyzers and supports Git Integration
Pros
- Offers plugin support for running Java applications
- User-friendly and intuitive code editor with great syntax highlighting
- It has in-build tools that help run and debug apps from the browser
Cons
- Complex version control integration.
- Difficult to stage and unstaged changes
- Heavy RAM consumption
- Does not offer additional features to move to debug recurring Java errors
2. PHPStorm
PHPStorm offers an ideal coding environment for developers working on PHP frameworks like WordPress, Drupal, and Magento. Its interface is simple and easy to use.
Moreover, the IDE is compatible with Mac, Windows, and Linux and supports multiple front-end programming languages like HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript. PHPStorm can be customized with themes and extensions to enhance the programming experience.
Features
- It offers robust IDE features like version control, database access, and debugging
- Built with solid features of IntelliSense, which makes PHP coding simple
- Supports many themes and add-ons, allowing developers to customize to match their needs
- SSH and terminal support eliminates the need to switch to other terminal apps during the development.
Pros
- Highlights errors
- Facilitates remote deployment
- Offers command-line tools and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editor
Cons
- Slows down when loading huge projects
- Some configurations are hard to understand, leading to a steep learning curve
- Expensive
3. Atom
Atom by GitHub is an IDE for Javascript Programming. It supports Mac, Windows, and Linux and has a package manager for installing new packages.
The IDE is highly customizable but can be used well without configuring or customizing.
Features
- Atom lets developers tailor their coding environment to their preferences with various themes and extensions.
- Customization allows them to make their code easier to read and navigate
- Its code hinting capabilities help write code faster
- It integrates well with services like LINT
- It is free, making it accessible to many developers.
Pros
- Let developers find, preview, and replace text as you type in a file across all projects
- The teletype tool allows developers to collaborate with other developers from within the editor
- Developers can easily browse and open files in a single window
Cons
- Limited API requests hinder the ability to make API requests effectively
- Atom lags when processing large files, leading to delays and inefficiencies in the workflow.
- Lack of intuitive UI/UX makes it hard for developers to find specific features, customize their workspace, and navigate the app seamlessly.
4. NetBeans
NetBeans is a free and simple IDE that works well with JavaScript, HTML, PHP, C, and C++. While it supports different programming languages, it is also available in English, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese.
It uses JSP, JEE, and Spring Struts. NetBeans offers an essential deployment tool that enhances the speed of application production. Moreover, it serves as the primary IDE for coding, indentation, Git commits debugging, and minifying code.
Features
- Its code completion feature saves time and effort by automatically adding the rest of the code. This enhances the coding experience, making coding tasks more efficient.
- The Find Replace feature allows developers to make changes in multiple files simultaneously. It helps streamline the process of updating and modifying code.
- The side-by-side code comparison feature helps simplify the task of maintaining consistency across multiple code files. It enhances code management and makes spotting differences and making updates easier.
Pros
- Word and bracket matching
- Source code highlighting and code refactoring
- Coding tips, templates, and generators are available
- Customizable workspace
Cons
- Slow response time causes frustration and delays in the workflow
- The software lacks comprehensive documentation, making it difficult for naïve users to learn and troubleshoot issues
- Various bugs and glitches disrupt the workflow and require extra effort.
- Package is tricky to set up
5. Sublime Text 3
Sublime Text 3 is a flexible and free IDE that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. It also supports programming and markup languages like Python, C, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. The interface is simple and fast.
The IDE is pre-loaded with multiple visual themes that are easy to customize. Developers can download additional themes and set them up with the help of third-party plugins.
Features
- It has an in-built autocomplete and suggestions feature available
- The Go-To function lets developers easily move files
- The command palette helps invoke commands from the keyboard easily
- Offers extensive plugin repository
Also Read: A Guide on Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Pros
- Fast and lightweight with better themes and plugin support
- Can be tweaked to boost productivity
- Allows developers to split-edit and switch projects instantly
- Offers customizable key bindings, menus, and snippets
Cons
- Customization is a complicated
- Annoying whitespace management
- Lack of internal tools and functionalities
