I’m pretty new to coding, but I’m learning fast. I’m currently working on writing and programming my first game, and it’s been really fun. I’ve gotten a lot of recommendations about what text editor to use, with people most often recommending TextEditor or Notepad++. After a conversation with a game creator that I really respected earlier this week, I tried Sublime Text 2, and absolutely loved coding with it.

What is it and what does it do

Main Functionality

Sublime Text 2 is a text editor that’s ideal for coding. Autosave and syntax highlighting features make this an enjoyable tool for coding in multiple programming languages.

Pros

• Work in regular mode or “distraction free mode”
• Cross-platform: available for OS X, Windows and Linux
• Split editing and project switch capabilities make it easy to compare files or switch between projects
• Great for coding because you can easily see line numbers and indentations and also rename variables quickly
• Supports a wide array of different programming languages
• Supports tons of keyboard shortcuts to make your life easier

Cons

• Costs $70 to purchase (but you can download and play around with it for free — it has a trial)
• Sublime 2 is no longer the newest Sublime on the block: Some users may prefer playing around with the beta of Sublime 3 instead, which has additional features.

Discussion

Sublime Text 2 isn’t exactly freeware, though it is free to download and use without restriction for evaluation purposes. A license will set you back $70, though I’m guessing not everyone who uses this software pays for it.

The official Sublime Text party line on paying is laid out as follows on their website: “Sublime Text 2 may be downloaded and evaluated for free, however a license must be purchased for continued use. There is currently no enforced time limit for the evaluation.” In other words, it’s nagware, though nagware seems like a mean word for such a gorgeous app.

There’s so much to like here. I particularly like being able to see the number of lines I’m working on, and I love the ability to throw in some color when I’m editing so that I can better fend off eye strain and brain fatigue from staring at too many lines of code.

Plus, there are so many little touches that make this stark-looking tool quite user-friendly. GoTo Anything lets you open files and search them with the bare minimum number of keystrokes. You can also customize Sublime Text 2 with JSON files, if you would like.

Conclusion and download link

As I’ve said before, I’m new to the world of coding, and to the hunt for a great text editor to do my coding work in. That being said, Sublime Text 2 is a real stunner. I can see why it’s priced at $70: the app is really just a pleasant environment to code in, and the distraction free mode is a great option for anyone who needs to code for hours at a time without interruption. I’m no coding expert, but I love this tool.

Price: $70

Version reviewed: 2.0.2

Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later

Download size: 8.0 MB

Sublime Text 2 on Apple App Store