A source code editor is a text editor program designed specifically for editing source code of computer programs by programmers. It may be a standalone application or it may be built-in in an integrated development environment (IDE).
Source code editors may have features specifically designed to simplify and speed up input of source code, such as syntax highlighting and autocomplete functionality (such as Microsoft's Intellisense). These editors may also provide a convenient way to run a compiler, interpreter, debugger, or other program relevant for software development process. So, while many text editors can be used to edit source code, if they don't enhance, automate or ease the editing of code, they are not "source code editors," but simply "text editors that can also be used to edit source code."
Some well known source code editors
- Acme (Plan 9, Unix via plan9port)
- BBEdit (Mac OS X)
- Boxer (Windows)
- EditPad (Windows)
- EditPlus (Windows)
- Emacs (Unix, Windows)
- Kate/KDevelop (KDE)
- Sam (Plan 9, Unix, Windows)
- SciTE (Unix, Windows)
- SubEthaEdit (Mac OS X)
- Microsoft Visual Studio built-in editor (Windows)
- The Hessling Editor THE (Amiga, DOS, Linux, OS/2, QNX, Unix, Windows)
- vi (Unix, Windows)
