In this article, we will see 20 best IDE for web development in 2021.
You are maybe a beginner or a professional software engineer. A developer knows that writing and developing code is a multi-step process. Therefore, this process requires various tools: for coding, editing, debugging, refactoring, compiling, interpreting, etc.
It gets more complicated when working in a team. Because all team members need to communicate, share code, work cohesively together. There are many countless tools available for these type of things exists on different platforms. A developer can manage their tools in a toolbox.
Table of Contents
IDE:
IDE stands for “integrated development environment.” It is an application that provides developers with the required tools for development. It contains a text editor, automation tools, code compilation, and a debugger.
Features of a best IDE for Web Development:
- Text Editor
- Debugger
- Compiler
- Code Completion
- Integrations and Plugins
Best IDE for Web Development:
1. Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio is one of the best-integrated development environments. A developer can develop everything from complex programs to simple websites and lightweight web applications.
This IDE uses the most popular Microsoft software development platforms, such as Windows API, forms, and presentation foundation. With the help of this IDE, a user can produce both native and managed code.
Pros: Attractive Functionalities, Seamless Workflow, and Easy to use.
Cons: Expensive and need lots of resources to run.
2. Atom
Atom is a modern editor develop by GitHub. It is free of cost and open-source IDE, and it is a desktop application developed using web technologies. This IDE offers support for Node.js plugins.
Atom comes with a built-in package manager that allows you to install new tools and themes for expanding its functionality. But, out-of-the-box Atom offers several pre-installed themes and works across various operating systems.
Pros: Flexible and easy to use, Scalable with Plugins and various packages, and GitHub integration.
Cons: Performance is slow, and functionalities are limited.
Download: https://atom.io/
3. Komodo
Komodo is one of the best open-source editors for dynamic programming languages. It supports most of the languages. A few features that make Komodo better include auto-complete code, multi-language editor, multiple selections, projects & places manager, skin & icon sets, mini-map, commando, unit testing, and debugging.
The community edition of this IDE is free to use, but you have to pay for this if you want more features.
Pros: Customizable UI, Multi-user editing, and many add-ons to expand the functionality.
Cons: Expansive and limited functionalities in the free version.
Download: https://www.activestate.com/products/komodo-ide/downloads/edit/
4. WebStorm
WebStorm stands at the top amongst other Integrated Development Environments with its brilliant code editor. Some of its significant features include intelligent code completion, on-the-fly error detection, and robust navigation.
Unlike other IDEs, it is a closed-source IDE developed by JetBrains. It boasts a new yet minimal UI packed with unique features in and out. This IDE is easy to use and very lightweight, IDE built to help you develop cutting-edge web applications that stand out.
Pros: Supports code refactoring, smart autocomplete, easily customizable, has built-in tools, and supports numerous plugins.
Cons: High memory usage and commercial software.
Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/webstorm/download/#section=windows
5. IntelliJ IDEA
IntelliJ IDEA is an integrated development environment and developed by JetBrains, and it is available as an Apache 2 Licensed community edition and a commercial software edition. Both editions a user can use for commercial development.
This IDE features a database editor, supports different build systems, and provides deployment and debugging tools. Additionally, JetBrains provided plugins and third-party developers that can save you a lot of time.
Pros: Smart refactoring, supports multiple languages, fully functional free version, and powerful debugger.
Cons: Maybe complicated for beginners.
Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/download/#section=windows
6. Sublime Text
Sublime Text is a lightweight text IDE that supports various popular languages. It has all things that you expect from the best editor for web development. And offers numerous distinct features, including goto anything, multiple selections, command palette, and goto definition.
This IDE contains 23 unique visual themes out-of-box. If a user wants more additional themes, he can download and set them with the help of third-party plugins.
Pros: Efficient development with unique features, Lightweight and easy to use, and fully customizable.
Cons: Lacks advanced functionalities.
Download: https://www.sublimetext.com/3
7. Aptana Studio 3
Aptana Studio 3 is an open-source and easy-to-use integrated development environment. It is based on Eclipse IDE but with many more valuable features. This IDE focus on web applications. It supports common web application coding languages such as JavaScript, AJAX, PHP, and Ruby on Rails, and HTML and CSS.
It minimizes compatibility challenges with its broad browser support, enabling users to develop and deploy a range of web apps with a single IDE.
Pros: Code assistance, integrated debugger, command line, deployment wizard, and other convenient tools.
Cons: Stability issues, slow, and less efficient for complex projects.
8. PyCharm
PyCharm is an IDE used for computer programming, especially for python programming. This IDE was developed by JetBrains and is a cross-platform IDE. This cross-platform IDE gives code analysis, a graphical debugger, and an integrated unit tester to minimize the hassles of web developers.
PyCharm is commercial software, but it has a community edition with a limited set of features.
Pros: Easy to customize, supports cross-technology development, and Intelligent IDE.
Cons: Few performance bugs and limited features in the community edition.
Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/#section=windows
9. RubyMine
RubyMine is an integrated development environment for Ruby and Rails. When a developer is coding, it helps you avoid extra typing and navigate through your code quicker.
For example, remember those times when you forget to close your brackets or quotes. It deserves attention due to its logical workflow organization, intuitive navigation, and excellent compatibility.
Pros: Smart code support, Convenient Navigation, and Frequent updates.
Cons: Required high memory and lack of customization.
Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/ruby/download/#section=windows
10. Adobe Dreamweaver CC
Dreamweaver is a web development IDE developed by Adobe Systems. It together a visual design surface, known as Live View, and a code editor with features such as code collapsing, code completion, and syntax highlighting.
Adobe Dreamweaver CC supports most of the major programming languages and shows impressive performance. It supports both textual and WYSIWYG ways, giving you the code option and instantly see changes in a visual presentation.
Pros: Code and preview, intuitive interface, allow access to numerous libraries and plugins via Adobe support.
Cons: Lacks cross-browser compatibility, steep learning curve, and bulky dynamic code.
Download: https://adobe-dreamweaver.en.softonic.com/download
11. Brackets
Brackets integrated environment is open-source, and Adobe Systems developed it. It is undeniably one of the best web development IDE. And it empowers the users with visual tools like an inline editor and live preview to execute the program efficiently.
The user comes with an elegant user interface (UI) and intuitive navigation. Brackets support real-time connection with a browser, and developers can instantly see all the code changes on the screen. Further, if you work with preprocessors, you will enjoy working with Brackets.
Pros: Lightweight, built for web development, and real-time preview.
Cons: Lacks advanced IDE functionality and gets slower after installing plugins.
Download: https://brackets.en.softonic.com/download
12. RJ TextEd
RJ TextEd is a Unicode source code Integrated Development Environment. It gives support to a wide range of programming languages to develop websites. And supports you in opening or saves the UTF-8 file without any hassle.
This IDE automatically completes the code and offers a wizard for HTML and CSS, also offers FTP and SFT clients. In addition, it provides tools like color picker and syntax editor and can highlight color in SASS and LESS.
Pros: Free to use, auto-completion and spell checking, and excellent CSS editing.
Cons: Lacks advanced functionality.
Download: https://www.techspot.com/downloads/5557-rj-texted.html
13. Light Table
Light Table is an elegant and lightweight, integrated development environment for software engineering. Chris Granger and Robert Attorri develop it. It features real-time feedback allowing instant execution, debugging, and access to documentation.
The instant feedback provides an execution environment intended to help to create abstractions.
Pros: Easily customizable, instant visualization, and numerous plugins available.
Cons: Limited features.
Download: https://www.softpedia.com/get/Programming/File-Editors/LightTable.shtml
14. PhpStorm
PHPStorm is one of the excellent web development IDE for commercial and cross-platform apps. It is written in Java, and the user can use it for other languages by installing relevant plugins.
The intuitive user interface and excellent functions make PHPStorm an ideal coding IDE for developing projects of any size and scale (large or small) – without worrying about types and manual errors.
A user can customize the IDE with themes and extensions to enhance your programming experience.
Pros: Highly functional, framework support, easily customizable, brilliant code navigator, refactoring and debugging tools, and command-line tools.
Cons: Commercially sold software.
Download: https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/download/#section=windows
15. Vim
Vim is a highly configurable IDE with some powerful functionalities. This terminal-based editor supports most programming and markup languages and offers all standard features, such as mouse gestures and syntax highlighting.
It is fast and lightweight, so it performs well for large projects. Developers also command the keyboard-based interface as it grants better efficiency. However, this also makes it a little complicated for newbies.
Pros: Excellent performance, lightweight and fast, and boost productivity.
Cons: Difficult learning curve.
Download: https://vim.en.softonic.com/
16. NetBeans
NetBeans is a free, popular, open-source website IDE, and it allows the development of desktop, mobile, and web applications. It supports fast & intelligent code editing. And is an easy & Efficient Project Management process and Rapid User Interface Development.
This IDE helps developers to write bug-free code. The user can install it on any OS which supports Java, from Windows to Linux to Mac OS X systems.
Pros: Powerful debugging, cross-platform software, accessible, and supports custom plugins.
Cons: Slow down occasionally.
Download: https://netbeans-ide.informer.com/8.2/
17. Eclipse
Eclipse is one of the most famous Integrated Development Environment. While it was initially developed as a Java environment, it supports various other languages, including C++, Python, and PHP. Whether you are just starting or have expertise in web development, this framework has got you covered with its easy-to-use interface and exceptional features for web development.
This IDE offers debugging tools, a plugin development toolkit, and Git/CVS support. Eclipse can be empowered with various extensions. If the user needs to boost its functionality for modeling, testing, and charting, the user can search for a solution from the Eclipse Marketplace Client.
Pros: Supports multiple languages, a wide selection of plugins, and a fast compiler.
Cons: Complex for beginners and lacks advanced functionality.
Download: https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/
18. Code::Blocks
Code::Blocks is a free, easy-to-use, open-source, and cross-platform IDE that supports multiple compilers, including GCC, Clang, and Visual C++. It is developed in C++ using wxWidgets as the GUI toolkit.
Using a plugin architecture, its capabilities and features are defined by the provided plugins. It has an easily navigatable, tabbed interface and supports many plugins.
Other remarkable features of this Code::Blocks IDE are a debugger with breakpoint support, compiler support, and an option to add customizable external tools.
Pros: Easy navigation, supports multi-user development, and can be customized with numerous plugins and external tools
Cons: Lacks the power of complex projects.
19. Xcode
Among other examples of the IDE, Xcode is worth mentioning due to the wide range of tools developed specifically for apps running on Apple devices. It is fully integrated with popular frameworks like Cocoa and Cocoa Touch, allows users to add Passbook, Game Center, and other services just with a single click.
Using Xcode, developers can get benefit from the Apple LLVM compiler that effectively determines possible performance issues and Interface Builder, enabling building a prototype without coding. Also, this IDE can automatically analyze and test code at any stage of development.
Pros: Impressive toolkit, great testing possibilities, and intuitive interface.
Cons: Limited to apple devices.
Download: https://developer.apple.com/xcode/resources/
20. Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio is a web design IDE, and it is fast, easy to plan, build, and ship software with a variety of platforms. These software development tools allow an organization to develop the perfect development environment. Track and manage all ideas on scrum boards or kanban with agile tools.
It improves code quality and catch issues early and build, manages, secure and share software components. It automates and simplifies Azure deployments and tools for manual, performance, and automated testing. This IDE provides a version control system (VCS) with private repositories.
Pros: Open-source, fast and powerful, and Can be customized and extended with plugins.
Cons: Requires a lot of memory and lacks advanced IDE features.
Download: https://visual-studio-code.en.softonic.com/download
Conclusion
In conclusion, we had a discussion over the 20 best IDE for web development. We discussed their functions, properties, pros and cons, and many other things. A web developer can use an IDE according to their comfort and requirements. You can download the IDEs from the given links.
