Really Simple Javascript IDE

Stretch · 6 Aug 2015 at 23:35

A friend of a friend is trying to learn a bit of client side scripting, and is having trouble with simple syntax errors.

Can anyone recommend a simple IDE with syntax checking. I've had a look at Notepad++ with JSLint, but the number of non error warnings is OTT for a beginner.

I'm just after something that will spot missing brackets, commas, semicolons and the like.

Intellisense would be a bonus too.

shine · 6 Aug 2015 at 23:46

Have a look at Sublime Text and Web Storm.

Etheco · 7 Aug 2015 at 00:27

I would say Atom (atom.io) its free better then Sublime (In my view) and Free. Also it is built with javascript

And there are 100s of plugins for it.

butcherster · 7 Aug 2015 at 09:00

Always liked webstorm myself. Trying the new visual studio 'Code' as well - I think it's basically atom.io though with a few extra bits.

meandu229 · 7 Aug 2015 at 09:03

I like http://brackets.io/ its got an extension called Javascript Code Hints which could be what your after.

Etheco · 7 Aug 2015 at 11:28

butcherster said:
Always liked webstorm myself. Trying the new visual studio 'Code' as well - I think it's basically atom.io though with a few extra bits.

Yeh its built ontop of Atom's framework Electron

Stretch · 7 Aug 2015 at 12:26

I've tried a couple of the suggestions Sublime Text and Atom. Atom looks nice, but I can't seem to get them to pick up on simple javascript syntax errors. Is this something I need to enable?

butcherster · 7 Aug 2015 at 12:32

Personally I've not tried it, if I were you I'd use google chrome and get familiar at debugging with the developer tools (F12).

Not as quick as syntax errors right in your editor, but very helpful.

Etheco · 7 Aug 2015 at 14:43

Stretch said:
I've tried a couple of the suggestions Sublime Text and Atom. Atom looks nice, but I can't seem to get them to pick up on simple javascript syntax errors. Is this something I need to enable?

In Atom, Its a fairly basic text editor until you use some packages. if you go to File -> Settings -> Install -> Search jslint and install this will give you error reporting for JS.

Stretch · 7 Aug 2015 at 16:25

Hmm. I have tried JSLine with Notepad++ before posting.

Unfortunately, it seems to highlight a whole range of problems which aren't critical. Formatting problems, and "undefined variable" errors for things as simple as "document", or "$". It's going to be very frustrating for someone trying to learn. Most of the tutorial/sample code online will throw up 100's of errors for perfectly valid code.

Maybe he'll have to stick with browser based debugging, but it's very backward for 2015.

xbenjiiman · 10 Aug 2015 at 09:50

Absolutely can't go wrong with Sublime Text, Atom or WebStorm. I use all 3 daily.

I usually use WebStorm for big projects, Atom for small projects or libraries and Sublime for single file editing or PHP (ew).

Dj_Jestar · 12 Aug 2015 at 02:56

Sublime Text + Packages(SublimeLinter + JSLint + SublimeREPL + Node + JSFormat + Gulp) = Win.