12 Best JavaScript IDEs and Code Editors To Use In 2024

What is a JavaScript IDE?

A JavaScript IDE (Integrated Development Environment) refers to a software application providing complete facilities to computer programmers concerning software development. On the other hand, unlike plain code editors, an IDE typically comprises a code editor, debugger, and integrant tools for automation. Such environments usually have features that help support all cycles of application development based on JavaScript.

Benefits of Using JavaScript IDEs

Using a JavaScript IDE comes with several benefits:

Increased Productivity: An IDE simplifies development by embedding such features as code completion, error detection, and debugging tools, which really hasten the process of coding.
Debugging Tools: The inbuilt debugger helps developers in setting breakpoints, stepping through the code line by line, and inspect variables, thereby easily identifying and fixing bugs.
Version Control: Most of the IDEs have integrated version control systems, facilitating efficient keeping track of code versions by developers in an easy way.
Customization: Most IDEs from JavaScript are extended to support plug-ins and expansions; hence, a developer can easily make changes in the environment to suit the workflow and personal preferences.
Multi-language Support: Although the main focus of IDEs has fallen on JavaScript, most of them support other programming languages, hence making the IDE a versatile tool for developers.

The Best JavaScript IDEs and Code Editors in 2024

The choice of the most appropriate IDE or code editor for JavaScript very often is difficult because each has different needs for their projects and personal preferences. Next are the top 12 IDEs and code editors for the interpreted JavaScript programming language in the year 2024, together with their main features, advantages, and disadvantages.

1. Atom

Atom is a popular choice for JavaScript development. It's a free and open-source editor known for its ease of installation across platforms and robust community support.

Features:

Integrated Package Manager
Easier Code Navigation
Command Palette
Find and replace text quickly in the document as you type
Cross-platform support

Pros:

Highly customizable with various themes and plugins
Free and open-source
Strong community support

Cons:

Can be slower compared to other editors
Performance may lag with large files

2. Microsoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Visual Studio is a full-featured IDE that supports working with several languages, including JavaScript, and could thus be aptly applied for complex applications.

Features:

Storage on Cloud
Free Community Edition
Comprehensive Tooling Support for C# and JS
Built-in integration with Azure for Cloud Development

Pros:

Feature and tool-rich
Tight integration with Microsoft services
Excellent choice for both small and big-scale projects

Cons:

Can be overwhelming for beginners
Requires significant system resources

3. WebStorm

WebStorm is a powerful IDE from JetBrains, exclusively engineered for JavaScript and everything that comes with it. It is indeed not free but worth the investment that one might make in this intelligent coding assistant.

Features:

Code Completion
Error Detection
Refactorings for JavaScript, Node.js, HTML, and CSS
Smart Code Assistance

Pros:

Very good support of modern JS frameworks
Constant updates, adding new functions
Strong refactoring tools

Cons:

Not free, requires a subscription
Heavy on system resources

4. Visual Studio Code

VS Code is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft, known for its versatility and extensive feature set, including support for over 40 programming languages.

Adding JavaScript Support in Visual Studio Code

1. Install Visual Studio Code:

If you haven't already, download and install Visual Studio Code.

2. Open a JavaScript Project:

Open Visual Studio Code.
Navigate to File > Open Folder and select the folder containing your JavaScript files.

3. Install Extensions:

Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the square icon in the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
Search for "JavaScript" or any relevant extensions like ESLint or Prettier.
Click Install on the extensions you want.

4. Enable IntelliSense:

Visual Studio Code comes with built-in IntelliSense for JavaScript. You can enhance it by creating a jsconfig.json file in your project's root directory.

Add the following content to the jsconfig.json file:

jsonCopy code{
"compilerOptions": {
"target": "ES6"
},
"include": [
"./src/**/*.js"
]
}

This will enable advanced IntelliSense features like code navigation and refactoring.

4. Set Up Debugging:

To debug your JavaScript code, set up a launch configuration.
Go to the Debug view by clicking on the bug icon in the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+D.
Click on create a launch.json file and select Node.js for server-side JavaScript, or Chrome for client-side debugging.

5. Run and Debug:

Use the Run or Debug buttons to start your JavaScript application and step through the code.

Features:

Built-in JavaScript IntelliSense
Code Navigation
Debugger
Extensive extension library

Pros:

Lightweight and fast
Highly extensible through plugins
Active community and regular updates

Cons:

Some features require additional configuration
Lacks some advanced IDE features out of the box

5. Eclipse

Eclipse is a general IDE that can handle JavaScript projects by adding JavaScript-specific plugins. In the last couple of years, it has become more friendly to JavaScript projects.

Features:

Docker UI and CLI support
Extensible plugin system
Supports multiple programming languages

Pros:

Extremely extensible with thousands of available plugins
Free and open-source
Strong community support

Cons:

Can be complex to set up for JavaScript
Not as lightweight as other editors

6. Brackets

Brackets are free, open-source code editors by Adobe, specifically for front-end developers. It has a minimalistic and clean interface. Apart from an excellent preprocessor support, it has some strong features below mentioned.

Features:

UI customization
Syntax Highlighting
Live Preview
Preprocessor support

Pros:

Exactly fits the purposes of a front-end developer
Lightweight, speedy to set up, quick to use
Integrated with creative tools by Adobe

Cons:

Will suit only front-end technologies
No in-built version control

7. IntelliJ IDEA

IntelliJ IDEA is a powerful IDE. It supports intelligent coding assistance for many languages, including JavaScript. It is renowned for context-aware suggestions and great refactoring.

Features:

Advanced Code Completion
Built-in Static Code Analyzer
Integrated Version Control
Context-aware suggestions

Pros:

Very highly intelligent coding assistance
Refactoring is excellent
Strong support for myriad programming languages

Cons:

Paid tool - although offers free Community Edition
Resource-intensive

8. AWS Cloud9

AWS Cloud9 is an online IDE written totally in JavaScript; it uses Node.js on the backside. It is one of the best choices for developing applications using JavaScript, especially within the AWS ecosystem.

Features:

Support for npm and Unix commands
Real-time language analysis
Simultaneous editing with collaborators
Fully integrated with AWS services

Pros:

Great for development in the cloud
Allows coding collaboration
Integrated with AWS hence very good for cloud projects

Cons:

Needs an AWS account
Offline functionality limited

9. Komodo Edit

Komodo Edit is the free version of Komodo IDE, offering a streamlined and intuitive environment for JavaScript and other languages. It’s designed to handle most web development tasks with ease.

Features:

Track changes
Multiple selections
Quick bookmarks
Code folding and blocks

Pros:

Free and open-source
Lightweight and fast
Intuitive interface

Cons:

Limited features compared to the full Komodo IDE.
Fewer plugins and extensions are available.

10. Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, markup, and prose. It offers a slick user interface and extraordinary features like split editing, multiple selections, and a command palette.

Features:

Multiple selections
Split Editing
Command Palette
Python-based plugin API

Pros:

Lightweight and fast
Highly customizable with plugins
Cross-platform support

Cons:

Not free, though it has an unlimited free trial
Lacks some built-in IDE features

11. CodePen

CodePen is an online development environment primarily focused on front-end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s particularly popular for creating and sharing small code snippets and demos.

Features:

Real-time preview
Collaborative coding
Built-in preprocessors for Sass and TypeScript
Great community of developers

Pros:

Perfect for rapid prototyping
Excellent to learn and share code with
No installation required

Cons:

Really only meant for front-end development
Not great to use for large-scale projects after all

12. GoormIDE

GoormIDE is a cloud-based IDE that supports JavaScript and other programming languages. It’s designed to be a comprehensive development environment with collaborative features.

Features:

Cloud-based IDE
Collaborative coding with real-time sharing
Supports multiple programming languages
Integrated terminal

Pros:

Accessible from any device with an internet connection
Collaboration-friendly
Integrated with cloud services

Cons:

Requires a stable internet connection
Some advanced features are behind a paywall

Conclusion

Selection of the best IDE or code editor is based on your needs and work processes. Some depend on lightweight editors like Sublime Text or Atom, though others may be pleased with a fully functional IDE like WebStorm or even Visual Studio if they need all the bells and whistles. Every tool has its strong side, so you should think out the requirements of your project, development environment, and preferences before choosing.

FAQs

Which code editors are recommended for JavaScript development in 2024?

Among the best code editors that you can use to develop in JavaScript in 2024 are Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom. Each has its particular features that may be helpful in different aspects of programming in JavaScript.

How do I choose the right IDE for JavaScript programming?

Each time one of the JavaScript IDEs is to be chosen, follow your project complexity, the features needed in the work debugging, version control, ease of use, and also personal workflow preferences. You could also take advantage of free trials to find what will suit you best.

What features should I look for in a JavaScript code editor?

Key features for searching include syntax highlighting, code completion, debugging tools, support for integration with version control systems, and JavaScript frameworks and libraries.

Are there any free JavaScript IDEs available in 2024?

Yes, some free JavaScript IDEs in 2024 include but are not limited to Visual Studio Code, Atom, and Brackets. In each of them, a set of features is quite enough for everyone-from those who are just learning to experienced developers.

How do JavaScript IDEs compare to code editors?

JavaScript IDEs are normally full-featured integrated tools that provide all the possible ways to debug, test, and control versions, while code editors are usually lightweight and basically perform an edit with syntax highlighting.

Can I use multiple JavaScript IDEs or code editors for different projects?

Yeah, many developers use multiple IDEs/code editors depending on the project requirements. Say, quick edits in some light editors like Sublime Text and full-featured ones like WebStorm for big and complex projects.

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