New Training: Introduction to Programming and Python

In this 6-video skill, CBT Nuggets trainer Ben Finkel takes a high-level conceptual approach to programming. Gain an understanding of what a programming language is and why they work the way they do. Watch this new Python training.

Learn Programming and Development with one of these courses:

• Getting Started with Python 3

• Certified Associate in Python Programming

This training includes:

• 6 videos

• 53 minutes of training

You’ll learn these topics in this skill:

• Wherefore Art Thou Programming?

• Compiling Code into Executables

• Installing Python 3

• Configuring the PATH variable

• Choosing a Code Editor

• Writing our First Program

How To Choose The Right Code Editor For You

Diving into the world of computer science and programming is a fun and interesting experience. Programming is a world of problem-solving, science, as well as creativity, and art. You wouldn't think of building applications in that way, but you'll quickly realize it after tackling your first bug. Before diving into building your first app, you need to choose a code editor, though.

There are tons of code editors available. Some are free while others are expensive. Generally, code editors come in one of three flavors: a simple editor, a full-fledge IDE, or something in between.

For example, if you want to go as basic as possible, the Windows Notepad application or Notepad++ are good options. Both will create text without special characters that can mess up code compilers, though Notepadd++ does have extra features like syntax highlighting that makes life a bit easier.

Then there are options like Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code or Atom. Both are simple text editors but are also fully extensible. Though Visual Studio Code might come with built-in plugins for things like version control, they are nothing more than plugins and can be disabled. Both Visual Studio Code and Atom can be as simple or as complicated as you want.

Finally, full-fledged IDEs like Visual Studio or Jetbrain's PyCharm are available, too. IDEs come feature-packed with everything built-in like compilers, debuggers, version control options, etc…

Choosing the right code editor isn't a matter of finding 'the best code editor' online. Instead, it's more about finding one that has the features you need while being enjoyable to use. Choosing a code editor is a very personal thing that requires some experimentation ad research.