Hey everyone! I'm currently diving into CSS and JavaScript and looking for alternatives to Visual Studio Code that aren't made by Microsoft. I'd love a text editor that has features similar to VS Code, especially one that supports a live server feature. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
Have you tried **WebStorm**? It's great for HTML, CSS, and JS projects. They offer a free option for non-commercial use which is a big plus!
I'd recommend giving Zed a shot! It’s been developed by a few folks who used to work on Atom and has some promising features. You can also check out Pulsar as a modern alternative, even if Atom is out of the game now. Just bear in mind that Zed's extensions aren't as plentiful as VS Code's, but it’s still worth a look!
Here are some solid alternatives:
- **Nvim** if you fancy something more complex and customizable.
- **Zed** if you're interested in trying something fresh.
- **VSCodium** is a great option if you want a version of VS Code without Microsoft's telemetry.
- **Sublime Text** is top-notch, but keep in mind it’s a paid option.
- **JetBrains IDEs** like PhpStorm or WebStorm are fantastic for more heavy-duty work, but they come with a price (though they're free for non-commercial use).
- If you want something super simple, you could also try **Notepad++**.
- And don’t forget the many new VS Code forks like **Cursor** or **Helix** to explore!
If you're after open-source options, definitely check out the alternatives like VSCodium and Zed!
Helix editor is also making waves—it's fast and works really well on older hardware!
I have to throw **Vim** in the mix too. It can be quite daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's an incredibly powerful editor!
Really? Vim? Seems like a steep learning curve for beginners!
It’s got its charm! Just takes some time to adapt.

Zed's pretty cool, especially for those wanting a fresh start away from VS Code.