One of the more difficult apps to replace was Coda, by Panic Software. Coda is a great little coding app, and while it lacks some features that many feel are utter necessities, like code folding, it was hands down my favorite coding environment. And over the years, I’ve tried a few. From text editors like BBEdit to WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver, to full-fledged IDEs like Eclipse, I’ve been around the block.

So when it came time to find something to replace Coda for the PC, I had really high expectations. Once again, I began my search with open-source apps. What I found left me cold:

  • Aptana Studio:

    • slow and clunky with an aggravating interface, and it didn’t interface well at all with Beanstalk, the repository/version control system I use.

  • Komodo Edit: see Aptana Studio. I just didn’t like this one at all.
  • Notepad++: This is OK, but it has some annoying issues about it that keep me from enjoying it, such as no padding around the editing window — text butts right up against the window chrome — and how it handles selections.
  • EditPlus: I actually have a license for this that I bought back in 2001 or 2002 when I worked for a company that refused to even allow Macs in the door. And yet, while it has a lot of nice features, it doesn’t measure up to my standards for day-to-day coding. I do have it installed for basic text transformations, etc., but it doesn’t see daily use.
  • A few others that hardly bear mentioning here. Let’s just say they failed to meet any expectations.

About half-way through this process, I seriously began to question my decision to switch. I received some much-appreciated feedback from fellow developers, but in the end, the package I chose had to work for me, and so far I was striking out. Coda had spoiled me and I would have to accept that nothing I tried for the PC would come close to its blend of features and ease of use.

So, in the end, what did I choose? UltraEdit (UE) Studio, by IDM Computer Solutions. It’s a shareware product, but full-featured and fast. I’ve actually enjoyed using it, although I do miss my Coda. The one thing I haven’t tried setting up yet, although I know it supports SVN, is getting it to talk to my Beanstalk account. I can do without the integration if necessary, but at some point will definitely need to find something that will integrate with Beanstalk without too much rigamarole.

Next: Do I try to switch my copy of Photoshop to the PC, or do I go with open-source workalikes such as The GIMP? My decision may surprise you. Or not…

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