Exploring Atom: A Fresh Take on Code Editing
Let’s dive into the exciting world of Atom, the brand-new code editor from Github. You see, Github is a well-known home for countless open-source projects. And now, with the arrival of Atom, this “code editor battlefield” is really heating up. It’s quite a journey!
According to the official announcement, Atom actually began as an experiment a little over six years ago. Hard to believe, right? One of the founders of Github even tweeted about it! Over time, this experiment evolved into an integral part of Github’s internal tools. In a twist of irony, Atom was built using… Atom itself. Talk about meta!
Hey there! So, there’s this cool thing called Atom, and it’s all about hacking and making stuff your own. It’s actually pretty user-friendly, even if you’re just getting started. Right now, it’s still in beta and you need an invite to get in. Oh, and one more thing – it’s currently only available for OS X, but they’re working on versions for Windows and Linux, so stay tuned!
I managed to get my hands on Atom, and I gotta say, it’s pretty awesome. I want to show you what it’s all about, so let’s dive in!
Contents
How to Manage Git and GitHub Projects with Atom
Good news for all you developers out there: Atom now has Git and GitHub integration! You can do some really cool things with it. Keep reading to find out more.
Overview
If you’re a die-hard Sublime Text user, the first thing that might surprise you when Atom is launched is the way it looks. Study this screenshot carefully – can you tell which one is Sublime Text and which one is Atom?
Answer: Sublime Text is on the left, and Atom is on the right.
Aside from their appearances, Atom has also borrowed some of Sublime Text’s useful features that you might already know. For example, you can use Command + T to switch between files, and Command + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.
Did you know that you can effortlessly pair quotes and parentheses and select multiple lines of code all at once in Code Editor? Just like in Sublime Text, you can do it in a snap.
One of the key features of Code Editor is its language support and syntax highlighting. This powerful tool assists developers in writing code accurately by highlighting the syntax. Without this feature, a code editor would be no different from a plain old text editor, which wouldn’t be very helpful, right?
Within Atom, you’ll find support for many popular programming and web languages, including Sass and LESS. Unlike Sublime Text, where you would need to install additional packages to handle these languages, Atom has got you covered right out of the box.
To see the full list of supported languages, just click on the Language indicator in the status bar of your current document. Easy peasy!
My Favorite Atom Packages
Did you know that Atom is a super cool code editor that you can customize with special add-ons called Packages? Right now, there are over 500 of them, and they just keep growing! Today, I want to share with you my top 5 favorite Atom Packages that you should definitely check out:
- Color Picker: This fantastic package lets you pick colors and even generate HEX and RGBA codes. How awesome is that?
- JSHint: Say goodbye to pesky errors in your JavaScript code! JSHint is an essential tool that helps you find and fix mistakes.
- Autocompletion: It’s kind of surprising that this functionality isn’t built into Atom by default. Luckily, this package adds it for you, making coding a breeze.
- Prettify: Who says code can’t be pretty? With Prettify, you can make your code look clean and organized.
- Rdio: Need some tunes while you code? This package lets you listen to Rdio right from within Atom. How cool is that?
How to Install Packages
Ready to try out these amazing packages? Installing them is super easy. Just follow these steps:
- Launch Atom and open the Package Control.
- Search for “Install Package.”
- Unlike Sublime Text, which shows packages in the same dialog window, Atom will take you to a new screen with the search results.
Now you’re all set to explore and install new packages to customize your Atom experience. Have fun coding!
When you open the new screen, you’ll notice that the Packages are displayed in a similar way to how they appear in the App Store or Google Play. Each Package has an Install button, so you can easily add them to your Atom. However, if there are specific Packages you’re looking for, you can use the search box to find them.
Markdown
Did you know that Github is all about Markdown? It’s the language they use for the first README file that shows up in your repository. And even Github Pages, which is built with Jekyll, also uses Markdown. So it totally makes sense to bring Markdown into Atom too.
Want to give it a shot? Just write a few lines using Markdown syntax, then press Control + Shift + M. You’ll see how it magically transforms the syntax into something beautiful!
Git Integration
Atom has made it easier for those of us working with git. When we add or make changes in our git project, we’ll see a subtle color mark indicating the additions or modifications (though it’s barely noticeable). In Sublime Text, there’s a plugin called GitGutter that offers a similar feature.
I’m hoping that in the next few updates, Atom will be even more tightly integrated with Github. It would be fantastic if we could perform Commit, Pull, and Push operations right from Atom. That would be a really nice addition.
Chrome Dev Tools
Atom is built using the same technologies that power the Web – HTML, CSS, and JS – so it only makes sense to include the Web Inspector. If you hit Alt + Command + I, you’ll see the Chrome Dev Tools appear.
If you want to customize Atom and create themes or packages for it, these Dev Tools are here to help you.
Let’s Talk About Settings
Unlike Sublime Text, which uses plain JavaScript objects for its settings and frustrates many users, Atom provides a user-friendly graphical interface for configuring settings. Check it out below!
You have the power to make your code editor truly your own. Want a bigger font? No problem. Prefer a different color scheme? Easy to change. You can even personalize your own unique keybindings.
Something to Consider
Atom shows a lot of potential. It could really give Sublime Text a run for its money. With a similar interface, features, and keyboard shortcuts, switching to Atom shouldn’t be too hard for anyone.
Curious about trying out Atom? Get an invitation at Atom.io, or reach out to me on Twitter @tfirdaus. I still have a couple of invites left.
Lastly, I’m excited to see where Atom goes from here. Could it be the next big thing in code editors, replacing Sublime Text? Only time will tell.
