You -COULD- write code in notepad, but there are much better options out there...
Integrated Development Environments (or IDEs)
- An IDE will help speed up your coding
- It will become a one-stop application for managing your code, files, and projects
- They include things like color-coding of keywords, code completion, and realtime error detection
Which IDE is right for me?
- There are dozens to choose from
- Try some out and find one that works best for you
- I personally use Coda 2 / Nova from Panic (but it's Mac only)
- At the time of this writing, the top two recommended IDEs for Web Development are Microsoft's Visual Studio Code and JetBrain's Webstorm
Visual Studio Code
- Free to use
- Lightweight
- You'll need to install some extensions to match what Webstorm starts with natively (ESLint and Prettier are highly recommended)
- Large community of users that provide free extensions
- Designed for multiple programming languages (not web development focused)
Webstorm
- Free for Non-Commercial, but has a Commercial Use License (If you purchase a one year license [79.00], you are entitled to a perpetual license for the last version released during your year)
- Heavyweight (memory usage)
- Complete "Out of the Box" experience
- Designed specifically for web development
- Also designed for large projects with multiple team members
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