Looking for the Perfect Editor

[Kent Johnson]

Dick Moores wrote:
> At 06:30 PM 9/10/2006, Kent Johnson wrote:
>> Dick Moores wrote:
>>> Also, why do you use TextPad instead of IDLE?
>> You're kidding, right?
> 
> No. Tell me, please. Macros? Comparing files? What else?

OK...please, no one interpret this as IDLE bashing or attempt to show me 
a better way. I'm happy with TextPad and just writing this because I was 
asked...

In my opinion:

- Most of my Python work is actually in Jython. I can run a Jython 
program with a tool in TP. Actually I have separate tools for each 
active project that set the correct working directory and invoke a batch 
file with the right jars. Can't do that in IDLE.

- TextPad is a good general-purpose editor, not just for Python. All the 
following reasons really come under this heading. I have an editor I 
like, it works great for Python, there is really no reason to use IDLE.

- Fast and powerful multi-file search (easily specify the directory and 
file types to search)

- Syntax highlighting for XML, HTML, Velocity templates, Ruby, Java, 
JavaScript, R, SQL, CSS...all file types I use more or less frequently.

- Word wrap

- Show invisibles

- Customizable with macros and external tools

- Open as binary

etc...

Kent