Why is Visual Studio Code better than Atom or Sublime Text ?

VSCode vs Sublime Text vs Atom

VSCode, Sublime Text, Atom, those GUI are very similar. (Also other are very similar it of Light Table, Adobe Brackets excepted by this post too.)

There are someone that their usability are different, but I think they are almost same only except icons.

This post will check any informations of development, release date, price, etc, within those softwares.

Developper

Sublime Text was developed by the former Google engineer ( it is uncertain web information. )
Atom was developed by one of GitHub engineer, but it is developed , mentenanced by GitHub company now. VSCode was developed by micorsoft, so it it is developed , mentenanced now too.

Open source and Launch date

They was opened almost except Sublime Text.

Atom already opened from 2013-3-1 when launched ver 0.0.1. That helped that get many users.
VSCode opened from 2015-4-28 when developed almost beta release. It might be felt many peoples VSCode started development later than Atom. But they started development from alomost same period.

However, they seemed to hesitate to open source at the time.

Atom opened only core source. it gave various opinions. And at last in May 2014 it was completely open source.

）
--> VSCode was not opened all source code too. It might include any source code of Visual Studio. After it, they opened Microsoft VS Code language server protocol. Perhaps, I think this means taht opened all source code.

Atom and Adobe Brackets started development same period. Same concept, so they was used Chromium.

First, he was developed Electron ( software framework used Node by GitHub ) before Atom. And it framework was used by Microsoft.

Launch date might mean stable software. Sublime Text launched more older in them, at 2009. It maybe be felt you "stable".

Also Sublime Text UI gave many effect to Atom and VSCode. They are very similar that run almost functions by (input) command in UI.

Developper

I don't know whether Sublime Text was developed by alone.
So Atom too. perhaps it was developed by alone at first step, but is maintenanced by GitHub company. VSCode was developed by Microsoft, and maintenanced, is continues development.

Price and Licence

Sublime Text is $70. You should pay if you want use while long term. But you can use free while trial term. You may show "Please Pay Dialog" when you use without payment.
It licence limits reverse engineering like general proprietary software licence.
Atom and VSCode are open source, so it means free by almost MIT licence.(parts of VSCode is not MIT licence.) VSCode is origin licence by Microsoft, but like MIT.

Language of Development and Execution speed

Sublime Text is more faster than others, because it was wrote by C++, Python. I think so, I felt so fast at real time, but it changed to bad when it added many plugins(extensions).
Also I felt more slowly when used Atom.
I felt so when I was typing Japanese language, and when I was installing plugins(extensions) too. VSCode is more faster than Atom when installing plugins(extensions).

Japanese localization and enough plugins

Sublime Text is very hard to localize Japanese.
It will be shown a few japanese letters inputted on top-left in Windows desktop if you are not customized it. it will be localized Japanese if you install a few plugins, but it is not perfect.
It was released more older than others, so that, it means maybe too old localized text , too old plugins(extensions) .

Atom is not perfect localized japanese too.
it will resolve any problems if it will be applied a few plugins, but it is not perfect too.
Atom has enough plugins, because it was opened source at early development.
But it installation is too slowly.

VSCode will show japanese menus when it will strat after installed. It means more nearer japanese than others. Also it supported ShiftJis(japanese character code). it exists the plugin that the cursor moves between Japanese words.

A few functions I want

The following table compares their main functions.

Main functions are a few functions I want. So it maybe does not help you, you should judge it yourself.

Let's compare!!

Localize japanese

I think better VSCode for Localize japanese. It has not few problems, and you should install few plugins for it.

The following lists are a few plugins I installed

• Japanese Word Handler : cursor can move between Japanese words
• Zenkaku : highlight zenkaku blank

I am satisfied with these.
The another way that check japanese words is to modify of "settings.json"(base settings).

{
	...
    "files.autoGuessEncoding": true,
	...
}

）
--> I installed a few plugins in Sublime text and Atom, but I could not satisfy it.
Those are not able to check perfect Japanese words. And Sublime text is more worse japanese input. ( I think so, but another one maybe does not think. )

The following image is typing japanese in Sublime text.

Open files list

--> I want Open files list like a explorer, and its window want to dock left or right.
These except Atom show this list window.
I don't know why. I am sure exist the plugin for it, but I could not satisfy it.

The following image is open file list in Atom by the plugin. The window applies it when it open new file, but it does not apply it when it close one.

Split window

These can split editor window. You maybe do not like default operation for split, but you can customize by keybind of shortcut etc,.

Easy find for modified position

These have not the function that change for line number color of modified position.
These have the function for history manager like a Git. it will show different parts between old and new source by line number color.
Also only Sublime text has the plugin for this function, but it is not perfect, it work show only circle mark of modified line on line number side bar.

The following image is how the plugin worked. Add or Modify lines are shown circle marks.

The following image is how different parts between new and old source shown by Git. Added lines after last commit shows green line color.

Automation(macro) for a few operations

Only Sublime text can record any operations, and execute macro file. But it does not support the replace function. if you want it, you will instal 'RegReplace' plugin.
Atom has 'atom-keyboard-macros' plugin, VSCode has 'macros' plugin.
But VSCode's it has not the function that record any operations. So it may not satisfied you.

Managed session( autosave session files )

These can save auto session.

Why is Visual Studio Code ?

Why am I select Visual Studio Code ? The following things went me to decision.

Less installing plugins

VSCode show japanese menu by default status, so it means does not need localize japanese. I satisfied by only the following plugins.

• Japanese Word Handler : cursor can move between Japanese words
• Zenkaku : highlight zenkaku blank
• Encode Decode : convert to Base64,HTML Entities etc,.

The some plugins need maintenance. Example, you should check any plugins at VSCode major upgrade. you will expense a time for any plugins. So you should install a less plugins.

Enough of base functions

If you satisfied by a less plugins, it means VSCode was enough of base functions. You maybe need customization of VSCode, but you will be only a few customization.
The following things are main basic functions of VSCode.

• Jump,Modify and Remove for HTML Tags
• Jump for brackets "{(["
• Emmet for HTML
• Git( need install from 1.12 (not include now) )
• TypeScript(advanced JavaScript)
• IntelliSense(autocomplete function)
• Task(execute task tool (Gulp etc,.))

VSCode has been not include Linter function from 1.10, and Git from 1.12.
You can install the plugin for Linter if you want, also you can install Git 2.0.

The following plugins were default installed.

What function not enough?

The following things are a few functions that I want, but these will have another way.

• Easy find for modified position → I will always use Git, so I will be able to check modified lines.
• Automation for operation (mcaro) → I will modify "micors" plugin , so I will be enough it.

Whether you like at finally?

The Text Editors (include Adobe Brackets, Light Table) in this post are more better.

VSCode had enough functions from 1.12, and stable, and funny.

But I think your most heavy factor is whether you like it at last.
So I have except Adobe Brackets at first. it means I do not like it(its design is not smart).

This post selected VSCode. But Note, VSCode is not Microsoft Visual Studio (C/C++ Basic etc).

If you expect the same performance as Visual Studio 2013 or 2015 etc, you may not be satisfied. If you expect the same performance as vim etc, you may be accepted it.