Code Editors (IDEs)

Some sort of a text editor or Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is required for coding. Here we provide some options and recommendations.

 

Course recommended editors for Unity & C#

Visual Studio

  • 1st recommendation for Windows users
  • Community edition is free
  • Integrates the ✨Copilot AI✨
  • Note Visual Studio and VSCode are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS

 

VSCode (Visual Studio Code)

  • 1st recommendation for Mac users
  • Free
  • Integrates the ✨Copilot AI✨
  • Note Visual Studio and VSCode are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS

 

Other editors with good Unity & C# support

Jetbrains Rider

  • Strong C# editor with great Unity support
  • Paid, 30 day trial, for individuals then ~15€/mo
  • Integrated AI features are another 10€/mo

 

Cursor

  • VSCode fork that claims a quicker and more flexible ✨AI integration✨
  • Currently recommend to use Claude 3.5 Sonnet as the AI model

 

Some other editors (there are many)

Sublime Text

  • Nice lightweight code-focused text editor
  • Pay-if-you-want, basically free with a nag

 

Notepad++

  • Another lightweight code-focused text editor

 

Neovim

  • For the hardcore
  • Modal editor, many keybindings and things to learn
  • Some people love it and want vi bindings in all other editors too
  • If you go this way make sure you also have time for the materials and assignments

 

Zed

  • “Multiplayer editor” — collaboration features built-in
  • Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) for AI features, e.g. create account at https://console.anthropic.com and pay Anthropic per usage
  • Currently recommend to use Claude 3.5 Sonnet as the AI model

 

Not recommended

Visual Studio for Mac

  • Retiring on August 31, 2024, not recommended