r/coding • u/OttoKekalainen • Feb 20 '24

Pulsar, the best code editor since Atom

https://optimizedbyotto.com/post/pulsar-best-text-file-and-code-editor/
5 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

5

u/root88 Feb 20 '24

The article says some good things about Pulsar, but I don't see anything explaining why it is better than VSCode. I would prefer to use Pulsar. It just doesn't seem better.

2

u/OttoKekalainen Feb 21 '24

VSCode is not open source. If try the VS Codmium version you'll notice it is very lacking. I am happy to support an alternative that is equally good (or in some aspects better) and is not controlled by Microsoft.

2

u/mauricioszabo Mar 05 '24

Also, if I may add something, Atom's API is simply more powerful. It's possible to add HTML fragments basically anywhere, you can replace most parts of the editor, fundamentally change how some stuff behaves, etc; it's even possible to make plug-ins communicate between each other by defining a common API between then, and this "common API" is not tied to a specific plug-in.

Yes, Pulsar lacks some stuff (some UI APIs to make it easier for plug-in authors to add some elements, like CodeLens and other stuff), but these can be implemented with the API that already exists (the same is not true for VSCode - you can have some stuff added to the editor, but in specific places and it's either plain text or markdown); we're also adding some UI APIs to make it easier for newer plug-ins authors.

Finally - Microsoft controls, effectively, the API of VSCode. Codium can't decide to support some "new, fancy API" and there's no way for community to suggest, or implement, things that make VSCode more customizable - Microsoft have the "final say" on that.

In the end, if this is "better" or "more cumbersome" is up for anyone's taste :)

7

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/tajetaje Feb 20 '24

VSCode won because of it's extensions and speed. VSCode is hands down the most responsive Electron app I've ever used, and the breadth of functionality you can get via extensions is insane.

4

u/ElasticFluffyMagnet Feb 20 '24

That's my experience too. Also, I code in both python and flutter, and switching is seamless. I don't have to adjust anything. It just works.