Terminal IDE

Terminal IDE: Text-Based Code Development Environment

A terminal IDE is a text-based integrated development environment that runs in a terminal or command line interface. It provides features like code editing, debugging, build tools, and git integration without a graphical user interface.

What is Terminal IDE?

A terminal IDE (integrated development environment) is a text-based code editor and set of developer tools that are accessible through a terminal or command line interface (CLI) instead of through a graphical user interface (GUI). Terminal IDEs provide many common features found in GUI-based IDEs but in a lightweight, keyboard-driven interface that runs directly in the terminal.

Key features of terminal IDEs often include:

• Code editing with syntax highlighting and other coding aids
• Project/folder management and file browsing
• Version control system integration (e.g. Git)
• Debugging and build tool integration
• Customizable themes and configuration
• Extensions or plugins for added functionality

Examples of popular terminal IDEs include Visual Studio Code with the integrated terminal, Vim/Neovim, Emacs, Micro, and Atom. Many developers who work primarily on remote servers over SSH appreciate being able to code directly in the terminal without needing GUI access. The keyboard-driven workflows and lightweight nature of terminal IDEs can also appeal to some developers working locally.

Terminal IDEs require some adjustment from GUI-based IDEs but can enable very efficient coding and customization for developers who embrace keyboard-driven workflows. They are especially popular among developers working with web technologies and programming languages like JavaScript, Python, Go, Rust, and Java.

Terminal IDE Features

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