Unveiling the Best Eclipse Orion Alternatives for Web Developers
Eclipse Orion is a unique, browser-based open-source platform designed specifically for web development, allowing tools to be written in JavaScript and run directly in the browser. Unlike traditional IDEs, Orion prioritizes a true web experience, enabling users to open files in new tabs and share links. While its focus on “developing for the web, in the web” is innovative, many developers seek alternatives that offer different features, broader platform support, or a more tailored development environment. This article explores some of the top Eclipse Orion alternative options available today.
Top Eclipse Orion Alternatives
Whether you're looking for a desktop-based editor with extensive plugin support, a cloud-based IDE for collaborative work, or a self-hosted solution for complete control, there's an Eclipse Orion alternative perfectly suited to your workflow.
Atom
Atom is an excellent Eclipse Orion alternative for developers seeking an extensible, cross-platform text editor. Available for Free and Open Source on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and BSD, it boasts a rich ecosystem of plugins and themes. Its Electron/Atom Shell base provides features like real-time collaboration with Teletype, deep GIT and GitHub integration, syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and a highly customizable interface, making it a powerful choice for diverse web development needs.
Brackets
Brackets stands out as a strong Eclipse Orion alternative, especially for web designers and developers. This Free, Open Source editor, built on web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Its standout features include Live Preview, an integrated FTP client, and robust autocompletion, making it ideal for streamlined web development directly from your desktop.
AWS Cloud9
For those seeking a powerful cloud-based Eclipse Orion alternative, AWS Cloud9 offers a full-featured browser-based IDE and code editor. This Commercial web service provides a built-in terminal, extensive developer tools, and robust team collaboration features, making it a comprehensive solution for web development in the cloud.
Codeanywhere
Codeanywhere is a versatile Commercial cloud IDE that serves as an excellent Eclipse Orion alternative for developers who need to code on the go. Available for Web, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet, and iPad, it features a powerful integrated FTP client and supports all popular web formats (HTML, PHP, JavaScript, CSS, XML). Its browser-based, cloud-based, and container virtualization capabilities provide a flexible and accessible coding environment.
Codiad
Codiad is an ideal Eclipse Orion alternative for those who prefer a self-hosted solution. This Free, Open Source, web-based cloud IDE and code editor boasts a minimal footprint and requirements. Key features include GitHub integration and multiuser mode support, providing a collaborative and customizable development environment within your own infrastructure.
Graviton Editor
Graviton Editor offers a compelling Eclipse Orion alternative for developers prioritizing speed, customization, and productivity. This Free, Open Source, cross-platform editor is available for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It features robust plugin support and syntax highlighting, allowing for a highly personalized and efficient coding experience.
kodeWeave
kodeWeave is a fantastic Free, Open Source Eclipse Orion alternative, especially for quick prototyping and testing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Available on Mac, Windows, Linux, Web, Android, Chrome OS, and Android Tablet, it functions as a real-time coding playground similar to JSFiddle, but with the added benefit of offline capability. It includes a debugger, developer tools, and real-time collaboration features, making it a versatile tool for web development.
Koding
Koding is a Free, Open Source, self-hosted Eclipse Orion alternative designed for teams to collaborate and code directly in the browser. It allows developers to work, write, and run applications without switching environments, offering features like support for Bootstrap, Django, Java IDE, MongoDB, PHP IDE, and Python IDE, fostering a cohesive team development experience.
Eclipse Che
Eclipse Che, another open-source project under the Eclipse top-level project, is a powerful Free, Open Source Eclipse Orion alternative. Available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Self-Hosted deployments, it provides a full-featured IDE with robust developer tools and continuous integration capabilities, making it a comprehensive choice for complex development workflows.
Icecoder
Icecoder offers a lightweight yet powerful IDE/code editor that can serve as a strong Eclipse Orion alternative. This Free, Open Source solution is available in both Web and desktop editions (for Mac, Windows, and Linux, written with PHP). Its versatility and efficient design make it suitable for a wide range of coding tasks, whether online or offline.
The landscape of web development tools is rich and diverse, offering many compelling alternatives to Eclipse Orion. Each option presented here brings its own strengths, from extensive plugin ecosystems and cloud-based collaboration to self-hosted environments and minimalist designs. We encourage you to explore these options and identify the one that best aligns with your specific development needs, preferences, and project requirements.