Code Editor
What is a code editor?
A code editor is a software application for writing and editing source code. Code editors can range from simple text-based tools to more sophisticated development environments with features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging capabilities.
Unlike general note-taking apps like Apple Notes, code editors handle technical syntax properly. For example, they don't convert regular quotes to smart quotes, which can cause errors when coding in languages like JSON or Python.
How do AI-powered code editors work?
Modern code editors like Cursor incorporate AI assistance to help developers write code more efficiently. These AI-powered or LLM-enabled code editors can suggest code completions, help debug problems, and accelerate development work.
Many engineering teams now use AI-powered code editors for their day-to-day development work, treating them as standard tools rather than experimental additions.
When do you need a code editor vs. other tools?
Different tools serve different purposes in the development lifecycle:
AI prototyping tools (like Lovable or Replit agents) work well for early-stage discovery and simple prototypes. They let you build quickly without writing code directly.
Code editors become necessary when a prototype becomes too complex for AI prototyping tools. When one change starts breaking another, or when you need more precise control over your code, it's time to move to a code editor like Cursor.
Specialized editors like Jupyter Notebooks combine code editing with the ability to run code, visualize data, and add notes—all in a single interface. They're particularly useful for data analysis, experimentation, and building evals.
Learn more:
- How I Designed & Implemented Evals for Product Talk's Interview Coach
- AI Prototyping: How 11 Real-World Teams Are Transforming Their Work with Lovable
- Building Alyx: How Arize AI Dogfooded Its Way to an Agentic Future
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