PlasticWare Downloadable ::
PlasticCodeWrap TextMate Syntax Theme Version 1.0 (Jul. 18, 2006)
Download (~1400 bytes) :: PlasticCodeWrap.zip
So, now that I have moved on to working for a software company, I’ve moved on also to actually coding more javascript for work. For some quick and dirty (well, actually not so dirty, but outside the realm of a set up project environment in Eclipse) javascript coding, I decided to give a couple of old favorites another look-see. I opted to run some tests with TextWrangler, the freeware barebones.com software offering in leiu of BBEdit, and with TextMate from macromates.com.
In the past and recent past in fact, I’ve opted to use TextWrangler for many tasks that I couldn’t find a way to do otherwise. Both BBEdit and TextWrangler have superior capabilities in single and multi-file grep searches for some seriously powerful search and replace functionality, and some other really nice features that are pretty handy for the code junkie. The multi-file search allows you to search any folder of files that your computer can access, while TextMate I believe only supports searching all files in a “project.” You can also use any BBEdit plug-ins for TextWrangler, although there aren’t that many out there these days that I haven’t been able to live without. From an appearance standpoint, the interface is clean and easy to use, albeit somewhat limited in the way that one can customize it.
Textmate, while I have read some not-so-glowing reviews about its search capabilities (I know, I’m sorry, but I really dig BBEdit/TextWrangler for searches) and diff functionality, I have to say that from an interface standpoint, its just much more comfortable to use. There are a few wonky things (such as the fact that the setting for tab stops is at the bottom of the window in a drop down), but the total gui package is just more a pleasure to use. In addition, I like the scheme for syntax coloring in TextMate better. Its more intuitive and extensible to the mid-level user, and there are already quite a few syntax “themes” out there (none of which I absolutely loved, but more on that later). TextMate also features easy to use macro editing and the “Bundle Editor” which allows the user to go crazy adding code snippets and macros to the already extensive set of “bundles” that support every code language I’ve ever wanted to use, with the ability also to integrate these macros with shell scripting.
SO, I have to say, I’m sticking with TextMate again, although I will undoubtedly use TextWrangler for search and replace functions at some point. TextMate’s ability to let the user build code snippets (that are accessible using short key combinations with the TAB key) and nice syntax coloring features did it for me. Strangely enough, both are pretty code junkie friendly, but both default to black text on white background. There are several syntax themes out there for both (see UserSubmittedThemes at the macromates wiki). I didn’t absolutely love any of the ones I found, so I used the theme in TextMate called “Slate” and munged (Mason’s favorite word) it together with Ruby Blue, Blackboard, and Mac Classic (which is white background as well). Its called PlasticCodeWrap and it can be downloaded above.