Author: Joseph Mawa

Introduction

Programmers and software engineers spend a significant proportion of their time using IDEs and text editors for writing code. Most IDEs and text editors, such as VS Code, Sublime Text, and Notepad++, are desktop applications. However, there are also several online editors that you can use for building, testing, prototyping, and showcasing simple hobby projects, especially in web development.

This article will introduce you to some of the most popular free online Editors and IDEs, such as CodeSandbox, Codepen, JSFiddle, StackBlitz, Glitch, and Repl.it. You can use some of these online IDEs and text editors to build simple front-end applications, while others, like Glitch, are for both front-end and full-stack applications.

Your choice of an online IDE largely depends on whether you want to build a front-end, back-end, or full-stack application. We will explore the pros and cons of these IDEs and text editors.

It is worth pointing out that this article will explore the main features of the most popular online editors and IDEs. It will not identify which editor is the best. We will also go above and beyond to explore the strengths and weaknesses of each editor so that you can choose one which meets your needs.

Steps we will cover:

• Bootstrapping a project for demonstration
• Top free online Editors and IDEs with free plans for hobby projects
• Comparing top online Editors and IDEs

Bootstrapping a project for demonstration

It is possible to import a project from your local machine or Git hosting service like GitHub to some online text editors or IDEs. Therefore, we will create a basic refine application in this section. We will use this application for illustration.

refine is a React-based framework for developing web applications. It is useful when developing data-intensive CRUD applications such as admin panels and dashboards. Follow the steps below to bootstrap a simple refine application using superplate.

How to create refine application

The easiest way to start using Refine is to bootstrap an application using superplate.

Run the command below on the terminal.

npx superplate-cli example-project --project refine-react

Successfully running the command above will create a refine-react project in the example-project directory. You must respond to the command line prompts. You can also choose the default options throughout if you wish.

After successfully creating the Refine project, navigate to the example-project project directory using the command below.

cd example-project

To be sure the project you created is working, use the command below to launch the development server.

npm run dev

The above command will launch the development server on localhost. You can host the project on GitHub to import it to some of the online editors we will explore in the sections below.

Top free online Editors and IDEs with free plans for hobby projects

You will explore the most popular online editors and IDE's with generous free plans in this section. The focus will be more on editors and IDE's like Codepen, CodeSandbox, StackBlitz, and JsFiddle, primarily for building front-end projects, but we will also explore others like Repl.it and Glitch.

We will go above and beyond to highlight the pros and cons of online text editors and IDE's.

Codepen

CodePen is one of the most popular online text editors for building, testing, showcasing and discovering simple front-end projects built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Several developers use it for sharing fun front-end projects. Therefore, you can use some of the Codepen projects for inspiration and learn from the different front-end web developers and designers.

To start using Codepen, sign up using your e-mail id, Facebook, Twitter, or GitHub account. After login, type your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in their respective panels. Codepen will automatically update the preview. You can also change the default behavior in the settings.

Pros of using Codepen

• It offers generous free plans sufficient for simple hobby projects
• It has an excellent documentation
• Possible to embed pens in blog posts and documentation
• It has asset hosting services though it is only for the paid plans
• It supports several HTML templates and CSS Preprocessors
• It supports programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, CoffeeScript, and LiveScript
• It has built-in support for the Babel transpiler
• Built-in features for syntax highlighting and code formatting
• Built-in support for code auto-completion
• You can use JavaScript packages via Skypack CDN

Cons of using Codepen

• You can't import projects from Git providers like GitHub, GitLab, and BitBucket
• You can't upload a project from your local machine to Codepen like with CodeSandbox
• It is not possible to interact with Codepen from the command line like with CodeSandbox

StackBlitz

StackBlitz is another online IDE tailored for web development. It uses WebContainers. In addition to supporting static projects built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, StackBlitz also supports most of the popular JavaScript and Node frameworks.

Additionally, you can start a new project by connecting a GitHub repository or uploading a project from your computer. StackBlitz also has several project templates to get you up and running instantly. You can use StackBlitz to create front-end, back-end, and full-stack applications.

To start using StackBlitz, sign in using your GitHub account. You can create a project quickly using one of the available templates. We will import the example project from a GitHub repository in the section below.

As a refine team, we use +100 example code projects on StackBlitz to showcase the features of the framework.

How to open a GitHub repository in StackBlitz?

Instead of using the starter projects to create a new project on StackBlitz, you can import a GitHub repository. Follow the steps below to import the example project we created above.

Deploy the example project to GitHub

Host the refine example project we created on GitHub. You can also use one of the tutorial examples if you don't want to deploy the example project.

How to open a public GitHub repository in StackBlitz?

You can open a public GitHub repository in StackBlitz by adding the GitHub username and the repository name like so:

https://www.stackblitz.com/github/{GITHUB_USERNAME}/{REPOSITORY_NAME}/{BRANCH|TAG|COMMIT}

You can also specify the script in your package.json file StackBlitz will use to set up the development serve as a query string. In the example below, StackBlitz will use the dev script.

https://www.stackblitz.com/github/refinedev/refine/tree/master/examples/tutorial/antd?terminal=start&preset=node

You can open one of the tutorial examples in StackBlitz by following this link.

Pros of using StackBlitz

• StackBlitz has a generous free plan
• It supports both front-end and back-end projects
• It has support for popular front-end and back-end frameworks
• It has an excellent documentation
• Good community support
• It is possible to launch a project from GitHub
• You can run StackBlitz projects offline
• It is fast

Cons of using StackBlitz

• Not all web browsers fully support WebContainers. You might run into some errors if you intend to embed StackBlitz projects in documentation or blog posts

Small dev teams love this React framework!

Meet the headless, React-based solution to build sleek CRUD applications. With refine, you can be confident that your codebase will always stay clean and boilerplate-free.

Try refine to rapidly build your next CRUD project, whether it's an admin panel, dashboard, internal tool or storefront.

CodeSandbox

CodeSandbox is another online editor for building front-end and full-stack web apps. It is handy for quickly prototyping, showcasing, and experimenting with new ideas and projects. You can also embed a sandbox in blog posts, documentation, and GitHub project READMEs.

Like StackBlitz, CodeSandbox has several starter templates to choose from when launching a new sandbox. It supports the most popular front-end frameworks like React, Vue, Gatsby, and Next.

To start using CodeSandbox, you can sign in using your GitHub, Google, or Apple account. You can create a new sandbox using one of the built-in starter templates or create a sandbox by importing a project from your local machine or a GitHub repository.

How to upload a project from local computer to CodeSandbox?

CodeSandbox has a command line tool for uploading a project from your local machine to CodeSandbox. Follow the steps below to use it for deploying the example project you created above.

Install the codesandbox command line tool

To upload a sandbox using a project in your local machine, install the codesandbox command line tool by running the command below on the terminal.

npm install --global codesandbox

The command above will install the codesandbox command line tool globally. To check if the installation was successful, run the command below on the terminal. It should display the version of the codesandbox command line tool.

codesandbox -V

Log into your CodeSandbox account from the command line

After successfully installing the command line tool described in the previous step, log into your CodeSandbox account using the codesandbox command line tool. Run the command below on the terminal.

codesandbox login

You need to respond to the command prompts after running the command above. The command line tool will open your default browser. After login, CodeSandbox will generate an authentication token. You will use the generated token to log into CodeSandbox from the command line.

Upload the project from local machine to CodeSandbox

After successfully installing the command line tool and logging into CodeSandbox as described in the previous sections, use the command below to upload the current directory to a sandbox. If you want to deploy a different directory, replace ./ with the path to the directory.

codesandbox deploy ./

How to import a GitHub repository to CodeSandbox?

Instead of importing a project to CodeSandbox from your local machine, it is also possible to import a GitHub repository. In the steps below, we will import the Refine example project we created to CodeSandbox from GitHub. Create a GitHub account if you haven't. You should also host the example project in a GitHub repository before following the steps below.

Log into your CodeSandbox account in the browser

You must first log into your CodeSandbox account. As pointed out above, you can log into CodeSandbox using your GitHub, Google, or Apple account.

Grant CodeSandbox access to your GitHub account

After logging into your CodeSandbox account, grant CodeSandbox access to your GitHub account. Click the button with three dots on the top right. In the drop-down menu, click Preferences and then Integrations. After that, sign into your GitHub account.

Import your GitHub repository

After successfully connecting your GitHub account as described above, you can import your GitHub repository by clicking the "Create" button at the top right. After that, select the "Import from GitHub" option. CodeSandbox will prompt you for the GitHub repository URL. Enter the GitHub repository URL and then click the "Import" button.

After completing the steps above, CodeSandbox will clone the Git repository and create a sandbox for you.

How to open a GitHub repository in CodeSandbox

The process of importing a GitHub repository to CodeSandbox described above requires you to log in and grant CodeSandbox access to your GitHub account. You can also open any public GitHub repository in CodeSandbox and fork it. Generate your sandbox URL by navigating to this page and pasting the URL for your GitHub repository in the input field. Use the sandbox URL to open the GitHub repository in CodeSandbox.

Open the Refine GitHub repository in CodeSandbox

Pros of using CodeSandbox

• It offers a generous free plan
• Good documentation
• It has built-in starter templates for most of the popular front-end frameworks
• It has GitHub integration
• You can import a project to CodeSandbox from the local machine using the codesandbox command line tool
• It is possible to embed sandboxes in blog posts, documentation, and GitHub project READMEs
• You can install and use NPM packages
• Built-in code completion and syntax highlighting

Cons of using CodeSandbox

• It doesn't support server-side frameworks like Express

JsFiddle

JsFiddle is a simple online editor and code playground for front-end developers and designers. You can use it to host simple project demos for your products and services and share code snippets. Additionally, you can embed your code snippets hosted on JsFiddle in a blog post, documentation, and GitHub README.

JsFiddle is very similar to Codepen. You can use it to work with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It also supports some of the most popular front-end frameworks like React, Vue, and Preact. You don't need to log in to start using JsFiddle. Navigate to the JsFiddle landing page to launch the editor straight away.

You can create a project using one of the built-in templates or work with the default setup which consists of HTML, CSS, and Vanilla JavaScript.

Pros of using JSFiddle

• It has a generous free plan
• It has good documentation
• It is excellent for sharing short code snippets
• It is possible to use libraries via CDN
• Possible to embed fiddles in blog posts, documentation, and GitHub README
• Builtin code completion

Cons of using JSFiddle

• Suitable only for simple front-end application
• It doesn't have a command line tool to interact with your account like CodeSandbox
• It is not possible to import projects from GitHub into JSFiddle

Repl.it IDE

Repl.it IDE is a collaborative browser-based IDE. It supports several programming languages and runtime environments such as Node, Python, C, Java, and R. Therefore, you can use the Repl.it IDE to build front-end, back-end, and full-stack applications.

Like most of the other online editors, Repl.it has several starter templates to get you up and running quickly. However, you can also import an existing project from a GitHub repository. To start using Repl.it, create an account using your email id or log in with your Google, GitHub, Apple, or Facebook account.

In addition to being an online IDE, Repl.it also has a vibrant online community from which you can get help and inspiration.

How to import GitHub project to Repl.it

You will import a GitHub project to the Repl.it IDE in this section. The steps below assume you are hosting the example project we created at the beginning of this article in a GitHub repository.

Log into your Repl.it account

Though anybody can view a public Repl, you need a Repl.it account to create one. As pointed out above, you can create a Repl.it account using your e-mail or log in using your Google, GitHub, Apple, or Facebook account.

Create a new Repl

In your Repl account, create a new Repl by clicking the "Create" button on the left panel or the top right. You can create a Repl from an existing template or import a project from GitHub. Click the "Import from GitHub" button.

As you import a project from GitHub, be aware of the Repl.it resources limitations if you are on the free plan. You might need to upgrade to a paid plan for large projects.

Pros of using Repl.it

• Generous free plan
• Active community support
• Good documentation
• Supports multiple programming languages and runtime environments
• It provides GitHub integration
• Possible to upload files and folders from your local computer
• It is also a learning platform
• Offers simple Repl database for storing data
• Possible to embed a Repl in a blog post, documentation, or GitHub README

Cons of using Repl.it

• No command line tool to interact with Repl.it from the terminal

Glitch

Glitch is another online editor you can use for front-end, back-end, and full-stack web development. Unlike Repl.it, which supports several programming languages and runtime environments, Glitch supports the Node runtime environment and front-end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. To start using Glitch, create an account using your Email, GitHub, or Google account.

You can use Glitch to prototype, share, and showcase web projects. Like most of the online editors I have highlighted above, Glitch has several starter templates you can use to start a new project or import a GitHub repository.

Select the "Import from GitHub" option when creating a new project. Enter the full URL of the GitHub repository. Glitch will clone the repository and create a new project for you.

Pros of using Glitch

• It has a generous free plan
• Good community support
• Good documentation
• Supports front-end, back-end, and full-stack applications with Node
• It has a built-in feature for implementing simple database with SQLite
• You can deploy from Glitch to Digital Ocean's App platform
• It is possible to embed Glitch project in a blog post, documentation or GitHub README

Cons of using Glitch

• Glitch is only for building front-end, back-end, and full-stack applications with Node. It doesn't support other languages or runtime environments
• You can't interact with your Glitch account from the command line like CodeSandbox
• For the free plan, your project goes to sleep for a duration of inactivity. Repl.it doesn't have that behavior
• The free plan has a limit of 1000 project hours per month

Comparing top online Editors and IDEs

The free online editors and IDEs highlighted above have similarities and differences. I will compare online editors and IDEs, highlighting a few similarities and differences in this section.

Conclusion

If you are a programmer, software engineer, or developer, online editors and IDEs come in handy for prototyping, experimenting, sharing, and collaborating on small projects. As explained above, there are several online editors.

These editors include StackBlitz, Codepen, CodeSandbox, JSFiddle, Glitch, and Repl.it IDE. Each online editor has its strengths and weaknesses. Codepen and JSFiddle are suitable for small front-end projects built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

On the other hand, you can use either CodeSandbox or StackBlitz for large front-end projects and Glitch or Repl.it for back-end or full-stack applications. Among the online editors described above, CodeSandbox is the most flexible when creating projects.

Hopefully, this article equipped you with first-hand information to choose the online editor that meets your needs.