19 Top Node Js IDEs For Modern Application Development

Table of Contents

Introduction

Node.js is a powerful JavaScript runtime. It is increasingly used in enterprise-level application development and has become developers’ favorite; according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, Node.js is the most common web technology used by Professional Developers and those learning to code, with a preference percentage of 47.12%.

This popularity is because of several Node.js features, such as it can enable your application to handle asynchronous and concurrent connections smoothly. It is being used to develop high-performing and fast applications for the same reason. All these perks are enough reasons for some successful and popular brands like IBM, Yahoo, SAP, Walmart, and others are using the Node.js framework.

Time is of the essence; therefore, the end-users and the application owners need the Node.js application development services more often now; this raises the need for developers to speed up and efficiently streamline the software development lifecycle or SDLC of NodeJS applications. There comes the IDEs or the Integrated Development Environments to help developers and product owners to enhance the development speed and efficiency of their NodeJS application development with features such as source code editor, build automation, code completion, debugger, compiler, and many other such features along with the interactive GUI that eases up the life of the developers and the product owners.

However, no matter how many Node JS IDEs are available for developing modern and efficient applications with Nodejs, you must use the best IDEs and development tools based on your needs and requirements. So, with any further delay, let us look at the most IDEs for Node.js application development that we have handpicked for your next based on our experience.

Top Node JS IDEs For Successful App Development

An Integrated Development Environment or IDE is a software application that helps developers and product owners develop their codes efficiently by enhancing their productivity by combining all the software editing, building, testing, and packaging capabilities in a user-friendly application. As accountants use Excel or spreadsheets, writers use text editors, and video editors use video editing tools similarly, software developers use IDEs that help make their job easier.

Let us check out our updated list of the top NodeJS IDEs to help you choose the best one and improve your productivity and efficiency.

1. WebStorm

Webstorm is one of JetBrains’s most popular JavaScript IDEs that can help you build server-side applications using Node.js. It possesses smart code completion, error detection, automated and safe refactoring, and other features. Post the update; the WebStorm supports Node.js specific tools on Linus systems. It also has tools like a version control system, debugger, and a terminal. It also provides high-level language support for JavaScript, TypeScript, and NodeJS, and a set of inbuilt tools enables writing better codes.

The exceptional features of WebStorm are:

• In-built Powerful Tools
• Independent Code Editors for Different Languages
• Supports Version Control Systems
• Quick Documentation Lookups
• Refactoring Tools
• Intelligent Coding Support
• Create Custom Configurations
• Seamless Tool Integration
• Integrates with all renowned CI tools

2. Visual Studio Code

GitHub 146k Stars and 25.7k Forks

Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code supports NodeJS and lets you compile your application easily. It is another famous, free, open-source NodeJS development environment that developers could use for their application development. It is a lightweight yet powerful code editor that you can download for free and use. VS Code offers built-in support for JavaScript and NodeJS and runs on all OS, such as macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Also, it has a vibrant ecosystem of plugins and extensions to support several renowned programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, PHP, and others. To enable using Visual Studio Code for Node.js application development, you will have to install NodeJS runtime on your system.

Elite Features of Visual Studio Code:

• Inbuilt CLI or Command Line Interface
• Helpers (Context Menus, IntelliSense)
• Easily Connect with Git and other Repositories
• Integrated TerminalSplit View & Zen Mode
• Extensive Third-Party Extensions
• Integrated Terminal
• Editing from your workspace

Additionally, you can use multiple JavaScript extensions and tools with Visual Studio Code. This Node IDE also allows writing JavaScript and Typescript project development.

3. Atom

GitHub: 59.4k Stars and 18.3k Forks

Atom is a Node Js editor with UIs, themes, and a pre-installed electronic framework and works on all operating systems- Windows, Mac, and Linux. It is open-source and integrates HTML, CSS, Node.js, and javascript codes. It comes with an in-built package manager. Atom is simple, easily customizable, and has pre-installed UI and syntax themes. It is based on the Electron framework, which enables you to create cross-platform applications using common web technologies.

Essential features of Atom IDE for Node JS development are:

• Inbuilt Package Manager
• File System Browser
• Provides the Find and Replace Tools
• Cross-platform or Platform Independent
• Smart Auto completion
• Multiple Panes
• Supported by Multiple Windows OS

4. Brackets

GitHub: 33.5k Stars and 8k Forks

Brackets are indeed the best NodeJs IDE when it comes to JavaScript development. Adobe develops this open-source and can be used through a web browser. Built using HTML, CSS, and JS, NodeJS developers will feel at home while using it for application development.

The most significant features of Brackets IDE:

• Inline editors (Open a window into the Code)
• Real-time Connection to Browser (Live Preview)
• Split view
• Preprocessor Support
• Quick Edit and Live Highlight with LESS and SCSS files
• Easy-to-use User Interface
• Integration with Theseus JS Debugger
• Automatic Code Completion

You can run multiple NodeJS projects, npm, and gulp scripts on Brackets. The best node.js editor will show syntax hints to help you code faster. Inline editing, preprocessor support, command line integration, live previewing, etc., are a few more capabilities of Brackets.

5. Vim: The Editor

GitHub: 30.3k Stars and 4.7k Forks

Vim is not precisely an IDE but a text editor with unique features that help you build NodeJs applications. It supports text and graphical interfaces and can run on any platform, such as Linux, macOS, and Windows. Though it has a bit complex learning curve, users familiar with Unix and Mac can easily handle it.

Notable features of Vim NodeJS IDE are:

• Generic Programming Support
• Useful Themes & Interfaces
• Amazing Extensibility
• Auto Format through Prettier and ESLint
• Essential Language Support for Erlang/Elixir/PHP/Elm
• Extensive Plugin Ecosystem
• Highly Customizable
• Functions as a default Fallback
• Flexible Indenting
• Vertically Split Windows

6. Notepad++

GitHub: 19.3k Stars and 4.1k Forks

Like many other top Node.js IDEs, Notepad++ is not an IDE, in fact, it is a text editor or we can say a code editor that is open-source in nature. It is compatible with Windows and enables you to use multiple languages for coding. It has features like bracket, matching, and autocomplete. It also has inbuilt syntax highlighting a variety of interpreted programming languages. It has a GPL license and it runs in the MS Windows environment.

Though Notepad++ is an IDE, it has features such as

• Syntax Highlighting and Code Folding
• PCRE Perl Compatible Regular Expression with Search/Replaces
• Syntax Highlighting
• Collaborative Editing
• Plugins and Integrations
• Extensibility
• Cross-Platform Support
• Code Folding
• Find and Replace

7. IntelliJ IDEA

GitHub: 15.3k Stars and 4.9k Forks

You can use this best editor for Node.js, Angular.js, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, React, and more. With many built-in development aids, database tools, version control systems, and decompilers, IntelliJ IDEA is the best IDE for Node js application development, offering smart code editing, powerful analysis tools, and extensive language support. It is crafted by JetBrains and, therefore, a reliable solution too. This Node.js IDE allows developers to write, run, debug, and check the results. You can download IntelliJ IDEA in two editions that are Community and Ultimate. It runs on macOS, Linux, and Windows.

Outstanding features of Node JS IDE IntelliJ IDEA are:

• Built-in Testing and Debugging Tools
• Version Control Integration
• Code Navigation
• Support for Frameworks
• Extensive Language Support
• Collaboration Tools
• Smart Completion of Code
• Editor-Centric Environment
• Inline Debugger
• Test-Runner and Coverage

To code your Node.js application, you must add a plugin to your IntelliJ IDEA. It will enable the software with multiple features, including syntax highlighting, assistance, suggestions, etc. Its debugger lets you add breakpoints, evaluate expressions, and do a lot more so that you can quickly correct your code.

8. Gitpod

GitHub: 10.8k Stars and 1.1k Forks

Gitpod is an open-source Node.js IDE with VS Code as its editor. It provides in-built support for npm, Node.js, Javascript, and Typescript. You can make changes in the environment as per your requirements. With Gitpod, you can use the entire OS environment to run your developed Node.js code.

Some valuable features of Gitpod are:

• Access to Root
• Provides two editors: Theia (default) and Code
• Automated workspaces
• GitLab, GitHub, and Bitbucket integration

9. Eclipse Che

GitHub: 6.8k Stars and 1.2k Forks

Eclipse Che is an open-source cloud-based javascript IDE and developer workspace server, truly next-generation, as they call it. Eclipse Che is the best Node.js IDE by the Eclipse Foundation for big projects when multiple organizations and people work on the code and monitor it. Eclipse Che provides a collaborative and containerized development platform you can access through your browser. Simply put, you can use Eclipse Che as a browser-based IDE, not just software. It allows your team to develop software in a distributed and scalable manner.

The Top Features of Eclipse Che IDE include:

• Code, Build, and Debug in your Browser
• Git Integration using OAuth
• Share Development Setups with a URL
• Containerized Development Feature
• Multi-tenant by Default
• Workspace Management
• Real-time Collaboration
• Extensive Extension Ecosystem
• Maven Integration
• Eclipse Java Development tools
• Code Recommenders Tools

Eclipse Che is a free and open-source Kubernetes Native IDE for developer teams to use and contribute to its development. Also, it offers a flexible and collaborative development environment that makes it an ideal fit for distributed teams and projects. There are runtimes, a RESTful API server, and IDEs integrated into the workspace provided by Eclipse Che.

It has an SDK for plugin and assembly development. IntelliSense, refactoring, and key binding are a few more features that make it a perfect solution for NodeJS developers. For making your Node.js app development process smooth, Eclipse Che comes with a ready-to-go stack and pre-installed debugger module. Best of all – This IDE is open-source and available for free.

10. AWS Cloud9 (3.0)

GitHub: 2.6k Stars and 960 Forks

The AWS Cloud9 is the favorite IDE of many NodeJS developers. As the name suggests, it is a free cloud-based IDE that allows Node js developers to run code in various languages, including Node.js, Python, C++, Ruby, and more. You can use Cloud9 IDE to develop Node.js applications, PHP projects, and more. It has a few add-on aids, such as a key-binding editor, a live application preview, and an image editor, collectively making it a powerful Node.js IDE.

The finest features of AWS Cloud9 Node Js IDE are:

• Real-Time Collaboration
• Fully Managed by AWS
• Web-Based IDE
• Extensive Plugins and Extensions
• Pre-Configured Environments
• Integrated Debugger
• Built-In Terminal
• Integrated Tools for Serverless Development
• Collaborative Editing and Chat
• Continuous Delivery Toolchain
• Full-Featured Editor

Cloud9 integrates with AWS CodeStar, providing the tools you need to deploy applications to AWS successfully. Using AWS Cloud9, you can edit your code online, run your NodeJS application, and debug it to speed up your development process flawlessly.

11. NetBeans

GitHub: 2.3k Stars and 769 Forks

Apache NetBeans is a popular Java IDE also available as a Node.js IDE. It is a modular and standards-based development environment. Some exclusive properties of Netbeans are:

• Provides Node.js project wizard
• Comes with a javascript editor
• Node js app debugging option

NetBeans IDE is unavailable as an official distribution; however, you can configure NetBeans IDE to work efficiently with Node.js applications.

12. Koding

GitHub: 2.1k Stars and 621 Forks

A classic Nodejs IDE that is open-source and cloud-based- Koding. It provides a developer interface and uses scripting languages like javascript (Node), MySQL, Ruby, and others. Using the Koding IDE, developers benefit from the code preview, syntax highlighting, workspace, and multi-cursor support.

Additional features of Koding Node IDE are

• Seamless and powerful development environment
• Coding in browser
• Support for cloud providers
• No hardware restrictions
• Intuitive and flexible IDE
• Multiple virtual machines deployment
• SSH and Sudo access

13. Komodo IDE

GitHub: 2.1k Stars and 295 Forks

Node.js, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby projects can be coded in Komodo IDE. It is a cross-platform IDE that supports applications developed using multiple languages. Komodo has all the capabilities needed to develop NodeJS applications efficiently. It is suitable for Node.js developers for multiple reasons. The main reason beings its features.

Desirable features of Komodo IDE for Node.js:

• Code collaboration for multi-user editing
• Visual Debugger and Unit Testing
• Version Control Support
• Add-Ons for Extensibility
• Workflow Management
• Enterprise Grade Support
• Python and PHP code profiling
• Customizable UI
• Autocomplete and Refactoring
• ActiveState Platform Integration (Komodo 12)

Other features of Komodo IDE include syntax highlighting, a markdown viewer, graphical debugging, and version management. You can create custom configurations, utilize its code intelligence facilitation, add shortcuts, check out language icons, and try multiple selections.

14. CodeLite

GitHub: 1.9k Stars and 435 Forks

Another famous IDE that is open-source for PHP, C, C++, and Javascript languages is the CodeLite IDE. It supports Node js compiler, debugger, memory, and code completion.

CodeLite unique characteristics are:

• Cross-platform
• Terminal connection via SFTP pane
• Database support for MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL

15. Aptana

GitHub: 1k Stars and 487 Forks

Yet another Eclipse-based IDE, and again, it needed your individual attention. Aptana is exclusively developed for web application development and works like a charm for NodeJS developers. It is very flexible and comes with an integrated debugger. Using Aptana, you can add breakpoints in your code, control the execution of your project, and inspect variables. As you can code in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and many other programming or scripting languages using Aptana, using this Node JS IDE to compile and test your NodeJS application in a single environment is possible.

Prime features of Node JS Aptana IDE:

• FTP/SFTP Support
• Code Assist
• HTML/CSS/JavaScript Libraries
• Integrated Debugger
• Git integration
• Built-in terminal
• Heroku integration
• Collaboration and Team Development
• Website Deployment

These features make Aptana one of the Best NodeJS IDEs. Developers can leverage the flexibility of Aptana to add breakpoints to scripts, control project execution, and investigate variables.

16. Sublime Text

GitHub: 757 Stars and 36 Forks

Custom UI toolkit makes Sublime Text an efficient code editor for Node.js development. This Node IDE is a powerful application development tool for writing markups, prose, and code. Its features include rapid project switching, split editing, and more. Also, Sublime Text offers many selection choices to handle files more quickly, the best performance, and the ability to alter almost everything with simple JSON files. Of all the features available with Sublime Text, its custom components and ideal results make it exceptional.

Hence, it is an excellent choice for application development for Node.js applications.

Excellent Features of Sublime Text IDE:

• Project Switching Swiftly
• Light-Weight and Fast
• Cross-Platform Compatibility
• Customizable Interface
• Efficient Search and Replace
• Split Editing, Edit Multiple Files Simultaneously
• Version Control Indentation
• Syntax Highlights and Code Completion
• Plugins and Packages Ecosystem
• Build System Configuration
• Macros to Automate Repetitive Tasks

Using Sublime Text 3, you can switch between projects, split code to compare it, customize the editor at your convenience, and perform many such operations, which could help you easily code. Variable naming, file manipulation, go to, etc., are a few tricks you can do faster with Sublime Text editor.

17. Codenvy

GitHub: 307 Stars and 119 Forks

If you are a development team considering which NodeJS IDE free will be good for crafting the next applications, Codenvy is the best IDE for node js development. NodeJS professionals can code with portable Docker runtimes in its cloud workspace. Codenvy lets you perform issue management, and a version control mechanism is available if you’ve initiated a catastrophe.

The best features of Codenvy IDE are

• One-click docker environment
• Simplified Team-onboarding
• Tensive Code Collaboration
• DevOps workspace platform
• Version Control Integration
• Scalability and Resource Management
• Extensible Plugin Ecosystem

Though Codenvy is built on Eclipse Che, it has enough unique features to hold a special place on our list. It is a more customized IDE for NodeJS developers; for example, its dev mode configures the runtime and integrates root-privileged terminal, SSH access, debugger, and language-related services.

18. WebMatrix

GitHub: 33 Stars and 6 Forks

When it comes to IDEs, Microsoft has many lots. WebMatrix is another Microsoft IDE that is one of the best IDEs for NodeJS application development. It is also a cloud-based, lightweight, and free IDE for Node.js development windows. This cloud-connected web development tool allows fast and efficient Node.js development for application experts. Also, this IDE for Node.js offers cloud publishing, code completion, and built-in templates.

The super-features of WebMatrix IDE are:

• Code Editors with Integrated Interface
• Extensive Range of built-in Node.js templates
• Simple Coding Database
• Code Snippets
• Smart Code completion
• Publishing on Cloud

19. CodeLobster

GitHub: 3 Stars and 5 Forks

With CodeLobster, you need not remember the functions, attributes, tags, or arguments; it comes with autocomplete. The IDE enables you to streamline and simplify your PHP development. Codelobster has the capability of file transfer protocol and has various plugins to support your framework.

Salient Features of Codelobster NodeJS IDE:

• Multiple Programming Language Support
• Version Control Systems
• Systematic Revision Control
• Simple and Easy Highlighting
• Multi CMS Plugins (Pro only)
• PHP Framework Extensions (Pro only)
• SQL Manager
• Context and Dynamic Help
• FTP/SFTP Support
• Code Folding (Collapsing)

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the best IDE for Node.js development?

Koding, Atom, Brackets, Aptana, Gitpod, and CodeLite are all open-source Node Js IDEs; you must choose any that matches your development needs.

What IDEs are available for Node.js Development on Linux?

Atom, Sublime Text, and Vim are the Node.js IDEs for Linux OS.

Which IDE is lightweight for Node.js?

Vim is a lightweight Node.js IDE, and you can add up the features you require and hence do not carry the unnecessary baggage of the entire IDE.