I have used and like them both... here's my take on what to use in your case. 1. Use whatever software your instructor is using when learning a language. It makes it simpler to start. Then change to whatever you like. 2. Use an IDE (Integrated Development Enviroment). For Java I'd pick InteliJ (because I have found the Jetbrains IDEs great) or Visual Studio as a second pick (because it's free for individual coders). 3. Pick your text editor: the Atom vs Notepad++, vs others question Both Atom and Notepad++ offer many features and add-ons, making it a long-disputed competition. This is what drives to chose between one and the other, and I have been alternating: On Atom: The good: - Good looking coding environment - Good autocomplete - Project focused structure to your files The bad: - Higher system resources usage - Slower loading time (if you are opening and closing)
Notepad++ The good: - Very light system resources use - Fast and simple, with decent code higlighting - Loads very fast The bad: - Not as pretty as Atom - Autocomplete and syntax checking is not that good - File-focused editing