BBEdit vs Sublime Text: What are the differences?

Introduction BBEdit and Sublime Text are both popular code editors used by professionals and developers. While they share similarities in terms of functionality, there are key differences that set them apart.

1. Customizability: BBEdit offers a high level of customization, allowing users to modify various aspects of the editor according to their preferences. It provides extensive options for customizing keyboard shortcuts, menu items, and toolbar buttons. On the other hand, Sublime Text takes customizability to another level. It allows users to modify almost every aspect of the editor, from key bindings and menu items to user interface themes and syntax highlighting. Sublime Text even provides a full-fledged command palette for easy access to all available commands.

2. Package Ecosystem: BBEdit has a limited number of plugins and extensions available through its ecosystem. While it supports some popular languages and comes with built-in features for tasks such as code folding and syntax highlighting, the range of available extensions is relatively small. In contrast, Sublime Text has a vibrant and extensive package ecosystem. It offers a wide range of third-party packages and plugins that enhance functionality for different languages, frameworks, and development environments. This extensive package ecosystem makes Sublime Text a powerful tool for developers seeking additional features and integrations.

3. Performance and Speed: BBEdit is known for its stability and fast performance. It is optimized to handle large files efficiently, making it suitable for handling massive projects with ease. Sublime Text, on the other hand, is renowned for its blazing speed. It is designed to provide lightning-fast responsiveness, even when dealing with extensive codebases. Sublime Text achieves this through its advanced rendering engine and optimized architecture, making it an excellent choice for developers who prioritize speed and efficiency.

4. Command Palette and Keyboard Shortcuts: BBEdit offers a command menu, accessible through the menubar, that provides quick access to various editor functions. However, it lacks a dedicated command palette, which can affect the ease and speed of accessing specific commands. Sublime Text addresses this with its powerful command palette. By pressing a single keyboard shortcut, users can access all available commands, making it faster to execute tasks and navigate the editor efficiently. The command palette feature enhances the productivity of developers working in Sublime Text.

5. Price and Licensing: BBEdit follows a traditional paid software model, offering a fully functional trial version and requiring users to purchase a license for continued use. It is available for a one-time purchase with free updates, making it an economical choice for long-term usage. On the other hand, Sublime Text offers a compelling licensing model. Although it comes with an unlimited evaluation period, users are encouraged to purchase a license to support the development and unlock additional features. The license is per-user and works across multiple platforms, providing flexibility to developers.

6. Interface and User Experience: BBEdit features a clean and straightforward interface that focuses on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a traditional text editor experience with a customizable toolbar, a single document interface, and a status bar at the bottom. Sublime Text, on the other hand, takes a minimalist approach with its interface. It provides a distraction-free environment by having minimal visible elements, allowing users to concentrate on their code. Sublime Text also brings a modern and polished look to its user interface, enhancing the overall experience for developers.

In summary, BBEdit and Sublime Text differ in terms of customizability, package ecosystem, performance, command palette and keyboard shortcuts, pricing and licensing, and interface and user experience. While BBEdit provides extensive customization options and stable performance, Sublime Text excels in its package ecosystem, speed, and productivity-enhancing features like the command palette. Additionally, Sublime Text offers a flexible licensing model, and its interface ensures a distraction-free coding experience.