Hyper vs Visual Studio Code: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Hyper and Visual Studio Code are both popular code editors used for web development and programming. While they share some similarities, there are several key differences between the two that set them apart in terms of functionality and user experience.

1. Installation and Setup: Hyper is a lightweight code editor that can be installed quickly and easily. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. On the other hand, Visual Studio Code is a more feature-rich code editor that requires a larger installation file. It provides support for multiple operating systems and offers more customization options during setup.

2. User Interface: Hyper has a minimalistic and simple user interface, with a single window and a command line interface. Visual Studio Code, on the other hand, has a more comprehensive and visually appealing user interface. It provides a sidebar for file navigation, a terminal/console area, and a powerful editor with advanced features like IntelliSense.

3. Extensions and Plugins: Hyper has a limited number of extensions and plugins available compared to Visual Studio Code. While Hyper supports basic features like themes and syntax highlighting, Visual Studio Code offers a vast marketplace with a wide range of extensions and plugins that enhance its functionality. These extensions include support for various programming languages, debugging tools, and integrated terminal enhancements.

4. Debugging and Profiling: Visual Studio Code provides powerful debugging features out of the box, allowing developers to set breakpoints, step through code, and inspect variables in real-time. It also supports profiling for optimizing performance. Hyper, on the other hand, lacks built-in debugging and profiling capabilities, making it less suitable for complex debugging scenarios.

5. Community and Support: Visual Studio Code has a large community of active users, providing extensive support through forums, tutorials, and documentation. It has a well-maintained GitHub repository where users can report bugs and suggest improvements. Hyper, while also having a community, may have fewer resources available for support due to its smaller user base.

6. Customization Options: Both Hyper and Visual Studio Code offer customization options, but Visual Studio Code provides a more extensive range of customization features. It allows users to modify their UI theme, change key bindings, configure editor settings, and install custom snippets. Hyper, on the other hand, has limited customization options and is more focused on providing a simplified coding experience.

In summary, Hyper and Visual Studio Code are both widely used code editors, but they differ in terms of installation and setup, user interface, available extensions, debugging capabilities, community support, and customization options. Visual Studio Code provides a more comprehensive and feature-rich experience, while Hyper offers a lightweight and minimalistic approach.