How do you choose a code editor for your app?
Start with the project you have. Choose an editor that can open its files on the computer where you need to work. Then try a small change and make sure you can see exactly what changed before you decide to keep it.
What do you open when someone gives you an app’s code?
Open the project folder so you can see the app’s pages and its setup notes together. A repository is the project plus its record of saved changes. If you receive a repository link, check that you have access and open a local copy you’re allowed to use.
Look for a README, the file that usually explains how the project runs, and find out which computer it was meant to run on. If all you have is a link to a project in a browser builder, ask whether you can get a copy of the code. An editor needs files it can open.
When a folder comes from someone you don’t know, read its instructions and files before you install anything or let it run. Some editors have a restricted mode that limits automatic tasks. Check how yours behaves and install extensions only from publishers you trust.
How can you see what changed before you keep it?
Try this on a new folder you create yourself. You’ll use a single page, with no accounts, install commands or live services. A diff shows which lines were removed or added. The browser shows what the person using the page will see.
<a href="#times">Reserve a time</a>
<p id="times">Sample appointment times</p>- Save a sample pageCreate a new folder and save the sample above in a file named index.html. Open the file in a browser and follow the link. If Git is already set up, save a first local commit. Otherwise keep a second copy of the file for comparison.
- Change the words on the linkChange only Reserve a time to Choose a time. You can type the edit yourself. If you use an agent, give it this sample folder and ask for the text change only, without running commands or opening other folders.
- Read the change and try the pageCompare with your saved version. Expect one changed line and the same #times destination. Open the edited file at its plain address without #times. Follow the link. Check that #times is added to the address and that the sample appointment text is still there. If other lines or files changed, inspect those before keeping anything.
Compare tools
Scroll the table sideways to read every column.
| Tool | What you openThe starting point and computer you need. | How you see a changeWhere you check the old and new code. | Where coding help comes fromWhich tools you can turn on for advice or edits. | What adds cost or accessAn extra plan, account or machine that can change the decision. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Code | Open a project folder on Mac, Windows or Linux. | In a Git project, open a file in Source Control. Check both Changes and Staged Changes when they appear. | Use the editor on its own or sign into GitHub Copilot. Other extensions have their own setup. | The editor is free. A paid AI plan or a rented workspace can add costs. |
| Devin Desktop | Open a folder on Mac, Windows or Linux. Older guides may call the editor Windsurf. | Read the highlighted old and new lines. With the default diff view, decide which changes to keep. | Devin Local is the built-in agent. Decide what files and commands it can use. | The free plan has a limited agent allowance. Check your plan for Cloud access and extra usage. |
| Visual Studio | Open a supported project on Windows. For an ASP.NET app, install its web development tools. | Double-click a changed file in Git Changes to open the diff before committing. | Copilot is an optional part of the workflow. Its edit review depends on the installed version and account. | Community is free for eligible uses. Check the edition and Copilot account separately. |
When does built-in chat or an extension help?
Use chat when you need help finding or explaining something in the project. When an agent can edit files or run commands, check what it plans to change before giving it that access. You can also open, search and edit the files yourself.
An extension adds a feature to the editor. A formatter can line up code. A coding extension can send part of your project to an online service or run tools on your behalf. Check the extension’s publisher and permissions before enabling it. Keep customer data and live keys out of practice projects.
Start with one question about one file. If the answer sounds right, ask where in the file it found the behavior. Ask for a small edit only after you’ve found the right place, then use the diff to check the change.
Where do the files and commands run?
When the project is on your computer, that’s where you normally run it. A remote connection lets the editor window on your laptop work with files on another computer. A hosted workspace supplies a computer you can work in through a browser or editor.
| Where you work | What to check |
|---|---|
| On your computer | You have the project files and the program that runs the app. Some AI features can still send code or questions to a service. |
| On a computer you connect to | You have permission to use the host. Check which files, tools and test settings are on that computer before running the project. |
| In a hosted workspace | Check the included running time, storage costs and where to save your work before the workspace closes. |
What can you take with you when you switch editors?
Keep a copy of the code and its saved Git history in a place you control. Uncommitted edits, ignored files and settings kept inside an editor or its account need their own check.
Open a copy of the same project in the new editor first. Check that you can find the files, read a diff and run the project using its documented setup. Copy needed configuration through an approved path and keep live passwords and keys out of the repository. Before retiring the old editor, find any extension or setting your work depends on and verify it in the new one.