How I'm using sublime text

In the field of programming, developer’s most of time spent in using keyboard and moving fingers around keyboard and creating some cool stuffs. I have used Dreamweaver, Eclipse and Aptana as tool to write code, it was a good experience to work with these IDEs. From last 4 months I am using sublime text editor. It is really faster than the IDEs, I’ve before used. In this post I am sharing my personal experience with sublime text 2. I hope it will be helpful for you to get with this great editor.

You can Download Sublime text 2 from here. It’s heavily customizable and full fills your requirements, no matter which language you are using. Sublime automatically create environment when file saved with an extension so if a file with .PHP extension is opened, sublime automatically start suggesting for php as soon as you start typing.

Sublime can be extended for any programming language you want through packages, there are lot of them available to make your life easier.

First package that you need to install is Package Control, to make it easy for you to manage / install other packages. You can install package control through Sublimes Text Console, use [highlight]ctrl+~[/highlight][highlight][/highlight] to open console, then paste following code (According to your sublime text version) into console.

[tabgroup] 

[tab title=”For sublime text 2”]

import urllib2,os; pf='Package Control.sublime-package'; ipp = sublime.installed_packages_path(); os.makedirs( ipp ) if not os.path.exists(ipp) else None; urllib2.install_opener( urllib2.build_opener( urllib2.ProxyHandler( ))); open( os.path.join( ipp, pf), 'wb' ).write( urllib2.urlopen( 'http://sublime.wbond.net/' +pf.replace( ' ','%20' )).read()); print( 'Please restart Sublime Text to finish installation')

[/tab] [tab title=”For sublime text 3”]

import urllib.request,os; pf = 'Package Control.sublime-package'; ipp = sublime.installed_packages_path(); urllib.request.install_opener( urllib.request.build_opener( urllib.request.ProxyHandler()) ); open(os.path.join(ipp, pf), 'wb').write(urllib.request.urlopen( 'http://sublime.wbond.net/' + pf.replace(' ','%20')).read())

[/tab] [/tabgroup]

Now you have package controller install in sublime and you can access it by the Command Pallete. Press [highlight]ctrl+shift+p[/highlight]  to open pallete, this will provide many commands.

Install Package - This will show list of all available packages to install. Remove Package - To remove installed package. List Package - This will list all installed packages. and other to manage installed packages inside sublime.

Now to install other package go to command pellete using [highlight]ctrl+shift+p[/highlight] and then type [highlight]install package[/highlight], and you have list of all package to enjoy. Packages I’m using

1.) BracketHighlighter - This will highlight matching [ , ( , “ , ‘ < symbols.

2.) DocBlockr - I’m using this for making comments before function / variable definition, just type [highlight] /** + tab [/highlight] (just above function function) this will generate comment according to your function’s parameters automatically.

/**
* [foo description]
* @param {[type]} first_par [description]
* @param {[type]} second_par [description]
* @return {[type]} [description]
*/
function foo(first_par,second_par){

//function body
}

3.)Tag - This is collection of packages about HTML/XHTML.

4.) Local History - While working with Aptana, I was fan to History plug-in which tracks all changes for a file. In sublime local history is for you to view history of file, so now you can restore your file from past.

5.) Sidebar Enhancement - This will give you more option for your sidebar (which holds files in your project ) like copy name, copy path, rename, open in browser, show already open files. For example - if you want to rename a file just type  [highlight]ctrl+shift+p[/highlight]  then rename+enter, this will prompt new name for file. same you can try to copy file name, copy file path, Delete .

6.) Sublime linter - All IDE’s highlights if there is any potential error in code , Sublime linter will provide same for different languages include PHP, JavaScript, Python, C/C++, Ruby and many more.

7.) Xdebug - For debugging in PHP.

8.) CodeIgniter 2 ModelController - It will create layout for model, controller just by typing few key stroke ci2m - model base, ci2c - controller, ci2me - CRUD model.

In my next post I’ll show sublime tips and settings that can make editing fast and interesting.