Programming is an activity prone to frustration and difficulty—even when done as a hobby. Creating a web, mobile, or desktop app is a big undertaking, and good note-taking skills are key to staying organized and not succumbing to stress, despair, and burnout.
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Comparison of notetaking software. Features of notable note-taking. Numbering, line, programming code snippets editable note metadata (date/time, location. The intuitive and stylish note taking tool for developers. Only application you'll need to make organized, productive programming notes. Jot down thoughts, take pictures of things you want to remember, and keep it all at your fingertips, across your devices, with a top-rated note-taking app.
But most note-taking apps aren’t designed with programmers in mind, and they can be so difficult to use that they drive you to give up on notes entirely. Here are some of the best note-taking tools for programmers and coders.
1. Boostnote
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pricing: Free
Boostnote is a prime example of a note-taking app for coders. It doesn’t have all the features of a modern note-taking app (e.g. it has Markdown formatting and folder-based organization but lacks web clipping or handwritten notes) but does have what all programmers love: snippets!
You can embed code blocks directly within normal notes, and you can create separate snippet-type notes that are specifically for collecting and grouping multiple code blocks in a single note. It also supports checkbox-based lists for task management.
The best part about Boostnote is that it’s free and open source, it’s cross-platform, and your notes will sync across all platforms you use Boostnote on.
If you’re going to use this tool on Linux, also check out our article on the best Linux distros for programmersThe 11 Best Linux Distros for ProgrammersThe 11 Best Linux Distros for ProgrammersLinux offers a thriving environment for coders and developers. Here are the best Linux operating systems for programmers.Read More.
2. MedleyText
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pricing: $5/mo with 45-day free trial
MedleyText is very similar to Boostnote, with fewer features but a tighter focus on the features it does have: rich text formatting options, embedded code blocks within normal notes, and customizable themes and keyboard shortcuts. It’s excellent for highly-productive coders with big projects.
When you embed formatted code directly into notes, the app will automatically highlight the syntax. Or you can manually select which syntax highlighting language to apply to any given block of code. It supports over 40 programming languages as of writing this article.
While MedleyText was once free for local notes, that’s no longer an option. It’s now a premium app with a hefty free trial and worthwhile features like syncing via Dropbox and sharing notes via links.
3. Quiver
Platform: Mac
Pricing: $10 with free trial
Quiver is yet another app like the two above: you can mix and match text (in both Markdown and LaTeX formats) with embedded code inside notes. However, Quiver has a dedicated code editor right inside the app that’s cleaner and more responsive than its competitors.
As for syntax highlighting, this app supports over 120 programming languages. Cloud storage sync is available for Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and more. And because notes are stored as JSON, you can safely use version control to track changes. Shared notebooks even allow for collaboration between teammates on large projects. It even has a web clipper!
If Quiver is so great, why is it listed third? Because it’s only available on Mac. While the Mac operating system can be a wonderful programming environment, Quiver is not an option for programmers who routinely hop between other operating systems.
4. OneNote
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web
Pricing: Free
OneNote is the best note-taking app, period—but until recently, it lacked syntax highlighting abilities which programmers so desperately need. Fortunately, thanks to a free add-on released by a GitHub user, OneNote can now do syntax highlighting for code.
The add-on is admittedly a bit clunky, but it’s nice to know you can finally use OneNote for storing code notes. Since OneNote is one of the best ways to take notes as a student, this is particularly good news for students in programming and engineering curriculums.
OneNote is also great for collaborative projects due to note sharing. And best of all? It’s completely free and available on nearly every major platform, both desktop and mobile. (Except for Linux, sorry!)
And speaking of GitHub, if you haven’t yet tried Git for your version control, be sure to check out this free ebookThe Ultimate Guide to Git---Claim Your Free Ebook!The Ultimate Guide to Git---Claim Your Free Ebook!This guide covers everything you need to know in order to use Git properly, from explaining what is it and how it differs from other toolsRead More for help.
5. CherryTree
Platform: Windows
Pricing: Free
CherryTree is unlike most note-taking apps in that it’s more of a personal wiki. However, since pages can be nested under each other in a hierarchy, it’s more than good enough for taking notes. What makes it a wiki? You can insert links to any other page throughout the notebook.
There are other apps like CherryTree, including wikidPad and Zim, but CherryTree supports a special page type specifically for code. Use regular notes for ideas and tasks, use the code notes for snippets. As far as the page hierarchy, both types work the exact same way.
CherryTree is very fast, making it one of the best lightweight note-taking apps7 Lightweight OneNote and Evernote Alternatives7 Lightweight OneNote and Evernote AlternativesThough we love them, both Evernote and OneNote can be slow and bloated. If you've been looking for an alternative, here are a few lightweight note-taking apps you should consider.Read More.
6. Sublime Text
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pricing: $80 with unlimited free evaluation version
As a programmer, you likely know about Sublime Text already. True, it’s a text editor and not a note-taking app, but it can certainly be used for taking notes: every note as a text file, and every code snippet in a separate language-appropriate file.
Sublime Text’s native features are excellent for increasing overall productivity11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster Workflow11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster WorkflowSublime Text is a versatile text editor and a gold standard for many programmers. Our tips focus on efficient coding, but general users will appreciate the keyboard shortcuts.Read More, and the ability to split into multiple editor panes is indispensable. But for note-taking and organization, it can get even better with a few free plugins.
SideBarEnhancements is a must-install for every Sublime Text user. It adds a number of improvements to the sidebar, mostly in the menu when you right-click files. PlainTasks incorporates a task-style to-do list right inside the editor. And MarkdownEditing is nifty if you want your notes to be taken down in Markdown.
Sublime Text is pretty costly, but the free evaluation period never ends. As long as you can deal with an occasional pop-up that reminds you to purchase the full version, you can use Sublime Text for free indefinitely.
7. TickTick
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web
Pricing: Free, Premium version for $28/year
TickTick is a to-do list app that’s pretty similar to other apps of its kind, but it has one subtle feature that makes it good for taking notes: every list item has a “description” field that’s basically an entire notepad.
As a programmer, you can use TickTick to track all of your tasks as individual list items and store whatever notes you need for each task. There’s no syntax highlighting or rich text formatting though, so it’s better for managing ideas than storing code snippets.
Plus, you get all the benefits of a full-blown to-do list app: folder organization, subtasks, recurring tasks, reminders, priorities, etc. TickTick has a free plan with a limited number of lists, and a paid plan for $28 per year.
If you’re checking out this note-taking tool list to help the programmer in your life, TickTick is actually one of many great gifts for programmers.
Tips for Becoming a Better Programmer
If all else fails, you can always stick notes right within your code as comments. It isn’t really the best approach because it can get messy (tips for writing cleaner and better code), but it’s an option for low-level notes pertinent to certain snippets. To learn to write better code, keep these professional sample code websitesTop 10 Professional Sample Code Websites for ProgrammersTop 10 Professional Sample Code Websites for ProgrammersLooking to learn and create applications with example code snippets? Here are the best free code sample websites to start with.Read More handy.
Either way, keep going and keep improving. And if you ever feel stuck, here are ways to overcome programmer’s block5 Ways to Beat Programmer's Block Right Now5 Ways to Beat Programmer's Block Right NowEvery programmer encounters an array of negative emotions over the course of their journey, and if left unchecked, these emotions can have a profound impact on progress -- even causing some to give up entirely.Read More.
Explore more about: Microsoft OneNote, Note-Taking Apps, Programming.
Finding the best laptop for programming 2018 will be easy after you read this article. This is a comprehensive guide to help developers as well as programming students choose the best laptop for programming, hacking or game development. If you are looking for the best laptop for developers 2018, this article is for you!
Are there any special laptops for coding or programming purposes? The answer is no, but before buying a laptop for programming, there are certain things a programmer or a programming student has to consider.
In the past, I have had the opportunity to learn Java programming and a graphic based visual programming called Alice. My personal experience tells me that without a well built system, you WILL encounter many problems like the device taking a lot of time to open up the console, making loud noises, overheating and many times you will end up having to restart the laptop because it just stops functioning.
A programming laptop must have certain minimum specifications to run compilers efficiently. Your requirements will be higher if you are into graphic based programming (game development for example). As a game developer, you will need dedicated graphic card on your laptop for better rendering.
Now, let’s look at the minimum system requirements on a laptop for developers.
Recommended programming laptop configuration for developers
MAC vs Windows VS Linux – What is the best operating system for Programming?
Should you use Mac or Windows or Linux operating system for coding? That is a topic of hot discussion in the programmer communities. Some believe it’s a matter of personal preference while others insist their favorite platform is the best. Often times the direction of your career is important.
For instance, you want to get a MacBook if you are more focused on swift programming. Sure there are workarounds to write swift code on a different OS, but why get a laptop with incompatible operating system when you can start writing swift code on a MacBook right away?
As for the popularity, Mac, windows and Linux (Ubuntu distribution) are the most popular operating systems for programming. Many programmers find Linux OS to be most efficient and convienient due to lack of bloatware and less vulnerability to viruses. Mac OS is also getting more and more popular among the programmers largely in part due to exploding popularity of Apple products.
Bottomline, what OS to choose for programming comes down to compatibility and personal preference.
The video below will provide more insights for Mac vs Windows for programming. It is really helpful!
Below you will find some of the best laptops for software and game development. Whether you are a programming student or a career professional, we have kept the budget in mind and made sure the recommended laptops are priced reasonably.
Let’s start with the table below:
Best Laptops For Programming | Best Laptops for developers
†CHEAPEST but quite decent laptop (Editor’s Choice) | ¹These are VR ready laptops recommended for VR development.
Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 – Cheap laptop
People email us all the time asking if there are any cheap laptops for programming under $500. We simply tell them, there are goodlaptops under $500 for programming, but they should carefully look at what Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 has to offer!
Although we recommend programmers a higher end laptop, we understand that it all comes down to your budget. For coders who are on a tight budget, the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 just promises to be their best friend for years to come.
The Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 can be purchased for a cheap price of under $600. It probably is the cheapest programming laptop a developer can get in the market today.
The Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 comes with a 2GB dedicated GTX series graphic card, 256GB of SSD storage, 8GB RAM, windows 10 operating system, and has a 15.6 inch screen, which is full high definition.
The Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 has a decent battery life of over 10 hours. Since it weighs about 5 lbs, you can carry it around in your backpack without breaking your back.
These advanced features make Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 an ideal laptop
Highly recommended if you are a IT student looking for a good laptop. We also recommend the Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762 if you are looking for the best laptop for programming and gaming during your off hours.
Specifications of Acer Aspire E 15 E5-576G-5762
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MacBook Pro-MPTT2LL/A – Best MacBook For Developers 2018
It is not a mystery that a vast number of programmers, programming students as well as established developers prefer MAC OS X over windows OS or Linux and not to mention certain coding can only be done on Mac OS. We too believe MacBooks are amongst the best laptop for developers, especially who are into building iOS apps.
Due to the increasing popularity of MacBooks these days, having both Windows laptop and a MacBook is an interesting idea. You might be one of those folks looking for the best MacBook for developers and we will share our quick thoughts with you.
Prices can vary a lot between different versions of MacBooks. MacBooks with wider screens and retina display tends to cost more. For programming, we recommend the latest 15 inch MacBook pro-MPTT2LL/A with retina display, Intel i7 processor,16GB RAM and touchbar. You can find and shop MacBooks with varying configurations here.
Good luck finding the best MacBook for programming-2018!
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Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ
The Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ has just the right combination of specs required for coders for a budget price of under $1000.
The Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ is equipped with lots of advanced features, making it one of the best laptops for game development, thanks to the GTX950M GPU installed in the Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ.
Hybrid disk drive with 128GB SSD and 1TB traditional HDD, 12 GB RAM (latest & powerful DDR4), GTX 950M graphic card from NVIDIA, and 7th generation Intel i7 processor that clocks in at up-to 3.5GHz are the important features of the Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ that assures smooth coding.
That spec combination will have enough power for programming, including game developments.
You can upgrade the RAM and SSD by yourself to make Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ more powerful and efficient. However, you might want to do that only if you need more power. It is already powerful right out of the box! Its keyboard is programmer friendly!
This best laptop for developers weighs about 5 lbs and has a FHD screen that is 15.6 inches wide. Yes, it is portable, and can make your life easier at the study or work table. And what do you think about its 12 hours of battery life?!
The Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ is our first choice when it comes to buying the best laptop for programming under $1000!
Specifications of Acer Aspire F5-573G-77BJ
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ASUS M580VD-EB76- Best Laptop for game development 2018
If buying the best laptop for game development is your goal, the ASUS M580VD-EB76 is a product you should seriously consider buying and the reasons are obvious. The ASUS M580VD-EB76 is one of the well received laptop by ASUS so far and it comes with the features that are beyond your imaginations.
The ASUS M580VD-EB76 comes with a turbocharged 7th generation Intel i7 processor in addition to powerful GTX series graphic card (GTX 1050), 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD storage in addition to 1TB HDD memory and a 15.6 inch FHD screen.
This laptop has a backlit full size keyboard for low light coding environment. Excel type program for mac.
Furthermore, the ASUS M580VD-EB76 has other things to offer. The ASUS M580VD-EB76 comes with a dual fan cooling system and signature intelligent cooling technology to keep it cool at all times.
Both features help to achieve lag free, smooth running of the moving parts in the laptop, which in absence can annoy developers and coders with overheating and noise issues. We recommend this laptop for anyone looking for the best laptop for software development or game development.
Specifications of ASUS M580VD-EB76
Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS
If you like to play games in your leisure time, the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS is something you might want to consider buying for coding purposes. The Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS can be purchased for under $1000 and has all the features a developer will need.
It comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, 7th generation Intel i7 quad core processor (upto 3.8GHz), GTX 1050 graphics card from NVIDIA and a full size backlit keyboard.
This newer model from Dell comes with a FHD 15.6 inch IPS screen with anti-glare technology. All in all, the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS is one of the best laptop for programming and gaming because it has all the required hardwares for gaming.
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What we love most about the Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS is its unbelievably affordable price of under $1000 despite being packed with powerful hardwares. This stylish Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS is one of the best laptop for developers.
Specifications of Dell Inspiron i5577-7342BLK-PUS
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Acer Spin SP513-52N-85DC – Best laptop for coding student 2018
The Acer Spin SP513-52N-85DC is a cheap but good laptop for CS and IT students on a budget. This Acer laptop will do the job just fine when it comes to coding. The Acer Spin SP513-52N-85DC comes with a 13.3 inch FHD screen, 8GB RAM, latest 8th generation Intel i5 processor and has a 256GB SSD storage.
Besides being stylish and portable, this is a 2 in 1 hybrid laptop that can be used as both tablet and laptop. The screen is touch enabled, of course. It has Windows 10 OS preinstalled.
The Acer Spin 5 is a great laptop for programmers.
Specifications of Acer Spin SP513-52N-85DC
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HP envy 17-u220nr -17 inch Notebook
The HP envy 17-u220nr is another solid option for the programmers as well as programming students.
This HP envy 17-u220nr does not cost a fortune and at the same time it has all the required specs.
HP envy 17-u220nr comes with an 8th generation Intel i7 processor along with 12GB RAM and NVIDIA MX150 graphic card. Just the right specs a coder will need for a budget price!
The HP envy 17-u220nr has a full size keyboard which helps programmers to use the keyboard shortcuts more effectively. It has a 17.3″ Full-HD display and weighs about 6 pounds.
If you are just starting out your career , the HP envy 17-u220nr is really worth considering!
Specifications of HP envy 17-u220nr
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ASUS ZenBook UX330UA
If portability is your main concern, you can use this laptop for coding. The ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is a lightweight laptop with a 13.3″ FHD screen. The design is spectacular with a shiny look.
On the performance side, this best ultrabook for programming comes with Intel i5 processor in combination with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD. As we mentioned in the beginning, having a SSD storage is preferred because they are fast, less noisy and less vulnerable to mechanical failures.
The ASUS ZenBook UX330UA is a fantastic laptop web development.
It has a backlit keyboard but lacks the numerical pad. That is pretty standard in a portable 13 inch laptop but we want you to be aware of that fact. It weighs less than 3 lbs. Whether you are a student or a professional, the ASUS ZenBook has just the right specs to handle your inputs!
Specifications of ASUS ZenBook UX330UA
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ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K – Best Laptop for Developers 2018
Truth is, in the near future, virtual reality is going to wipe out the current technology, games and other things. As a programmer, you know that better than anyone else.
Getting a optimal laptop for VR development just makes sense, especially if you already are a true professional developer.
The ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K is basically a gaming laptop but a programmer can take full advantage of this device at no extra cost. You might want to get this best developer laptop if sky is your limit when it comes to your career.
This ridiculously powerful developer laptop comes with overclocked Intel i7 processor with tremendous power. It has 32GB RAM and a tremendously powerful GTX 1070 GPU with 8GB of its own memory. It has a 17.3″ Full-HD screen and a hybrid storage of 1TB HDD and 256GB SSD.
If you ever wanted to step into the virtual reality programming, look no further as this is the best laptop for VR development!
Specifications of ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72KNote Taking Apps For Windows
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ASUS P-Series P2540UA-AB51
If you are a programming student and $500 is your budget, the ASUS P-Series P2540UA-AB51 would an ideal choice at that kind of price range.
TheASUS P-Series P2540UA-AB51 comes with 1TB HDD storage, Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 15.6 inch FHD screen. It isn’t the most powerful laptop out there but hey it costs under $500!
ASUS P-Series P2540UA-AB51 the best laptop for programming students under $500-2018.
Specifications of ASUS P-Series P2540UA-AB51
Conclusion
This article was written to help you find the best best laptops for programming students, established coders and the best laptops for developers.
Once again, the general guideline is that you should be looking for a gadget with 8GB or higher RAM, at least 500GB of hard drive, comes with a dedicated graphic card and has a powerful processor (i5/A10 or better).
Also, installing Linux OS is very popular among the developers. Ubuntu could be your optimal distribution if you prefer Linux based operating system although Mint distribution is getting tractions lately.
You can code any language like Java, C, C++, C#, visual studio, Android studio, Android development, objective-C, perl, Ruby, Python, Visual Basic .NET etc on the laptops listed here.
Any feedback to this article will be highly appreciated. You now know which laptop is best for programming!
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