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microsoft windowsDiscover Code Writer
1
Setup
On first launch, Code Writer displays a handy overlay,
explaining the basics of what each section does. This is
shown once only, but don’t fret too much, because the interface
is very intuitive. To create a document, click “New” on the right-
hand side of the screen. Code Writer now prompts you to choose
a document type, such as HTML [Image A]. The code template
is formatted with default headers and footers, so you can start
coding right away. By default, code files are saved to your
“Documents” folder. Click the “Save” button at the top-left, then
“Save As” to choose a new file name and location.2
How to loAd code
If you’ve created a new file using Code Writer, it opens
automatically next time you launch the program. If you’ve
already created other code files in a separate program, click
the “Open” button at the top-right, and navigate to your file(s) of
choice. If you open multiple files, you can switch between these
by double-clicking the file name listed on the right of the screen.
All changes to documents are auto-saved, so each time you
reopen a file, it’s exactly as you left it. Any files you saved yourself
appear with a checkbox next to the file name. Code Writer places
an “x” next to names of files it saved automatically.3
edItIng your code
Once your chosen files are open, editing your code is
fairly straightforward. You can scroll, click, and alterAlthough most competent progrAmmers can write code using anything from Microsoft
Notepad to the back of an envelope, the majority of serious coders prefer to have a dedicated
application for programming purposes.
Coder-friendly applications such as Code Writer are designed by programmers for
programmers. This means that on first launch, you can automatically create code files with the
correct extension, such as .html. The app also supports syntax highlighting and easy navigation
of large files.
Code Writer isn’t a fully-fledged IDE, and as such doesn’t contain a built-in compiler or
an easy way to automatically publish code to popular websites, such as GitHub. However, its
stripped-down interface and bare-bones features mean that you can master the basics and
streamline your coding in a matter of minutes.
In this guide, you’ll discover how to create and edit simple files using Code Writer. You’ll also
learn how to harness the app’s powerful Command Palette, which enables you to work with
multiple files, search for specific terms, and automate tasks such as indenting multiple lines of
code. Code Writer also supports keyboard shortcuts for virtually every command, enabling you
to reach brutal levels of programming efficiency without using a mouse. –nate drakeYou’ll need this
code wrIter
You can grab the app from the
Microsoft Store.text just as you would in Microsoft Notepad. If you have
a large number of lines of code to work through, click
the “Editing” button on the right-hand side of the page.
This displays a handy collection of common commands
[Image B]. Some of these, such as “Cut & Paste,” are
self-explanatory. Click a section and choose “Comment
Lines” to annotate your code. To indent or outdent lines
in a particular section, simply highlight it with your
mouse, and click the corresponding button. If your code
is case-sensitive, don’t overlook the “Uppercase” and
“Lowercase” options.4
commAnd pAlette
The command palette is a quick and easy way to
use Code Writer’s features via the keyboard. You
can launch it in a number of different modes, each of
which carries out different functions. For instance, hold
down Ctrl-P to launch the command palette in default
mode. From here, you can easily search through all your
code files and launch them. Hold down Ctrl-Shift-P for
the palette’s command mode; this contains a number of
Code Writer’s more advanced features [Image c]. For
instance, select “Change File Types” to save code in a
different format. You can also carry out surgical editing
with the “Line,” “Cut,” and “Paste” functions. Whichever
mode you choose, you can use the up and down arrowsBA64 MAXIMUMPC AUG 2019 maximumpc.com
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