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Online console options

###Introduction:

This README tutorial is an introduction to your online console and debugging options when starting out as a software developer.

Code compilers and consoles are a great tool for creating small pieces of code and debugging purposes.
These tools are particularly useful when solving Codewars katas.

There are many options to suit your coding requirements. Here are some popular suggestions with pros and cons for each.

There are 3 key points to take into consideration when choosing a platform to use:

  1. What coding languages do they support?
  2. Do they simply help debug through syntax checking or can you run code and check the result in a console?
  3. Do you have to set up an account to use them?

Console and debugging tools:

####repl.it alt tag

  1. Supported languages: Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Scheme, C#, Java, PHP, C++, C... (The list goes on!)
  2. You can run code in the console and there is a built in syntax checker too.
  3. You can use this tool without an account and can save multiple sets of code with an account.

Pros: The best tool for creating functions and testing them in a console. Free service with great aims to democratize coding and make it accessible.
Cons: You have to create an account to retrieve saved code.

####jshint.com alt tag

  1. Supported languages: JavaScript.
  2. The tool is a simple syntax and error checker.
  3. 100% functionality can be used without an account.

Pros: Very intuitive to use. Best tool for simple debugging purposes.
Cons: No console output makes the tool limited in its use. You can't save code.


####jsbin.com alt tag

  1. Supported languages: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, CoffeeScript.
  2. You can run code in the console and there is a built in error checker too.
  3. Most of the functionality that a beginner needs can be used without signing up to a 'Pro' account.

Pros: Enables you to code JavaScript alongside HTML and CSS. Share code with Gist.
Cons: A great tool for beginners with few flaws.


####jsfiddle.net alt tag

  1. Supported languages: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, CoffeeScript.
  2. You can run code in the console and there is a built in error checker too.
  3. Most of the functionality that a beginner needs can be used without signing up to a 'Pro' account.

Pros: Built in tool to collaboratively code with others. Useful to code JavaScript alongside HTML and CSS.
Cons: Tricky to get the hang of when starting out.

Instructions for using JSFiddle.

####codepen.io alt tag

  1. Supported languages: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, CoffeeScript.
  2. You can run code in the console and there is a built in error checker too.
  3. Basic functionality can be used without an account but the tool is a small part of a bigger pay for service that most beginners won't want or need.

Pros: Useful to code JavaScript alongside HTML and CSS.
Cons: Could be more intuitive to use.

Instructions for using the console tool on CodePen.

Related

This README focuses on online debugging and console tools, an extension of this README would be to explore a beginner's options in regards to applications that run direct from your OS such as Oracle and Android Studio.

Here are some related Coding for Everyone READMEs:
Debugging.
Start to develop with JavaScript.

References and further reading

Tools for coding online.
Online browser based debugging tools.
JavaScript console in your browser.
The Codecademy console.