Ruby Code Editors

The following is a list of IDEs that can be used for Ruby development. Note while even a simple text editor can create Ruby scripts, these applications have specific features that target Ruby development (either natively or through a plugin). Programs are listed in the following format:

• Program
  • Written in: (C, C++, Java, etc.)
  • Supported Operating Systems: (Mac, Windows, Linux, etc.)
  • License (For OpenSource or Freeware)
  • Standard Price, Academic Price (For commercial software)
  • Trial version: yes/no, if yes number of days (for commercial software)
  • Ruby support integration type ( Native or Plugin )
  • Syntax highlighting: yes/no
  • Autocomplete: yes/no

The List

OpenSource

• Redcar

  • Written in: Ruby and Java
  • Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux
  • License: GPLv2
  • Native support for Ruby
  • Syntax highlighting: yes
  • Autocomplete: yes

• Aptana Studio

• Written in: Java

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• Aptana Public License 1.0

• Native through bundled plugin

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Nano

• Written in: C

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• GPL

• nanorc syntax support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no

• Vim

• Written in: C

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• Charityware (GPL Compatible)

• vim-ruby plugin

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• SciTE

• Written in: C++

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows, Linux

• Python-like

• Native syntax highlighting

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no

• Komodo Edit

• Written in: C++, C, XUL, Perl, Python, JavaScript, Tcl

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• Mozilla Public License

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Notepad++

• Written in: C++

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

• GPL

• Native Ruby syntax highlight support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no

• RDE

• Written in: Delphi

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

• Ruby License

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Netbeans

• Written in: Java

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• The CDDL and GNU Public License v.2 w/Classpath Exception

• Native support Pre 7.0, Plugin support 7.0+

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Emacs

• Written in: C

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• GPL

• Ruby support through RSense

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Editra

• Written in: Python

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• wxWindows License

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Arcadia

• Written in: Ruby tcl/tk

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• Ruby License

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• FreeRIDE

• Written in: Ruby

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows, Linux

• Ruby License

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no

• Eric4

• Written in: Python

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• GPLv3

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: partial (autocompletes previously typed words)

Commercial

• TextMate

  • Written in: Objective C
  • Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX
  • €39, Free for Academic non-commercial use
  • Trial version: yes (30 days)
  • Native support through included TextMate bundle
  • Syntax highlighting: yes
  • Autocomplete: partial (snippets)

• RubyMine

  • Written in: Java
  • Supported Operating Systems: OS X, Windows, Linux
  • $149 for a commercial and $69 for a personal license, free for academic and FOSS use
  • Trial version: yes, 1 month
  • Ruby support integration type: Native
  • Syntax highlighting: yes
  • Autocomplete: yes (awesome)

• Sublime Text 2

• Written in: Python

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• $59

• Trial version: Download is fully functional, shows a nag screen occasionally

• Native support for Ruby

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• TextPad

• Written in: Unknown

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

• €16.50

• Trial version: yes, unrestricted for evaluation purposes

• Syntax support through syn file

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no

• InType

• Written in: C++

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

• Currently free, planned $25-$45 price tag

• Trial version: planned 30 day trial

• Native support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: partial (snippets)

• UltraEdit

• Written in: C++

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX, Windows, Linux

• $59.99 (Single Platform) $99.99 (Multi Platform)

• Trial version: yes, 30 day trial

• Native Ruby support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• BBEdit

• Written in: Objective C

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX

• $39.99

• Trial version: yes 30 day trial

• Native support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• Coda

• Written in: Objective C

• Supported Operating Systems: Mac OSX

• $99.99

• Trial version: yes 30 day trial

• Native support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: yes

• EditPadPro

• Written in: Unknown

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows

• $49.95

• Trial version: Nag screens, no spellcheck, no custom print headers

• Native support

• Syntax highlighting: yes

• Autocomplete: no