Text editor for programmers. The best text editors for your computer

A text editor is used for editing text files. Text editors are different from word processors such as Microsoft Word or WordPerfect, in that they do not add to documents Additional information about formatting. You could write an article in Word, since it contains tools for changing fonts, margins, and layout, but it defaults to inserting formatting and markup information directly into the file, which will confuse the compiler. If you open a .doc file in a text editor, you will see that most of the file is formatting codes. Text editors, however, do not add formatting codes, which makes the code easier to compile.

Why should I use a text editor?

Word processors have a different set of features than a traditional word processing program. For example, most won't let you insert photos or tables, or set double line spacing. Features of text editors vary, but there are a few features that most editors have. Below are some of the most common and useful features.

Syntax highlighting

Syntax highlighting is a very useful feature. It consists in the fact that the editor will highlight certain words, or types, or syntax that are characteristic of the language. For example, if you have C++ highlighting enabled, the editor can do everything keywords C++ green. This makes it much easier to follow the flow of your program. Here's another example: the editor might display all quoted text in light blue. This way, if you forgot to put opening or closing quotes, you'll quickly realize it because of the color of the text on the screen. A text editor can also point out the incorrect use of square or parenthesis, highlighting them in red; if you have a closing parenthesis but no opening one, the color will tell you that you've made a syntax error somewhere.

Flexibility

How does the editor know which words to highlight? Good question. The editor knows what language you are programming in. Either you can specify the language yourself, or it can, like Vim, determine this by the file extension. If you're working with a file named code.cc , it will see .cc and know to use the C++ rules, but if you're working with one of code.html , it will apply HTML rules. Some editors know hundreds of languages, ranging from the trivial (C, Java, Perl) to the truly complex (TADS, ABAQUS). This means you can use the same editor to program in almost any language and still get the same features and command set you're used to.

Automatic indentation

Automatic indentation is perhaps the most useful feature text editor. You'd rather be dealing with code that looks like this:

// search for the minimum element in the matrix const int search_min(int **const array, const int kol_tasks,const int type_model) ( int min; for (int i = 0; i< kol_tasks; i++) { for (int j = 0; j < type_model; j++) { if (array[i][j] != -1) { min = array[i][j]; i = kol_tasks; j = type_model; } } } for (int i = 0; i < kol_tasks; i++) { for (int j = 0; j < type_model; j++) { if (array[i][j] < min && array[i][j] != -1) { min = array[i][j]; } } } return min; }

or code that looks like this?:

// search for the minimum element in the matrix
const int search_min(int **const array, const int kol_tasks,const int type_model)
{
int min;
for (int i = 0; i< kol_tasks; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j< type_model; j++)
{
if (array[i][j] != -1)
{
min = array[i][j];
i = kol_tasks;
j = type_model;
}
}
}
for (int i = 0; i< kol_tasks; i++)
{
for (int j = 0; j< type_model; j++)
{
if (array[i][j]< min && array[i][j] != -1)
{
min = array[i][j];
}
}
}
return min;
}

I thought so. The text editor will save you from having to set all the tabs yourself; it will add them automatically. This allows you to follow control flow through indentation, so you can make sure you're in the desired block code.

Quick navigation features

Unless your program is trivial, you'll want to be able to quickly find specific functions, instances of certain variables, or individual lines within it. Text editors usually have more features than word processors. For example, let's say while compiling a program you find that you have syntax errors on line 312. In Vim, all you have to do is type 312G and the cursor will move to line 312. (How does Vim know you don't want to type 312G characters in the document? More on that in the link at the end of the article).

Which text editor should I use? What is the difference between them? How can I get it? How much do they cost?

There are many, many different editors, among which Vim and Emacs are the most popular, powerful and available on different OSes. Another popular editor, Notepad++ is a much improved Notepad version. Most editors (Vim and Emacs included) are free, but some are shareware. I use Vim, but every editor has its fans. For a list of some of the best editors available for your platform, check out the Text Editors FAQ. (It's aimed at average users, but all of the editors listed are very good for writing C++ code.)

At mythemeshop.com.

To write optimized and error-free code, a programmer needs to choose the right tool for himself. A good text editor improves your productivity and also helps you avoid some of the most common programming mistakes.

Only a developer knows what it's like to miss a semicolon in a thousand lines of code and it causes the program to fail. Effective text editors are able to notify the programmer about such syntax errors directly when writing code.

We have already published on our website and received a lot of feedback from readers. Therefore, it was decided to continue the topic of text editors for programmers, this time for Windows and MacOS.

So, we present the first seven best code editors for Windows and Mac. ().

This is a developer platform from Microsoft. This tool, however, is open source and can be used on different platforms(Windows, Mac OS X and Linux). main feature of this code editor is that it provides an enriched programming experience for developers without having to download a massive file Visual Studio editions (weighing approximately 3GB). This saves both time and throughput. Thus, the application is very lightweight and does not consume much random access memory and promotes quick access and implementation.

Advantages:

Supports more than 30 programming languages, including the main Microsoft language ASP.NET, C#, etc.

  1. The program installs very quickly due to its compact size.
  2. Eat portable version for downloading on supported devices.
  3. Allows monitoring of GitHub and offers debugging features.

Flaws:

  1. Updating a program on Linux takes a very long time.
  2. Needs immediate improvement in extension support.

Price: The program is distributed free of charge.

Bottom line: Visual Studio Code takes up very little disk space. Good for languages ​​such as ASP.Net and C#. Because this lightweight application, you can access controls smoothly without any glitches and optimize your coding speed.

This is an improved and more functional brother of the text one. Notepad editor, which can be found on Windows OS. There is a significant difference in the interface between them, which you will notice immediately after you start working with .

This application supports various languages programming, but is mainly known as best HTML editor. The program allows you to choose colors for syntax highlighting and highlights errors in the code as you type it.

Advantages:

  1. Although the program was created for Windows, it can be run on Linux, Unix, Mac OS X (for the latter, using Wine).
  2. The application is lightweight and launches quickly.
  3. Supports external plugins, including macros.
  4. The interface supports editing in different tabs.
  5. Adding bookmarks.
  6. Drag and drop option for beginners.
  7. Option to search and replace text.
  8. Full screen mode.
  9. Minimize to tray.
  10. Thoughtful syntax highlighting.
  11. Automatic indentation and autocompletion.
  12. Folding code and text.
  13. Compiler integration.
  14. FTP support.
  15. Spell checking with file comparison.

Flaws:

  1. Remote file editing does not support HTTP, SSH or WebDav.
  2. Does not support large files.
  3. Startup required third party programs(wine) to run the application on Mac OS X.

Price: the program is free.

Result: It is one of the best text editors for writing code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript and PHP). Many modern code editors do not provide the facility of code highlighting in case of any error, but Notepad++ supports this feature and helps you write error-free code.

jEdit

And this is an editor for experienced programmers. Jedit is an open source platform source code, developed using Java language. This language is one of the most secure. The bytecode functionality in Java makes it difficult to decipher and decode. The application supports hundreds of plugins and macros.

Advantages:

  1. Automatic indentations.
  2. Folding code and text.
  3. This is the most powerful engine for executing regular expressions.
  4. Spell checking, FTP support, the ability to integrate the compiler using a third-party plugin.
  5. Ability to run multiple instances of the program simultaneously.
  6. Integrated FTP browser.

Flaws:

  1. Being written in Java, the application is heavy and therefore takes time to load.
  2. No collaborative editing.
  3. There may be bugs on Mac.
  4. No support for large files.
  5. No SSH support for editing remote files.

Price: free program.

Result: if you need a well-functioning and secure platform, jEdit – right choice for you. This java-based code editor sometimes takes a while to load, but you won't be disappointed with its features and functionality. Enjoy this free text editor for a clean, safe and streamlined programming session.

It is a text editor that will enrich your coding and programming experience on Windows computers. Although most programs available for Windows also work on Mac platforms and Linux, Araneae is one of the few exceptions that only runs on Windows. This tool includes numerous extensions and localizations, providing support for multiple languages ​​(HTML, CSS, XHTML, PHP and Rails) without downloading third-party extensions.

Advantages:

  1. Syntax highlighting.
  2. Drag and drop option for faster development.
  3. Find and replace for multiple edits.
  4. Support for running multiple instances like jEdit.

Flaws:

  1. There is no support for third-party plugins and macros.

Price: free program.

Result: Araneae, running only on Windows, offers more fast updates and bug fixes. Can be successfully used as a PHP editor.

Coda

Coda is a text editor supported by Mac. Designed for brilliant programmers who love the combination of speed and optimization in one editor. Coda supports OS X 10.7.5 and above later versions Mac. It is one of the very few text editors created exclusively for Mac systems.

This program has changed significantly since its original release in 2007, evolving from a simple text editor into an application for preview. Coda has it all necessary functions, which you may need to write code, including syntax, viewing and loading your web pages. Transmit Turbo Engine supports fast loading from remote locations.

Advantages:

  1. Compactly integrated core functions.
  2. Leopard GUI
  3. Code completion.
  4. Editing blocks and syntax coloring.
  5. Drag and drop option.
  6. Terminal window support for MySQL queries.

Flaws:

  1. Best suited for coding in HTML and CSS.
  2. Only supported for Mac based systems.
  3. Support network drives often leads to crashes.
  4. Expensive compared to other code editors.

Price: 7-day trial/$99 for full version.

Result: Coda - best alternative expensive programs for web design. Brings together all the tools you need to develop a website from scratch. Coda is the best text editor for Mac in terms of price and features. The app also supports update notifications.

TextMate

TextMate is another text editor for Mac. For the most part, this editor is preferred for Ruby and Ruby on Rails programming. It is also a well-established editor for developers programming in Mac system. The application is perfect for development on modern languages programming.

Advantages:

  1. Search and replace.
  2. Automatic indentations.
  3. Clipboard history.
  4. Selecting columns and typing text in columns.
  5. Autocompletion.
  6. Support for collapsing code blocks.
  7. Perforce, Darcs, SVK and Subversion support.
  8. Supports more than 50 programming languages.
  9. Syntax highlighting and colorization.
  10. Xcode support.
  11. FTP support.

Flaws:

  1. The outdated UI is the biggest drawback of this highly optimized text editor for Mac.
  2. No full screen mode.
  3. Available for Mac OSX only.

Price: Free program.

Result: Without a doubt, if you are looking for a free text editor for Mac, then TextMate will best choice. For Windows free There are a lot of text editors, but very few for Mac, and TextMate is one of them.

Another iOS-based program is . This is one of a small number software platforms, which only supports one language, for example English. But that doesn't mean TextWrangler is just another standard application. This editor is simple but quite powerful. This is one of the best tools for Unix and server administration.

Advantages:

  1. Supports 44 languages, including HTML, JavaScript, Perl, Python, VBScript and SQL.
  2. Very few code editors support working with large files, and TextWrangler is one of them.
  3. Support for plugins and macros.
  4. Secure FTP for easy data transfer.
  5. SSH support for remote file editing.
  6. Simultaneous comparison of two documents.
  7. Syntax highlighting.
  8. Folding text and code.
  9. Autocompletion.
  10. Spell check.

Flaws:

  1. Does not support collaborative editing.
  2. No HTTP or WebDav support.
  3. No compatibility with Power Macintosh G4.

Price: free software.

Result: The application is free, but you can upgrade to a more advanced version of the application, such as BBEdit, for $49. This is a great HTML editor for Mac with big amount useful functionality.

Programmers spend a lot of time writing and debugging code. Enough to write working code simple application, which can edit the text content of a file. But writing code this way is difficult, time-consuming, and many errors are made during the development process, which are difficult to find later.

Modern editors help correct these shortcomings. In this article, we'll look at how editors help speed up the development process and improve code quality. We’ll also look at each editor separately and find out how they differ and what advantages each of them has.

There are both paid editors, and free. Today the most popular of them are:

Speed ​​up the development process

Most modern editors have a number of features necessary for a developer:

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Highlighting structures of the same type in a separate color helps to quickly visually find the desired section of code. This makes the code more readable and understandable for the developer.

When writing code, you don’t want to break out the required nesting after a line break. Fortunately, this process is often automated. When you break a line, the program will automatically set the nesting level.

A file in which nesting is set correctly is easy to read, and this also gives the program the ability to hide blocks of code. For example, in order to better see the boundaries of a site and not accidentally touch neighboring ones, you can conveniently group code blocks and leave only the one you need visible.


During development, you often have to search background information. Thanks to the built-in auto-completion feature, you don’t have to waste time on this. The program analyzes the written code on the fly and offers options for continuation.

You can also quickly get reference information on the desired construction, find out about the number of arguments that the function takes, and much more.


Work area The editor can be divided into two or more sectors. For example, this way you can separate the markup and styles file so as not to waste time switching between them.


Minimap

For easy navigation in the document, you can use a minimap. It is usually located in the right column and displays the file structure. When you click on the minimap, the desired part of the document will be displayed.

Appearance

For those who like to customize the tool for themselves, there are many adjustments in the settings: you can change the font size, color schemes, text wrapping rules and much more. This will help make the development process even more comfortable.

Projects

In order not to search for the location in the system every time working folder, you can save this information in the editor by creating a project. This is convenient during operation because it allows you to quickly switch between them.

For different editors, highlighting projects gives additional features. For example, if you create a project in WebStorm, the program reads the entire contents of the project directory. After analysis, the editor will provide hints, such as a link to a non-existent file.


Projects in the editor.

Such analysis makes it possible to safely refactor code, delete files, etc.

Application integration

In addition to performing the main function - providing a comfortable environment for writing code - editors can include functionality third party applications. This turns a simple program into an integrated development environment. The basic version for different editors includes different quantities such applications.

You can enrich the functionality by adding plugins. Let's look at some of these possibilities.

Version control system

Editor Extensions

There are many packages written for Sublime Text 3 that make working in the editor more comfortable. Next, we will look at a number of such extensions and see how to install them in the program.

In order to add a package, you need to open the interface for entering commands. This can be done through the menu item Tools → Command Palette or by entering hot keys command keys(control) + shift + p . After this, in the interface to enter commands you need to select Package Control: Install Package

After this, the program will show a list of packages. Here you can select and install required package. Look detailed description Each extension for Sublime Text 3 is available on the Package Control website.


Conditionally, packages can be divided into several types.

Accelerating development:

  • Emmet
  • BracketHighlighter. Additionally, it adds highlighting to the borders of brackets, elements, and other things. Helps you better navigate the code.
  • SideBarEnchacements. Increases the number of actions you can do in the sidebar when working with files and folders.
  • Sublime​Code​Intel . Makes the editor “smarter”. Adds autocompletion for different languages and other useful features.
  • Git and GitGutter. Add integration with the Git version control system to the editor.
  • EditorConfig

Syntax checkers:

First you need to install the SublimeLinter package for the editor. You must also have Node.js installed on your computer. After this, you need to install the plugins of interest for testing. Most of them are called SublimeLinter-necessary package. For example:

  • SublimeLinter-eslint. Checks JavaScript code. To work, you need to install the eslint npm package globally. More details in the instructions at the link.
  • SublimeLinter-stylelint. Checks CSS. To work, you need to globally install npm packages: postcss and stylelint.
  • Changing appearance:

    Atom

    Product produced by the GitHub Inc. team. Pleasant to look at, cross-platform free editor. Has built-in integration with Git and GitHub.

    You can download it from the official website.

    Editor Extensions

    In order to install a package in Atom, you need to go to the editor settings and select Install. After this, you need to enter the name of the extension you are interested in in the input field.


    Conventionally, plugins can be divided into several types.

    Accelerating development:

    • Emmet. A plugin that speeds up writing markup and styles.

    Adding functionality:

    • Minimap. Adds minimap support to Atom.
    • PlatformIO IDE Terminal. Embeds a terminal in the editor.
    • Atom-Beautify. Formats the text according to the specified settings and brings it to uniformity.
    • editorconfig. Useful package for configuring editor parameters.

    Syntax checkers:

    In order for the editor to highlight detected errors, you need to install the Linter plugin. After this, you need to select a plugin that adds verification for specific language. For example:

    • linter-eslint. Checks JavaScript code.
    • linter-stylelint. Checks CSS.

    Changing appearance:

    • File Icons - replaces standard icons files.
    • Custom themes for Atom on the official website.

    Visual Studio Code

    Free cross-platform editor Microsoft. Is one of the most popular editors on this moment. You can download it.

    IN basic version There is integration with Git and a code debugging mode. Supports, including through add-ons, a large number of languages.

    Editor Extensions

    VS Code in its basic version contains a large number of plugins. For example, the console, emmet and mini-map are present in it from the very beginning. You can add new packages through the program interface. To do this, in the active menu tab, select the extensions item and enter the plugin of interest in the input field. After this you can install it.


    You can view the list of popular plugins through the editor interface, or on the official website. Let's look at a number of useful plugins that can help with development. Conventionally, they can be divided into several types. - checks JavaScript code according to the specified parameters.here. Each product is responsible for a specific area. WebStorm, for example, is more suitable for front-end development, and PHPStorm is more suitable for writing server-side code in PHP.

    Editor Extensions

    Out of the box, the editor supports most of the features discussed in this article. However, if necessary, you can enrich the functionality of the program by adding extensions.

    This can be done through Settings → Plugins. This menu will display all the plugins that are installed in the program.


    You can install new ones through the Install Jetbrains plugin item. Some interesting ones include:

    Conclusion

    All the editors we reviewed have their own features and advantages. When choosing a program, you should start from the task.

    If the speed of the editor is important for your work, then Sublime Text is the best choice. It is lightweight and uses little computer resources.

    If convenience is a priority or you are completely new to development, then Atom is a good fit. It has a nice interface and well-developed integration with Git and GitHub services.

    For experienced developers, WebStorm is an excellent solution. The program requires minimum settings for comfortable development and has rich functionality.

    VS Code appears to be some kind of middle ground. On the one hand, it has a lot of features out of the box, on the other hand, it is intuitive and easy to customize. At the same time, the program works quite quickly.

    Since during development you have to spend a lot of time in the editor, it’s worth studying its features well, understanding what it can do and how it can help solve typical problems.

    With experience comes an understanding of what your working tool should be. Modern programs have a wide range of features and continue to develop. Explore them and don't be afraid to try new things.

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    Almost every programmer feels the need to find the best development tools. These could be editors, libraries for task management, frameworks for simplifying work on projects, etc.

    Tools make work easier and at the same time increase productivity.

    Of all the tools developers ever use, the hardest one to choose is a text editor. Livecoding.tv streamers use the most different editors, and almost everyone fiercely defends their choice.

    Not to mention that there are separate communities for each popular editor. In the end, everyone has their own preferences, their own arguments for and against.

    The editor plays a fundamental role in any developer workspace. The code is written, debugged and executed using a text editor.

    Choosing the perfect editor for your work can be challenging task which includes: testing, personal preferences and the final decision. Before you make your choice, we'll take you on a tour through the best editors 2016 of the year.

    We will discuss 6 editors in detail, and you can find other lesser known editors at the end of the article.

    SUBLIME TEXT EDITOR

    Sublime Text editor is one of the best text editors today. This great alternative A powerful IDE, it's lightweight and does its job with great efficiency and accuracy.

    Sublime Text has tons of features that will make you feel the power at your fingertips. But, like any tool, it is not perfect. Let's look at the pros and cons of using Sublime Text editor.

    Advantages:

    • Nice, easy, minimalistic interface.
    • Very flexible to configure. Multiple selection.
    • The ability to create any snippets and insert them using either hotkeys or letter abbreviations(Zen Coding style).
    • The ability to assign hotkeys to absolutely any action.
    • In snippets, you can set where the cursor will be when inserted, set placeholders and switch to the desired sections of the snippet with Tab.
    • Availability of a code minimap for easy navigation.
    • Display capability hidden characters(spaces, tabs) only when highlighting code.
    • There are many plugins available and an ever-growing community of users who write them to suit any need.

    Flaws:

    • Sublime text paid. Considering that there are many good free editors on the market, everyone can choose an alternative.
    • Not updated as often as before.
    • Loading time is higher compared to Notepad++.
    • The quality of the plugins remains questionable.

    Overall, Sublime text is a great editor to work with. You can use it for free with infinite trial period. If you don't like pop-ups, you can purchase the editor for $70. It works on all major operating systems – Windows, Linux and Mac OSX.

    Vim has stood the test of time and is one of the oldest editors in history.

    Vim is very popular among developers and other computer enthusiasts who are obsessed with fully customizable editors.

    Vim is famous for two reasons. Firstly, it can work using only the keyboard, without a mouse.

    Secondly, it is present in almost all Unix machines. Thus, portability and ubiquity is key feature Vim.

    Advantages:

    • Can be fully controlled using the keyboard
    • Can be used in a remote development environment using SSH.
    • Vim can be customized to your heart's content using .vimrc dotfile and VimScript.
    • Tons of plugins to support Vim, expanding its functionality.
    • Increases productivity and copes well with large files.

    Flaws:

    • Vim for advanced users. It's not easy to learn, and it takes a long time before you master it, but once you get the hang of it, it gives you power like no other editor.

    Also read how to create a Vim Dotfile.

    Atom

    Atom was introduced a year ago and is known as a modern, highly customizable, open source editor. Despite the use of browser technologies, Atom is not a web application, but in fact, is a specialized version of Chromium, in which each tab acts as a locally processed web page.

    Advantages:

    • Atom is an open source editor that is free to use.
    • Cross-platform OS X, Windows and Linux;
    • Smart autocompletion;
    • File Browser;
    • Search and replace across many files.
    • Easy to use even for a beginner.

    Flaws:

    • Cannot handle large files and tends to crash when downloading files larger than 10MB.
    • Uses a lot of memory.

    If you're looking for a free, open source editor, Atom is perfect for you. It is highly mobile and available on all three major OSes. However, use Atom in major projects undesirable.

    Visual Studio Code

    Visual Studio Code is a product from Microsoft that aims to allow developers to code without downloading the massive Visual Studio (3GB+). Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, open source editor that works equally well on Windows, OS X and Linux. Key features of Visual Studio code include support for more than 30+ languages, automatic filling, convenient navigation etc. It also includes Git and debugging tools to make development easier.

    Advantages:

    Flaws:

    • Extension support needs improvement.
    • Updating on Linux can be a daunting task.

    Visual Studio Code is excellent choice for developers who don't want to download and use cumbersome IDEs. It's small, cute, and most importantly, it does its job!

    Notepad++

    Notepad++ is another open source editor. Overall, it resembles a vanilla notepad that supports tons of programming languages. The most big advantage What Notepad++ has over the other text editors listed here is the fact that it can handle large files without any major lags or glitches. It is very fast and light. In addition, its functionality can be expanded using hundreds of available plugins.

    Advantages:

    • Support for a large number of encodings.
    • Syntax highlighting.
    • Parallel document editing.
    • Comparison of documents.
    • Search and autocorrect using regular expressions.
    • Working with files on an FTP server.
    • Auto-completion.
    • Extensible with plugins.

    Flaws:

    • Not the best user interface.
    • Too simple.

    Notepad ++ is perfect for those who are satisfied with a simple interface and set of functions. It will help you quickly and easily create new products.

    Brackets

    Our last text editor that we will discuss in detail is the open source editor “Brackets”. Brackets is not universal editor, he is focused on front-end development and supports a large number of front-end technologies.

    Advantages:

    • It's lightweight, modern, and has a great user interface.
    • Preview capability, preprocessor support and built-in editors. Light Table

    The editor is an indispensable tool in the arsenal of any developer. I hope after reading the article you will make your choice.

    If you think there is a missing editor in the article that needs attention, please let us know by leaving a comment.

    Disclaimer

    I am young enough and inexperienced in the IT field to make any super-arguments, so everything listed below will be my personal subjective thoughts and reasoning. If someone disagrees with me, I will be only happy to support the discussion and discuss all this in the comments.


    Now I work on Windows, in the future I may switch to Mac OS, so when choosing a text editor/IDE, I immediately emphasized cross-platform. I considered a little more options than I will list here, because I decided to highlight only the ones that caught my eye. I will try to briefly describe the view on different sides listed software products.

    Standard tasks

    Under standard tasks I mean banal layout tasks, i.e. HTML, CSS, maybe JavaScript. I will not emphasize those things that are everywhere, for example: changing color themes, project folder control system, etc.

    An excellent editor for ASP.NET and node.js applications. The famous IntelliSense, the ability to work with classes and objects by reference. Everything is in Microsoft style. There is a built-in debugger. I want it too emphasize what in my opinion is excellent replacement MonoDevelop for .NET developers outside of Windows (here, that is, Visual Studio).

    The editor is still under development, but work is progressing quite quickly, considering that it is Microsoft.

    Bottom line


    Summarizing the above, I made my choice. You don’t have to settle on the same criteria as me. I will be happy to discuss everything in the comments to the article.

    Thank you for your attention!