Your Favourite Coding/modding Environment

[Terra_Inc]

Hello, fellow modders!

I have been doing a lot of ODF and TT work recently. Which, as many of you know, can be fun. But it is not fun at all when you don't feel comfortable while doing it. Everyone has a favourite editor or a special font he prefers for viewing and editing stuff. (This also applies to programmers - which I am too.)
So, I'm asking you to describe your favourite modding/coding environment.

Me, I prefer good old Notepad++ with a nice, clean monospace font.

 

[Adm_Z]

I actually use regular notepad. I can't get ++ to install on my Win 7 computer. I use a standard C++ editor for all the .h files such as the dynamic_localized_Strings file

And I use the regular font, but my favorite environment would be the unorganized world of FO code. Here is an example of an odf

Spoiler: My Flak Mode Mercury at rank 2

weapon1iconpos = 65	15
weapon2iconpos = 65	85
weapon3iconpos = 50	50
weapon4iconpos = 80	50
basename = "BSG_battlestar"
buildtime = 50
crewcost = 2500
dilithiumcost = 0
tritancost = 0
supplycost = 0
officercost = 0
xplevel = 2
nextrankxp = 100
worthxp = 100
originalclass = "BSG_battlestar"
nextrankclass = "BSG_battlestarMr2"
overlaysod = "BSG_glow"
maxhealth = 4000
curhealth = 4000
healthrate = 12
maxshields = 0
curshields = 0
shieldrate = 0.000
shieldgeneratorhitpoints = 0
engine****points = 1000
weapon****points = 1000
lifesupporthitpoints = 1000
sensor****points = 1000
maxspecialenergy = 2155
specialenergyrate = 25
unitname = "Mercury Class Battlestar"
tooltip = "Mercury Class Battlestar"
verbosetooltip = "AUTOTOOLTIP-dom_battle_cruiser_fed.odf"
race = "battlestar"
enginesrepairtime = 0.05
lifesupportrepairtime = 0.125
weaponsrepairtime = 0.01
shieldgeneratorrepairtime = 0.05
sensorsrepairtime = 0.05
engine****percent = 2
lifesupporthitpercent = 2
weapon****percent = 0
shieldgeneratorhitpercent = 0
sensor****percent = 0
crewhitpercent = 2
hullhitpercent = 94
lifesupportloss = 0.4
canshipyardrepair = 1
physicsfile = "BSG_physics_B.odf"
trekphysicsfile = "BSG_physics_B.odf"
fleetcapfile = "all_cap_battlestar.odf"
fireball = "x_large_explosion"
weapon1 = "BSG_flak"
weaponhardpoints1 = "hp04" "hp01" "hp05" "hp08" "hp44" "hp29" "hp43" "hp30" "hp46" "hp32" "hp51" "hp31" "hp15" "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20" "hp14" "hp11" "hp25" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28" "hp15" "hp18"
weapon2 = "BSG_flakA"
weaponhardpoints2 = "hp04" "hp01" "hp05" "hp08" "hp44" "hp29" "hp43" "hp30" "hp46" "hp32" "hp51" "hp31" "hp15" "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20" "hp14" "hp11" "hp25" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28" "hp15" "hp18"
weapon3 = "BSG_flak_cannon"
weaponhardpoints3 = "hp04" "hp01" "hp05" "hp08" "hp44" "hp29" "hp43" "hp30" "hp46" "hp32" "hp51" "hp31" "hp15" "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20" "hp14" "hp11" "hp25" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28" "hp15" "hp18"
weapon4 = "BSG_FTL_battlestar"
weaponhardpoints4 = "hp22"
weapon5 = "BSG_launch_mk7"
weaponhardpoints5 = "hp13"
weapon6 = "BSG_salvo_mode"
weaponhardpoints6 = "hp22"
enginesTargetHardpoints = "hp33" "hp34" "hp35" "hp36" "hp37" "hp38" "hp39" "hp40"
lifeSupportTargetHardpoints = "hp21" "hp22" "hp23" "hp24"
weaponsTargetHardpoints = "hp17" "hp20" "hp16" "hp19" "hp15" "hp18" "hp26" "hp28" "hp48" "hp52" "hp25" "hp01" "hp02" "hp03" "hp04" "hp05" "hp06" "hp07" "hp08" 
shieldGeneratorTargetHardpoints = "hp23"
sensorsTargetHardpoints = "hp54" "hp47" "hp50" "hp46" "hp51"
hullTargetHardpoints = "hp09" "hp12" "hp10" "hp13" "hp11" "hp14" "hp41" "hp54" "hp47" "hp50" "hp46" "hp51" "hp21" "hp22" "hp23" "hp24"
criticalTargetHardpoints = "hp54" "hp41" "hp44" "hp43" "hp42" "hp45"
shipclass = "construction"
shiptype = "N"
attackpower = 1
intrinsicvalue = 1
avoidanceclass = 8
combat = 1
can_sandd = 1
eventselect = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
eventacknowledge = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
eventattack = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
eventstop = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
eventmove = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
eventrepair = "federation_battleship1_acknowledge.wav"
classlabel = "craft"
ainame = "CraftProcess"
creditscost = 0
shielddelay = 2
damagedscan = 50.0
enginescrewloss = 10.0f
lifesupportcrewloss = 10.0f
weaponscrewloss = 10.0f
shieldgeneratorcrewloss = 10.0f
sensorscrewloss = 5.0f
engine****percent = 2
lifesupporthitpercent = 2
weapon****percent = 0
shieldgeneratorhitpercent = 0
sensor****percent = 0
crewhitpercent = 2
hullhitpercent = 94
ship = 1
has_hitpoints = 1
has_crew = 1
transporter = 0
alert = 1
show_sw_autonomy = 1
show_movement_autonomy = 1
can_explore = 1
extraweaponhardpoints = "root"
maxextraweapons = 10
rangescan = 1500
shieldhit = "shield_fed_hitM"
shieldhitcritical = "shield_fed_hitcritM"
shielddown = "shield_fed_down"
possiblecraftnames = "Battlestar Pegasus" "Battlestar Atlantia" "Battlestar Columbia" "Battlestar Rycon" "Battlestar Acropolis" 
"Battlestar Triton" "Battlestar Pacifica" "Battlestar Bellerephon"  "Battlestar Cerberus" "Battlestar Olympia" "Battlestar Valiant" "Battlestar Argo" 
ScaleSOD = 2

It is how all odfs in FO are. Though they can be useful sometimes, the editors notes make it look to cluttered, and it looks more like code when it isn't spaced out.

I definitely prefer this.

 

[ISS_Enterprise_D]

I also use Notepad myself; sometimes the basics are the best ways to go

As for the "modding/coding environment," I have to say I prefer the style that the Starbase 34 mod presented in their odfs. The stats of my Enterprise-D dreadnought are below as an example

Spoiler: Fan-Fic USS Enterprise-D stats

#include "fedbattle.odf"

unitName = "Galaxy Class"

tooltip = "USS Enterprise-D"
verboseTooltip = "The now retired flagship of the Federation, the USS Enterprise-D has become a legendary starship

under the command Captain Daniel Negron during the Dominion War. Refitted thouroughly until it has become an

essential dreadnought, whenever enemy ships detect the Enterprise on their sensors, brave yet foolish enemy

commanders turn their targeting scanners on them, while wiser commanders flee to fight another day"

race = "federation"
label = "USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D"
isHero = 1

buildTime = 75.0
officerCost = 10
crewCost = 1250
dilithiumCost = 200
metalCost = 400
latinumCost = 0
maxHealth = 11896
maxShields = 29697
shieldGeneratorHitPoints = 1256
engine****Points = 1648
weapon****Points = 2063
lifeSupportHitPoints = 1842
sensor****Points = 1197
shieldRate = 100.0
shieldProtection = 1.0
maxSpecialEnergy = 3600
specialEnergyRate = 2.574
weaponYellow = 1.5f
weaponRed = 2.0f

possibleCraftNames = "USS Enterprise-D"


// Type XIII Phaser
weapon1 = "fedphas13"
weaponHardpoints1 = "hp01" "hp02" "hp03" "hp04" "hp05" "hp06" "hp07" "hp08" "hp09" "hp10" "hp11" "hp12" "hp13"

"hp14" "hp15" "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20" "hp21" "hp22" "hp23" "hp24" "hp25" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28""hp29"

// Type XIII Phaser
weapon2 = "fedphas13"
weaponHardpoints2 = "hp01" "hp02" "hp03" "hp04" "hp05" "hp06" "hp07" "hp08" "hp09" "hp10" "hp11" "hp12" "hp13"

"hp14" "hp15" "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20" "hp21" "hp22" "hp23" "hp24" "hp25" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28""hp29"

// Quantum Torpedoes
weapon3 = "fedqtorpadv"
weaponHardpoints3 = "hp30" "hp31"

// Cloaking Device
weapon4 = "grcloak"
weaponHardpoints4 = "hp01"

// Deflector Beam
weapon5 = "fgalbeam"
weaponHardpoints5 = "hp32"

// Photon Torpedoes
weapon6 = "fedptorpadv"
weaponHardpoints6 = "hp30" "hp31"

// Photon Torpedoes
weapon7 = "fedptorpadv"
weaponHardpoints7 = "hp30" "hp31"

// Hardpoints to hit for various systems and other locations.
enginesTargetHardpoints = "hp06" "hp07" "hp08" "hp09" "hp10"
lifeSupportTargetHardpoints = "hp11" "hp12" "hp13" "hp14" "hp15"
weaponsTargetHardpoints = "hp01" "hp02" "hp03" "hp04" "hp05"
shieldGeneratorTargetHardpoints = "hp16" "hp17" "hp18" "hp19" "hp20"
sensorsTargetHardpoints = "hp21" "hp22" "hp23" "hp24" "hp25"
hullTargetHardpoints = "hp06" "hp08" "hp10" "hp12" "hp14" "hp16" "hp18" "hp20" "hp22" "hp26" "hp27" "hp28" "hp29"

"hp30" "hp19" "hp21" "hp23"
criticalTargetHardpoints = "hp07" "hp09" "hp11" "hp13" "hp17"

scaleSOD = 1.90

This did away with the little headliners that basically described each command for each line of code. Makes things much less of a hassle to find and edit

 

[Jetfreak]

I for one tend to work with pretty much anything as long as I know what I'm tinkering. I prefer the tried and tested notepad program, coupled with the traditional stock odf format.

I'm a purist.

 

[CABAL]

I prefer Notepad with the courier font. I also like to have a dark background and white text because it's easier on the eyes.

 

[Terra_Inc]

I prefer Notepad with the courier font. I also like to have a dark background and white text because it's easier on the eyes.

Yeah, most of the people I know from University also prefer dark backgrounds. Me, too. However, I don't use Courier or Courier New. They're not bad, but there are better coding fonts. I, for one, use MS's Consolas or the free Inconsolata (depending on the application). The difference between similar glyphs is much more visible, you can easily tell a 0 from an O, or the different brackets from each other. This is very important for coding, sometimes you work with very small text sizes <10pt.
Here's a nice article about choosing the right coding font: Top 10 Programming Fonts