Altova XMLSpy vs. Brackets

Altova XMLSpy is an excellent tool for creating/designing new XML schemas (XSDs) using a visual layout tool and helps developers and architects work with XML and JSON documents, understand and validate and diagnose issues with XML and JSON documents. It is not well suited for working with other data formats, such as YAML or CSV.

Incentivized

Brackets can handle most text editing problems, at least if you have a file small enough that it opens. But with so many free and open-source editors out there, it is easy to have multiple tools that fit specific niches. If you are editing HTML and CSS, get Brackets.

Incentivized

• XML schema (XSD) design and maintenance
• XML document validation
• XML and JSON document reformatting and pretty-printing

Incentivized

• The Live Preview feature is extremely helpful. You can make tweaks to your CSS and then see how it affects the pge you're coding.
• The recently added file tree feature is really a time saver. You can move files with a drop and drag feature without ever minimizing the program.
• One of my favorite features is the ability to update the core program with extensions. Some of the extensions are simple, like adding themes, while others are a offer a little more assistance like creating Lorem Ipsum text for you.

Incentivized

• Application performance could be improved, especially initial load speed
• Better support for large document handling (documents hundreds or thousands of megabytes in size)
• Remove all nagging popups to upgrade

Incentivized

• Can be a little slow to open and render larger files at times relative to a similar application running on the same computer.
• Some plugins have performance or quality issues (not the fault of Brackets per se, but with the ecosystem of extensions).
• Color schemes, styling ease of use could be improved. For example, provide out-of-the-box schemes like "high-contrast, night-time, bold."

Incentivized

As far as usability, text editors are about as simple as you can get in the GUI world. The little features that make Brackets unique are intuitive enough that you don't really need a manual to find them and come to rely on them. If anybody knows enough about coding and markup enough to be looking for different editors, they will be up to speed before the download finishes.

Incentivized

Brackets has a very extensive support site. Everything is organized nicely for easy navigation. If you can't find an answer you can easily file an issue with them and they will be quick to respond. What's cool is you can also message them on Slack, if you request an invite first. Slack is a very popular program right now so it's great having that integration.

Incentivized

XMLSpy does not have many capable competitors, it is the market leader and other alternatives do not provide the tools we rely on.

Incentivized

Brackets can be considered as the barebones version of a more complex piece of software like Dreamweaver. We selected Brackets due to the simplicity of the UI and the ease of use. In our case we do not need all the additional tools and gadgets that other, more complex software packages offer. We need something that's quick, easy, uncluttered and focuses specifically on our needs, which are seeing code and editing code. In this case no frills and complex UIs are required.

Incentivized

• XMLSpy has made us much more efficient when designing new integrations

Incentivized

• ROI is great. The version of the tool we are using is free so not a whole of lot “investment” went into it. And the work we can accomplish with it more than makes up for the “cost.”
• The ease of use makes it simple for anyone new to the tool to start using it and contributing to the project.

Incentivized