I'm looking for a good text editor that has a simple and quick scripting capability. I work a lot with text sometimes so I'll write some one off scripts sometimes to edit big files, but other files I'll use Sublime Text to do some manipulations. The problem is that it's API is somewhat restrictive, like if I want a custom input without going in the command prompt then I lose access to the region that I selected. I also have been using Visual Studio Code, but it looks to be a big effort to actually write a small plugin needing stuff like NPM and non-trivial config files. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.<p>For context I use Linux.
Emacs. The whole thing is a bunch of running scripts, and you can manipulate all of it almost an way that you like. Add your own, muck with the ones that are there, even screw with things that are actively running.
> I'm looking for a good text editor that has a simple and quick scripting capability.<p>Vim and Emacs have neither of these things. They both pose a long and difficult barrier to entry.<p>However it sounds like you aren't looking for simple and quick. If you are running into limitations on your current editor, then it's time to swallow the pill and dive into one of the behemoths.<p>I don't know of any text editor that is guaranteed to have less limitations than Sublime Text, but also has a "simple and quick scripting capability".<p>I would recommend Vim as it's main focus is as a text editor. Emacs tries to do everything, Vim just tries to edit text. Emacs also has a mode that enables Vim key bindings, so if you choose Emacs later, you won't have to start from scratch.<p>Lastly, Emacs uses a dialect of Lisp for customization. Vim has it's own made up language. So this may be a reason to choose Emacs over Vim.
Sed and Awk are the traditional old school tools for scripting edits of large text files. Perl is a more recent option. And there's nothing wrong with using Python or Ruby or whatever.<p>On the Emacs versus Vim, Emacs is fatter with features by design. Vim is designed to be lighter weight so it can ship on memory constrained systems by default. The Emacs community tends to have a more substantial interest in scripting and customization and one of its features is built in tooling for writing scripts, e.g. the eLisp REPL.<p>Good luck.
Can you explain what you mean with "scripting capability"?<p>I'm currently developing a native editor in JavaScript (using chromium) where it's very easy to write a "plug-in" in JavaScript.