Brackets
A free, open-source code editor for HTML, CSS and JavaScript, built with those same languages.
- Stars
- 33k
- Forks
- 7.4k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Last update
- 4.4 years ago
- Type
- App
This repository is archived and no longer maintained.
What it is
Brackets is a desktop code editor for writing HTML, CSS and JavaScript. It is itself built with those web technologies and runs as an app on your computer so it can open local files. Its Quick Edit and Live Preview features aim to show related code inline and push edits to a browser view as you work. The project is archived and Adobe has ended support, so it is best understood as a historical or fork-based option.
- Edit a folder of HTML, CSS and JavaScript files with the Getting Started content or your own project
- Use Live Preview to see changes in your browser as you edit
- Use Quick Edit to view related CSS or code inline within an HTML file
- Install extensions from the Brackets Extension Registry to add functionality
Great for
- Beginners learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript who want a simple editor
- People who want to try the Live Preview workflow with a browser
- Developers who want to read or fork an open-source editor built with web technologies
- Contributors interested in hacking on a browser-based desktop app
Not ideal for
- Anyone wanting an actively maintained editor, since the README says Adobe ended support on September 1, 2021 and the repository was archived
- Teams that need current language or extension support, because the last push was 2022-06-12 and the README points users to Visual Studio Code instead
- Users who need to edit files in a plain browser tab, since the README says opening index.html directly in a browser does not work
How to get it
- 1
Download the app
Download the latest stable installer from the project site
git clone https://github.com/adobe/brackets - 2
Run it
- Download the installer for your operating system from brackets.io (the README lists Mac, Windows and Linux Debian/Ubuntu)
- Install and open Brackets
- Open a folder with File > Open Folder
- Open an HTML file and try Live Preview
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use Quick Edit to see related code inline instead of switching panels
- Use Live Preview to jump between source code and the browser view
- Browse the Brackets Extension Registry for added functionality
- Read the How to Use Brackets wiki page for information on unique features
Downloads
Strengths
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Quick Edit and Live Preview are built-in features aimed at web work
- Extensible through a community extension registry
Trade-offs
- Archived and no longer supported by Adobe, so there are no new fixes from the vendor
- The README directs users to migrate to Visual Studio Code
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| brackets (this) | 33k | App | beginner | 4.4 years ago | Beginners learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript who want a simple editor |
| atom | 60.7k | App | beginner | 3.8 years ago | Developers who want a desktop code editor they can customize with packages |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.