The software world is growing every day. With the inclusion of artificial intelligence in our lives, many people have started to focus on software development, aiming to improve themselves and explore different opportunities. To make this process more enjoyable and straightforward, many development companies have begun creating playgrounds in various languages. We’ve compiled a list of 6 standout JavaScript development environments in 2024, featuring a range of features and available in both free and paid plans.
CodeSandbox is a cloud-based development environment known for its versatility. In addition to JavaScript, the platform supports various frontend technologies such as React, Vue.js, and Angular. One of CodeSandbox’s standout features is its collaborative coding experience, allowing teams to seamlessly work together on projects. Thanks to its flexibility and ease of use, CodeSandbox is an ideal choice for both beginners and experienced developers. Alongside a free plan suitable for beginners, there is a paid plan for $8 per month, offering various features for experienced developers.
CodePen has become increasingly popular among developers over time. Its ease of use and instant results make it a preferred choice for many.
Within CodePen, developers can create HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code in real-time. Additionally, there is a live preview pane that allows them to visualize the output instantly. This real-time feedback can be handy when fine-tuning code or experimenting with new JavaScript techniques.
CodePen supports team collaboration, making it a valuable tool for teams working on web projects. You can work with various web technologies, not just JavaScript. CodePen offers a free plan with basic features, while CodePen Pro offers paid plans ranging from $8 to $26 per month for additional functionalities like project privacy and a professional mode.
If you’re looking for a quick and simple environment to create and test JavaScript, HTML, and CSS snippets, JSFiddle is for you.
What sets JSFiddle apart from others is its extensive list of JavaScript libraries and frameworks that can easily be included in your projects. This feature makes JSFiddle a preferred option for rapid prototyping and sharing code snippets with others.
The platform is structured around individual code projects called “fiddles.” While the basic version is free, JSFiddle also offers a paid plan for $8 per month with features like private fiddles, real-time collaboration, and a distraction-free editor for those needing more advanced functionality.
Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) Web Docs provides a comprehensive resource for web developers, including an interactive JavaScript development environment. It’s worth noting that the platform is entirely free. With its wealth of high-quality documentation and an active user community, MDN Web Docs is an ideal platform for learning JavaScript and utilizing many of its features. The playground is part of the extensive documentation on JavaScript, and it also offers live code editors that allow developers to experiment with code examples directly from the documentation.
Plunker is a completely free, simple yet effective JavaScript development environment primarily focused on web development. Also it allows developers to create and share web pages containing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, offering real-time previews and team collaboration features. It’s a suitable platform for both learning and building small-scale web applications.
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a widely used, free, open-source code editor within the developer community. Although VS Code is known as a code editor, it can be transformed into a JavaScript playground with the Code Runner extension. With this extension, developers can run JavaScript code directly within VS Code and see the results instantly. This feature makes VS Code a convenient option for developers to quickly experiment without needing to open a separate development environment. VS Code is available for free and also features a marketplace with over 50,000 extensions.
