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Language Server Protocol vs Custom Editor Extensions

Developers should learn LSP when building or integrating language-specific tooling, as it standardizes editor support for programming languages, reducing the need to write separate plugins for each IDE meets developers should learn and use custom editor extensions to optimize their development workflow by automating repetitive tasks, integrating with external services, or supporting niche technologies not natively included in the editor. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Language Server Protocol

Developers should learn LSP when building or integrating language-specific tooling, as it standardizes editor support for programming languages, reducing the need to write separate plugins for each IDE

Language Server Protocol

Nice Pick

Developers should learn LSP when building or integrating language-specific tooling, as it standardizes editor support for programming languages, reducing the need to write separate plugins for each IDE

Pros

  • +It's essential for creating cross-editor language extensions, improving developer productivity with features like IntelliSense, and is widely adopted in modern development tools like VS Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains IDEs
  • +Related to: visual-studio-code, intellisense

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Custom Editor Extensions

Developers should learn and use Custom Editor Extensions to optimize their development workflow by automating repetitive tasks, integrating with external services, or supporting niche technologies not natively included in the editor

Pros

  • +For example, extensions for linting, code formatting, or version control integration can significantly speed up coding and reduce errors
  • +Related to: visual-studio-code, intellij-idea

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Language Server Protocol if: You want it's essential for creating cross-editor language extensions, improving developer productivity with features like intellisense, and is widely adopted in modern development tools like vs code, visual studio, and jetbrains ides and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Custom Editor Extensions if: You prioritize for example, extensions for linting, code formatting, or version control integration can significantly speed up coding and reduce errors over what Language Server Protocol offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Language Server Protocol wins

Developers should learn LSP when building or integrating language-specific tooling, as it standardizes editor support for programming languages, reducing the need to write separate plugins for each IDE

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev