You will need a text editor to work with October CMS templates, blueprints, and configuration files. While any plain text editor will work, a modern code editor makes the experience much better with features like syntax highlighting, file browsing, and integrated terminal.

Recommended: VS Code

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, open-source editor that works on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It is the most popular choice for web development and has excellent support for the languages used in October CMS.

October Code Extension

Install the October Code extension to get:

• Twig syntax highlighting for October CMS templates
• Autocompletion for Twig tags, filters, and functions
• Blueprint YAML support
• Quick navigation between pages, layouts, and partials

Search for "October Code" in the VS Code extensions panel, or install it from the VS Code Marketplace.

Built-in Terminal

VS Code includes an integrated terminal (open it with Ctrl+`), so you can run commands without switching windows. This is especially handy during installation and development.

Other Options

If VS Code is not your style, these editors also work well:

• Sublime Text: Lightweight and fast. Available on all platforms.
• PhpStorm: A full-featured PHP IDE with deep Laravel support. Paid, but powerful.
• Cursor: An AI-enhanced code editor built on VS Code.

Next Steps

With a text editor ready, it is time to install October CMS.