by Martin-Lorentzon·Workflow
Images © Martin-Lorentzon. Used for product review; image policy.
The developer is clear this isn't a full IDE and still recommends VSCode for serious add-on work. It earns its place for making Blender's built-in text editor more usable when getting started with add-on development.
Text editor for Development is a Blender add-on by Martin-Lorentzon that enhances Blender's built-in text editor for add-on development. It adds a VSCode-style folder-view explorer to the text editor's sidebar, and can clone learning material and a multi-file add-on template to a local directory.
The developer is upfront that this isn't a complete IDE and still recommends a program such as VSCode for serious add-on development. The extension exists to improve the usability of Blender's text editor, especially when starting out, where working inside Blender may be more feasible. Preferences let you set the Explorer's sidebar category, default file and folder names, whether hidden items appear, and whether texts are unlinked from the blend-file once deleted.
Cloning remote content requires Git added to your PATH, which can be handled during Git's installation. The add-on requests file permission for folder browsing and network permission to download Git and clone remote repositories. It's compatible with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, and version 1.0.7 added Blender 5 compatibility along with an updated New Add-on template.
Text editor for Development is best for blender users improving the usability of the built-in text editor while starting out with add-on development.
Text editor for Development is completely free to download and use.
Text editor for Development lists compatibility with Blender 4.2 LTS and newer, and the developer notes it was tested using the Blender 5.1 beta. Version 1.0.7 added Blender 5 compatibility. If you run into backward-compatibility issues on a particular Blender build, the developer asks users to report them through the project's GitHub issues page. Checking the developer's page for the latest version details is the safest way to confirm the add-on runs on your specific Blender installation before you rely on it.
Text editor for Development requires Git to be added to your PATH, which lets the add-on clone remote content and repositories. This can be set up during the installation of Git itself. The add-on requests network permission to prompt you to download or install Git and to clone remote Git repositories for add-on templates. Without Git available, the cloning features for learning material and add-on templates would not be able to fetch remote content. The developer's page covers the setup details.
Text editor for Development is listed as free here in the catalog, and it is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. For current licensing terms and any changes, the developer's GitHub page is the place to check. The add-on is available through Blender's extensions system, where you can drag and drop it into Blender or download it and install from disk. Reviewing the license alongside the developer's page will give you the full picture before using it in your own projects.
Text editor for Development places its tools inside Blender's text editor. The Explorer opens from Text Editor → Sidebar → Explorer, giving a VSCode-style folder view. Learning material is reached through Text Editor → Templates → Learning Material, and new add-on templates through Text Editor → Templates → New Add-on. In preferences you can set the Explorer's sidebar category, default file and folder names, whether hidden items show, and whether texts are unlinked from the blend-file when deleted.
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