GoKawiilDeveloper prototypes a custom text editor after souring on Sublime Text and VS Code
Frustrated with the state of modern software, a developer decided to build their own text editor from scratch instead of relying on Sublime Text or VS Code's Monaco-based engine. Their first prototype rendered everything on an HTML canvas element, handling basic cursor movement, typing, and line highlighting, but lacked features like text selection, undo history, and scrolling. Realizing canvas rendering was inherently inaccessible, they pivoted to using a contenteditable div with plaintext-only mode as a more practical foundation.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project highlights a recurring tension in developer tooling: performance-focused custom rendering approaches like canvas often sacrifice accessibility and native browser features that users expect. It also reflects growing frustration among developers with bloated editor architectures, prompting some to experiment with building leaner alternatives from first principles.
- The developer built two prototypes: one using canvas rendering, another using contenteditable divs.
- Canvas rendering offered performance but lacked accessibility and built-in features like text selection and scrolling.
- Switching to a contenteditable element with plaintext-only mode offered a more practical path forward for a code editor.
Sublime Text (Personal License) — If you're deep enough in text-editor nerdery to consider building your own, a solid mechanical keyboard makes every keystroke of that experiment more enjoyable. Tactile switches and a sturdy frame are the natural companion to hand-rolled cursor animations and Vim bindings arguments.
See Sublime Text (Personal License) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: dbushell.com — David Bushell, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “Fine, I'll build my own text editor”
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