Cloud9 – Get Coding Help From a Global Network

What happens when you can’t solve a coding problem on your own? You could throw up your hands and call it quits, or you could head over to Cloud9 and find out what other developers have to say. Cloud9 is a web-based platform for JavaScript development that gives professionals a way to edit code and communicate with up to 16 people at once, all in real-time.

To start working faster and smarter, sign up for a Cloud9 account or login directly through GitHub or BitBucket. Virtually anything is possible when you’re working within the Cloud9 platform. Run Python, MySQL, and Ruby apps, or connect to your FTP servers; Cloud9 was built to give developers a way to handle syntax highlighting, run and debug code, and manage keyboard shortcuts all from within the cloud. As you type in code, the platform will automatically offer suggestions, allowing you to get more accurate work done in less time. When you do run into a problem that Cloud9 can’t solve, it’s time to take advantage of the platform’s collaboration features. Cloud9 lets you chat and code together with up to 16 other developers in real-time, no matter where those developers are located around the world.

In addition to its basic group chatting features, Cloud9 also makes it possible for teams to pair program, review code, and teach newbies more about coding. More advanced developers can even get an audience involved for polling and questions. Although Cloud9 is primarily web-based, the application also includes a desktop platform that people can use to work on projects locally when they’re systems have gone offline.

Practical Uses:

• Work on code with colleagues
• Get advice on how to fix a bug in the code you’re working on
• Share coding ideas and information with students
• Collaborate with team members who work in remote offices

Insider Tips:

• Cloud9 is built primarily for Node.js and Javascript developers
• Users can search and replace code across multiple project files
• New users can login with their GitHub or BitBucket accounts
• Cloud9 integrates with JSBeautify and CSSLint

What we liked:

• The platform displays error warnings when people mistype code
• Cloud9 can auto-complete coding keywords and methods
• Users can see a list of all their active files
• Projects can be made public or private

What we didn’t like:

• Nothing

Alternatives:

• collabedit – http://collabedit.com
• JS Bin – http://jsbin.com

Company Info:

• Launched: 2012
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, and Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Founded by: Ruben Daniëls and Rik Arends
• Web site: https://c9.io

Costs:

• Standard plan is free
• Premium plan is $12/month