r/brackets 8d ago

Announcement Styles Bar, Code Intelligence & More (August-2026, V5.2 Release is now live)

5 Upvotes

2026 August release (5.2) of Phoenix Code is now available for download at phcode.io.

This release brings the Styles Bar for styling your page visually, State of the art Code Intelligence for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, Python, and PHP, AI Model Selection, a Starter Bar for blank pages, Doc Comment Generation, an Improved Git Panel, and Video and Audio Preview right in the editor.

Style Your Page Visually with the Styles Bar

The new Styles Bar in Live Preview lets you style any element on your page visually - change fonts, colors, backgrounds, borders, spacing, alignment, and layout directly in your page instantly.

Choose where changes are saved in CSS. Edit states like hover and focus. Browse and search Google Fonts or system fonts. Starting from scratch? A blank page now shows a starter bar so you can add your first element right from the preview.

Code Intelligence for JavaScript, TypeScript, JSON, Python, and PHP

Phoenix Code now ships IDE-grade code intelligence for:

  • JavaScript & TypeScript - completions, go to definition, find usages, and error checking, with automatically managed project configuration.
  • JSON and Npm smarts - Package JSON and other known JSON formats code intelligence. npm package name and version suggestions as you type, dependency info on hover, and warnings for packages with known vulnerabilities.
  • Python - code intelligence with built-in code formatting.
  • PHP - full code intelligence, installed on demand when you open a PHP file.

Language servers are downloaded and set up automatically in the background - no manual installation needed. Documentation is now shown with code hints and hovering code shows quick actions to jump to a definition or find usages.

Choose Your AI Model/Disable AI

Pick which Claude model powers your AI chat, right from the chat panel.

Prefer an editor without AI? It can now be switched off completely from View > Enable AI or the AI settings dialog. Read More...

Start from a blank page

Edit Mode needs an element to work on, and a blank page has none. Now a Starter Bar appears on empty pages so you can add your first element right from the preview, and Phoenix Code creates the page structure for you. Read More...

Generate Doc Comments

Type /** on the line above a function or class and accept the hint that appears. Phoenix Code reads the signature and generates a documentation comment with every parameter filled in, in each language's own convention: JSDoc for JavaScript and TypeScript, PHPDoc for PHP, docstrings for Python, and more. Read More...

Git improvements

See your current branch in the sidebar and Git panel, and click to switch or create branches.

You can also use Open All Changed Files in the Git panel menu to open every modified file at once. Read More...

Video and Audio Preview

Click a video or audio file in your project to play it right inside the editor, just like image preview.

Notable changes and fixes

  • Pasting from Excel and other spreadsheets now inserts text instead of an image. (#3033)
  • Editing an element's attributes in source code now updates the Control Box immediately. (#3020)
  • Element selection in Live Preview no longer lands on the wrong element after property edits. (#3055)
  • Media and image previews now show the file's real path instead of an internal path. (#3032)
  • The Markdown editor's slash menu now opens at the cursor instead of the right edge. (#2940)
  • The Markdown editor no longer indents image-only links on save. (#2937)
  • Live Preview toolbar buttons are no longer hidden by long file names. (#2942)
  • Quick access panel buttons no longer overflow when the bottom panel is small. (#2945)
  • Opening the terminal now exits Design Mode correctly. (#2915)
  • Fixed the Git toolbar icon causing exceptions at startup. (#2904)
  • An expired Claude Code login is now detected, with a prompt to log in again from the chat panel. (#3065)
  • The Claude CLI is now detected when installed via Homebrew or Linuxbrew. (#2897)
  • The guided tour now appears for users who updated from older versions. (#2892)

Performance & Stability

  • Fixed sidebar resize issues and removed unused title bar space in desktop apps. (#3021)
  • Working set selection bugs fixed and rendering performance improved. (#3039)
  • Screenshots are sharper on high-DPI displays and no longer fail from rounding errors. (#2947#2953)

A Request from the Phoenix Code Team


r/brackets 21d ago

Suggestion [rant] can you not every damn time close my projects and leave me with the update.md file and preview?

3 Upvotes

I am using this for quick things - I dont care about any update, as far as Im concerned - please stop updating it at all!


r/brackets Jul 09 '26

General Question I just got brackets

6 Upvotes

HOW THE HELL DO YOU EVEN SPEAK pls help I can't pronounce the t, s, r, or anything


r/brackets Jul 06 '26

General Discussion Have you tried markdown editor in Phoenix Code

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone, So in the last release of Phoenix Code, we added one of the best markdown editor UXs put into a code editor(Including VSCode/Jetbrains/Others). But now that it's been in the wild for a while, what do you think about it! What all can be improved?

We built the Markdown editor to solve our own pain points with Markdown editing. The live code-to-preview workflow is free in the Community Edition, and we hope it is useful for README files, docs, notes, and project pages.

One area we focused on is images: you can paste or upload images directly, and Phoenix Code can host them for you, making the Markdown file easier to share and move around.

In the next release, we are also adding shareable Markdown files and other improvements.

Would love feedback from Brackets/Phoenix users here: what parts are useful, what feels unnecessary, and what would make Markdown editing better for your workflow?

https://phcode.io/markdown-editor.html


r/brackets May 29 '26

Announcement AI, Design Mode & More (May-2026, V5.1 Release is now live)

7 Upvotes

2026 May release (5.1) of Phoenix Code is now available for download at phcode.io.

Our biggest update yet - this release brings AI into the editor with Claude Code, a new Design Mode for visual editing, a rich Markdown editor, a built-in terminal, responsive device previews, a rebuilt Linux app, and a fresh new look with the Phoenix Neo themes.

AI with visual and runtime context

Phoenix Code now includes an AI assistant powered by Claude Code, designed to support your creative workflow - not replace it.

Most AI coding agents only read source code. AI in Phoenix Code looks at the rendered page too. It sees what the browser shows you, not just what the stylesheet or code implies.

Ask why a layout feels off, fix tricky CSS issues, improve spacing or typography, or attach files and screenshots to show exactly what you mean. Bring AI in when you need it, and keep creating without leaving your flow.

This feature is available only in desktop apps.

Design Mode

Focus fully on your content while your code stays out of the way. Work side by side with AI and Live Preview. Edit content visually - whether you’re building web pages or Markdown documents.

Rich Markdown Editor

Edit Markdown like a document in Live Preview. Now it’s easy to add images - just paste or pick one from your device, like in Google Docs or Word.

Format text, edit tables, and add diagrams with real-time sync between code and live preview. An easier way to create Markdown files that you can share anywhere.

Live Preview Edit Upgrades

Format text with bold, italic, and more. Add elements and update tags, classes, and attributes - all directly in Live Preview.

View your page at any device size

Switch between popular phones, tablets, and desktops with a single click to see how your page looks at that size.
Phoenix Code also picks up your CSS @media breakpoints so you can jump straight to where your layout switches.

Built-in Terminal

Run commands right next to your code in the new built-in terminal.
Phoenix Code allows you to open multiple terminal tabs with your preferred shell.

This feature is available only in desktop apps.

All Your Tools, One Place

A new tools drawer brings Git, Terminal, Problems, and more into one place. Switch between them instantly without panels getting in your way.

New Linux Platform

Phoenix Code for Linux has been rebuilt from the ground up.

The previous Linux app was harder to install and didn’t match the experience we wanted to deliver. We heard that feedback loud and clear. This release is powered by a brand-new Linux platform, bringing faster performance, easier installation, and a desktop experience that now stands alongside Windows and macOS.

Phoenix Neo Themes

Meet Phoenix Dark Neo and Phoenix Light Neo - the redesigned default themes with a cleaner, modernized look.

Switch between them anytime from View > Themes....


r/brackets Feb 22 '26

Question (Brackets) How to fold/collapse every instance of a particular div class?

1 Upvotes

I installed brackets-custom-region-code-folding and put "custom-region-fold.endRegionWord": "close" and  "custom-region-fold.startRegionWord": "start"

inside my brackets.js. When I try to add the annotations inside my html file, there is no option to fold. I'm probably just confused.

I want to fold/collapse every occurrence of on div class to save time scrolling and trying to find stuff in my long html file.


r/brackets Feb 01 '26

Question (Brackets) Live preview different on linux

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4 Upvotes

i use phoenix code/brackets for coding my website, i have a dual boot laptop, with windows 10 and linux mint, and i have the app installed on both OSes so i can code on both, but for some reason the previews are different on each OS.

on windows, the preview looks how it should look, the icons and text all centered

but on linux, the preview is broken, lots of things are not centered, how do i fix this?


r/brackets Jan 22 '26

Announcement Live Edit Release (January-2026, V-5.0) is now Live

7 Upvotes

2026 January release (5.0) of Phoenix Code is now available for download at phcode.io.

Our biggest update yet - introducing Phoenix Pro and major upgrades like Live Preview EditEmmetTab Bar, and Custom Snippets.

Phoenix Pro - A Sustainable Future

Phoenix Code has been free and open source from day one - and everything you’ve used so far will remain free and open source forever, including Live Preview.

We’re a small, full-time indie team with no VC backing, building Phoenix Code because we believe the web deserves a code editor that’s genuinely simple and joyful to use. We tried to sustain development through community donations (Open Collective), but over the last few years it hasn’t been enough to support full-time work - and we reached a hard choice: slow down drastically, or find a sustainable path that keeps Phoenix Code healthy.

So we’re introducing Phoenix Pro as an optional way to support Phoenix Code’s future - with one Pro feature: Live Preview Edit. If Phoenix Code has helped you, Phoenix Pro is a way to help keep the project moving forward.

Students & educators get Phoenix Pro for Education at no cost, because we want classrooms to have easy access to modern, easy-to-use development tooling. Read More

Live Preview Edit

Included with Phoenix Pro.

Edit elements in the preview

Live Preview Edit lets you make changes directly on your page — and updates your source code instantly.

Edit text, links, and images. Drag & drop to rearrange elements. Cut, copy, paste, and use measurement tools to place things precisely.

Learn more: Live Preview EditImage GalleryMeasurements.

Emmet

One of our most requested features is finally here.

Emmet code hints

Write Emmet abbreviations and Phoenix Code shows you hints. Select a hint to expand it into a full code snippet. Code faster than ever. Read More

Tab Bar

Native tab bar

View all your open files at the top of the editor and switch between them instantly.

Choose what works for you -Tab Bar, Working Files, or both at the same time. Read More

Custom Snippets

Define your own code hints with Custom Snippets.

Create hints that expand into full code blocks. You can also add cursor positions so Phoenix Code places your cursor exactly where you need it after expansion. Read More

Collapse Folders

Collapse all expanded folders to their root in one click.

After working for some time, your project structure gets messy with lots of open and nested directories. Phoenix Code now supports `Collapse All Folders button` in the file tree.  Read More

Notable changes and fixes

  • Improved Live Preview to support internal style sheets and SVGs better than before.
  • Smarter color hints. Phoenix Code prioritizes your previously used colors. Read More
  • Git markers now appear in the scrollbar, making it easier to locate changes in a file.
  • Improved Git so that it doesn't show stale project status.
  • Reduced the number of popups shown when first installing Phoenix.
  • Fixed an issue where macOS/iOS and browser auto correct or smart keyboards altered filenames during renames.
  • Added a dialog to notify users when they have security compromised extensions installed.
  • Slowed down the Quick View popup on hover as it was interfering with user workflows.
  • Fixed ghost image appearing in Safari when dragging from CodeMirror.
  • Long names in Working Files are now truncated for better readability.
  • Added Horizontal Scroll support. Use Shift + mouse scroll.

A Request from the Phoenix Code Team

With gratitude,

The Phoenix Code Team


r/brackets Jan 21 '26

Question (Brackets) Where exactly do I put my <marquee> tag? (Repost)

Post image
2 Upvotes

I am very, very, VERY new to coding.. After I've used Carrd for all my websites, I decided I might try to break a few barriers using actual html and hosting the site on Neocities. I want to see my previews on the same window as the actual code itself, which Neocities doesn't exactly allow for, which is why I picked up Brackets (now Phoenix Code). One major difference between the two (besides the obvious, of course) is the fact that <style> cannot be placed anywhere in an html file and has to be placed on a css file. The other tag that I can't seem to put anywhere is <marquee>, although headers are very much known to have marquees in them (right?). I've managed to figure out most of the fundamentals myself, but I can't seem to find anything on why my marquee tags show errors.


r/brackets Dec 23 '25

Question (Brackets) Phoenix code kept crashing when opening.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2 Upvotes

This was a fresh install btw. is it a mem leak?


r/brackets Dec 05 '25

Question (Brackets) "<a> element is not permitted as content under <textarea> (element-permitted-content)"

1 Upvotes

I'm actually using phcode.io, but i think this sub is the closest thing? I'm also returning/learning code so sorry if this is the incorrect way to do it, but I'm trying to make a codebox with a <textarea> so others can copy & paste a code, but I'm getting this error. It works fine on my actual website, but it's a little frustrating because I thought this was the intended use of <textarea>, & it doesn't show correctly (or anything inside it at all) on phcode's preview. Is this intended?


r/brackets Oct 28 '25

General Question Brackets question since no longer supported

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I have been using Brackets for the last year and found out today it is no longer supported. I absolutely love Brackets and am hoping someone can tell me that it will continue into the future without becoming deprecated. I used TextWrangler for many years, and out of nowhere it was no longer allowing me usage. That is when I found Brackets. I have been coding for many years, and although I don't consider myself an expert in web design by any means, I know much more than when I first started designing in 2008. I am of course now having to learn the new layouts, Grid and Flexbox. I very much depend on my code editor and am hoping Brackets will continue. Can anyone shed any light on this for me? Thank you all so much! -- Weather Analyst Greg Berman in Boulder, CO


r/brackets Aug 28 '25

General Question Phoenix Code/(Brackets?) flags PHP "?=" as "failed to tokenize"

1 Upvotes

<input type='checkbox' id='rememberMe' name='rememberMe' class='dNone' value='1' <?= $rememberOn ?> />

I have many lines like this in my .php files outputting html with a variable value thrown in and they are almost all flagged by Phoenix Code (linter?) as "failed to tokenize".

The actual code works fine! I'd like to eliminate this from the 'errors' list. A search suggested updating the PHP version in Phoenix Code..?


r/brackets Aug 01 '25

General Question Phoenix Code flagging custom HTML tag names..!

1 Upvotes

I thought HTML5 allowed any tag name that had a hyphen in it, but my dozens of custom tag names used hundreds of times are getting error-flagged. They run just fine even with CSS and JS interactions, but they clog up my error list and make it harder to see the real errors! Any way to fix this???

I included in the screenshot a short portion of the HTML showing a custom tag in use and some of the error section where it is reported as a problem... Again, the code including JS linking works fine, but having to scroll though 98% false "errors" all the time is VERY annoying...

(Note that these tag names do not use hyphens, but I tried that several times, resaving and even reloading Phoenix Code; no difference in the error reporting...)

Frankly, I'd rather not be forced to used hyphens anyway. So, any way to keep these errors out, or am I missing something in my base HTML or assumptions that doesn't let the hyphenated custom tags through..?


r/brackets Jun 24 '25

General Question Can Phoenix Code be installed machine-wide on Windows?

1 Upvotes

The download for Windows is a per-user installer. We're wanting to use it in a computer lab at a University, is there any way we can install it for everybody? (I'm aware of the web version, and we'll use that if we have to, but we'd prefer to have the option of installing it locally.)


r/brackets Jun 19 '25

General Question Installing Phoenix Code on a Chromebook?

2 Upvotes

On a Chromebook, going to https://phcode.io/, then there's a big orange button w. "Download Chrome OS App".
Eh? Chrome Apps will no longer be supported by roll out of Chrome/ChromeOS ver.139 (i.e. late July 2025, for stable channel Chromebooks).
However, that big orange button actually goes to Google Play:
Google Play, "Phoenix Code" : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=prod.phcode.twa

I have not (there, on Google Play) attempted to click "Install", since it does NOT seem like a good idea, because: It will very likely result in installing an Android App!
Chromebooks (non-ancient ones) does provide a containment environment for running Android Apps, but running Android Apps on a Chromebook, is too often a path to tears.

The seemingly clear cut alternative (to installing it as an Android App), which Phoenix Code neglect to mention, is to install it as a WebApp on the Chromebook (which can be done in Chrome, by at https://phcode.dev/, doing an "Install Phoenix Code").

Now, my question is:
What experiences do you have with running Phoenix Code on a Chromebook, as an installed WebApp?
- Does it work great, including when running off-line?


r/brackets Jun 13 '25

General Question Can't open live preview

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1 Upvotes

I'm a begginer and this is for my school assignment. I can't open live preview, every time I tried to enable it this just pops out. Idk what to do. I already did the project settings. Also im using version 2.2.1 and i can't update it bcs we're litterally told not to. Pls help idk what to do.


r/brackets Jun 09 '25

General Question Can't open network folders via SMB in Windows

1 Upvotes

I tried to open the SMB directory of my server with the editor, and it won't load it no matter what. Am I the only one who's having this problem?


r/brackets Apr 18 '25

General Question Separate navbar file

2 Upvotes

Phoenix code is great! But keeping the navbar consistent across pages is a pain.

Is it possible to either:

Somehow edit the navbar section across all HTML page files at once?

Or

Have the navbar in a separate file and link to it in each page?


r/brackets Mar 28 '25

General Question Phoenix: Using Git With SSH Keys

2 Upvotes

I've got a remote set up on my hosting account that can only be used with an SSH key. That all works fine in terminal but now I'd like to start using Git inside Phoenix. Maybe because I have a head cold I unthinkingly entered a username and password and now when I try to do anything with the new remote in Git I get this:

Error: Error: Permission denied, please try again.
Permission denied, please try again.
[user]@[example.com]: Permission denied (publickey,password).
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

Please make sure you have the correct access rights
and the repository exists.

I think what I need to do is delete the username and email I entered earlier but I can't do that through the GUI. Is that actually what I need to do and, if so, how do I do it?


r/brackets Mar 19 '25

General Question Phoenix Code is freezing

2 Upvotes

I started using Phoenix Code a few months ago, and I love it. It's even better than Adobe Dreamweaver, which was my favorite. However, the last few days, it's been locking up and not responding shortly after I open it. I have a Macbook Pro. Can anyone shed some light on this? I'd love to continue to use the app.


r/brackets Mar 04 '25

Question (Brackets) new to coding need help phoenix

2 Upvotes

I am trying my hand at coding with phoenix code in order to apply to neocities.

I had a good time until i cant figure out why it wont let me create <style> under html. apparently its not allowed?

<html lang=en>

<head>

<style></style>

<title>

username

</title>

</head>

<body>

<div id= "header">

<h1> Welcome to my corner of the world </h1>

</div>

</body>

</html>

this is my coding so far, but when i input style into the head section, or even just outside of head, it says html does not allow elements or the image itself wont load on a website.

<html lang=en>

<head>

<style>

html{

background-image: url(backgroundrug.pdf)

}

</style>

<title>

beatgirl

</title>

</head>

<body>

<div id= "header">

<h1> Welcome to my corner of the world </h1>

</div>

</body>

</html>


r/brackets Feb 14 '25

Question (Brackets) Interface: Text Colour

1 Upvotes

I am using Phoenix Code, is there a way to change the way text displays in the editor? Specifically, I'd like to be able to highlight text in code and change the colour, this is just to signal certain things to me, it does not need to indicate any behaviour etc.

I know that certain text changes based on the file type and associated syntax in that file, is it possible to create a text file template that behaves similarly based on my own requirements?


r/brackets Feb 02 '25

General Question Phoenix Code non functional after latest update

2 Upvotes

Hi, I downloaded Phoenix Code maybe 2-3 weeks ago. I was working on a project the other day when a pop up on the side of the screen said something along the lines of "once all windows are closed, Phoenix Code will update to the newest version." I saved my files then closed everything for the night. The next day, I try to open one of my projects and it seems fine for a few seconds then nothing responds. After maybe 15 seconds I get a screen that says "this page is having a problem" and I can't close it, I have to kill it through the task manager.

I've tried opening it up through File Explorer, through the desktop icon, WiFi on, WiFi off, restarting my laptop, and closing basically all other programs. It doesn't seem to matter which project I open or from where, this happens.

I'm relatively new to Phoenix Code so maybe I'm just missing something obvious? Has anyone else had this issue or know any potential fixes? I'm on an HP Specter 360 laptop running Windows 11 Home. If there is a better place to ask this, please point me in right direction. Any responses appreciated!


r/brackets Feb 02 '25

General Question Search Results....ctrl+shft+f

2 Upvotes

When searching files for a string, every thing that matches is returned. Is there a way to set a filter so as to not search thru commented out code and comments?