Key Takeaways
- CodePen Pro offers a range of advanced features not available in the free plan, including unlimited private pens, live view, asset hosting, collab mode, professor mode, and theming, which enhance the user’s coding experience and productivity.
- The author, a long-time CodePen user, highly recommends the Pro account due to its affordability, responsive support, and additional features; he claims it has become an essential part of his workflow as a web developer.
- CodePen Pro can be particularly useful for holiday-themed coding projects, as it allows for real-time collaboration, asset hosting, and the ability to teach or learn in real-time, making it a versatile platform for any holiday-themed project.
We asked SitePoint authors what developer toys they would want for Christmas, then managed to source them — without relying on Santa.
I’ve been a CodePen user for quite some time, and for most of that time, I’ve been content with using their free plan. That is until I had a chance to look at the benefits of becoming a pro member.
Not too familiar with CodePen? In short, CodePen is an online internal development environment (IDE), which allows you to write HTML, CSS, and Javascript, while getting a preview of your code in real time.
Why I wanted a Pro account
I had wanted a pro account for quite some time, mainly because I really enjoyed using the product, as well as the level of support that comes with it. Alex, Tim, and Chris are very responsive to user feedback, and have even gone so far as to write code for me when I was having trouble adding a feature to The Practice App.
Secondly, the prices are straight up ridiculous. A Pro account only costs $9 a month, which is about 1/5th of what I spend for coffee every week.
Of course, one of the more obvious reasons for wanting a pro account was the extra features that come with it.
Unlimited Private Pens
Need to test out some super top secret code for work or the CIA? No problem! With a Pro account, you can make super secret pens only visible to you, or you can make super secret pens that are only viewable to those who have the super secret link!
Live View
Writing some code that needs to work on a mobile sized screen? CodePen Pro has you covered with live view! As soon as you save the pen, all other instances of that pen will get updated on the spot!
Asset Hosting
A Pro account gets you 1GB of space to store any type of asset you need. The UI for this feature is particularly useful, especially when you need to pull an asset while you’re in the middle of creating a pen.
Collab Mode
Having the urge to do some good-old-fashioned pair programming with someone who may be 1000 miles away? Collab mode will let you and your pair programming friend edit the same pen in real time!
Professor Mode
Professor mode allows a group of people to watch you write code live in a real time classroom. Every character you type, line you select, or setting you change is immediately shown on your viewers’ (students
) screens, as if you were all together looking at the same screen.
100 Send To Phone Messages
This is a brilliant idea, and speaks to the amount of thought the CodePen team puts into their product. This feature allows you to send an SMS containing the URL of the pen to you or anyone you’d like. Just enter in the number!
Theming
With a Pro account, CodePen lets you adjust the look and feel of your pen embeds and your CodePen profile!
The experience so far
Now that I’ve had a chance to use CodePen as a pro member, I have to say that it’s lived up to it’s hype. I haven’t had a chance to use all of the pro features, but I’m more than satisfied with the ones that I have used. The private pens, asset hosting, and live view features have greatly increased my level of productivity, especially when I need to create a quick demo for a project at work. It’s also nice to have a better chance at one of my pens being featured (which totally happened and was very exciting).
I’ve been a free and Pro user of CodePen, and I’ll never regret going Pro. The features, design, and usability of a Pro account make it a tool that has become an essential part of my workflow as a web developer.
What would you do with a CodePen Pro account? Answer in the comments, we’ll pick the best three and give away three free yearly Pro accounts to the winners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about CodePen Pro and Christmas Coding
What are the benefits of using CodePen Pro for Christmas-themed coding projects?
CodePen Pro offers a range of features that can enhance your Christmas-themed coding projects. With CodePen Pro, you can enjoy features like Collab Mode, which allows you to code with others in real-time – perfect for team projects or coding with friends. You also get access to Professor Mode, which lets you teach a class in real-time. Additionally, CodePen Pro users can enjoy features like Asset Hosting, which allows you to host and serve your assets directly from CodePen.
How can I create a Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
Creating a Christmas-themed project on CodePen is simple and fun. You can start by selecting a new Pen and then using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create your project. You can add Christmas-themed elements like snowflakes, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus using code. There are also many pre-existing Christmas-themed Pens that you can fork and modify to suit your needs.
What are some examples of Christmas-themed projects on CodePen?
There are many creative Christmas-themed projects on CodePen. Some examples include interactive Christmas cards, animated snowflakes, and Christmas countdown timers. You can find these projects by searching for the ‘Christmas’ tag on CodePen.
How can I share my Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
Sharing your Christmas-themed project on CodePen is easy. Once you’ve created your Pen, you can share it by clicking on the ‘Share’ button and then copying the link. You can also embed your Pen on your website or blog by copying the embed code.
Can I use CodePen to learn how to code Christmas-themed projects?
Absolutely! CodePen is a great platform for learning how to code. You can learn by exploring other users’ Pens and seeing how they’ve created their projects. You can also use Professor Mode if you have a CodePen Pro account, which allows you to teach or learn in real-time.
What are some tips for creating a Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
When creating a Christmas-themed project on CodePen, it’s important to plan your project first. Think about what elements you want to include, such as snowflakes, Christmas trees, or Santa Claus. Then, use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create these elements. You can also use libraries like jQuery to make your project more interactive.
Can I collaborate with others on a Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
Yes, with a CodePen Pro account, you can use Collab Mode to code with others in real-time. This is a great way to work on team projects or to code with friends.
How can I improve my Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
To improve your Christmas-themed project on CodePen, consider adding interactivity, animations, and sound. You can also improve your project by making it responsive, so it looks good on all devices. Additionally, consider getting feedback from others by sharing your Pen and asking for suggestions.
Can I use CodePen for other holiday-themed projects?
Yes, CodePen is a versatile platform that you can use for any holiday-themed project. Whether it’s Halloween, Easter, or Valentine’s Day, you can use CodePen to create fun and interactive projects.
How can I get inspired for my Christmas-themed project on CodePen?
You can get inspired for your Christmas-themed project on CodePen by exploring other users’ Pens. Search for the ‘Christmas’ tag to find a wide range of projects, from simple Christmas cards to complex animations. You can also get inspired by looking at Christmas-themed websites, apps, and games.
Tim Evko is a front end web developer from New York, with a passion for responsive web development, Sass, and JavaScript. He lives on coffee, CodePen demos and flannel shirts.
