- abiword (3.0.2-8)
- efficient, featureful word processor with collaboration
- abiword-common (3.0.2-8)
- efficient, featureful word processor with collaboration -- common files
- abiword-plugin-grammar (3.0.2-8)
- grammar checking plugin for AbiWord
- alpine-pico (2.21+dfsg1-1.1)
- Simple text editor from Alpine, a text-based email client
- aoeui (1.7+20160302.git4e5dee9-1)
- lightweight, unobtrusive, Dvorak-optimized text editor
- apel (10.8+0.20120427-19)
- portable library for emacsen
- bbe (0.2.2-3)
- sed-like editor for binary files
- bear-factory (0.6.0-4+b2 [mips64el], 0.6.0-4+b1 [amd64, arm64, armel, armhf, i386, mips, mipsel, ppc64el, s390x])
- Editors for Plee the Bear
- beav (1:1.40-18+b3)
- binary editor and viewer
- bhl (1.7.3-3)
- Emacs mode for converting annotated text to HTML and LaTeX
- bless (0.6.0-5.1)
- A full featured hexadecimal editor
- bvi (1.4.0-1+b3)
- binary file editor
- cream (0.43-3)
- VIM macros that make the VIM easier to use for beginners
- crypt++el (2.94-3)
- Emacs-Lisp Code for handling compressed and encrypted files
- cxref-emacs (1.6e-3)
- Generates LaTeX and HTML documentation for C programs
- dhex (0.69-1)
- ncurses based hex editor with diff mode
- diffuse (0.4.8-4)
- graphical tool for merging and comparing text files
- e-wrapper (0.1-2)
- invoke your editor, with optional file:lineno handling
- e3 (1:2.71-2)
- very small text editor
- ed (1.15-1)
- classic UNIX line editor
- editra (0.7.20+dfsg.1-3)
- simple multi-platform text editor
- efte (1.1-2+b3)
- Advanced lightweight configurable editor
- elpa-ag (0.47-2.1)
- Emacs frontend to ag
- elpa-agda2-mode (2.5.4.1-3)
- dependently typed functional programming language — emacs mode
- elpa-apache-mode (2.1+4.g97bf66c-2)
- Emacs major mode for editing Apache configuration files
- elpa-editorconfig (0.7.14-1)
- coding style indenter for all editors - Emacsen plugin
- elpa-eproject (1.5+git20180312.068218d-2)
- assign files to Emacs projects, programmatically
- elpa-expand-region (0.11.0-3)
- Increase selected region in Emacs by semantic units
- elpa-js2-mode (0~20180301-1)
- Emacs mode for editing Javascript programs
- elpa-muse (3.20+dfsg-4)
- Author and publish projects using Wiki-like markup
- elpa-pod-mode (1.03-2)
- emacs major mode for editing .pod files
- elpa-rust-mode (0.3.0-2)
- Major Emacs mode for editing Rust source code
- elpa-sml-mode (6.9-1)
- Emacs major mode for editing Standard ML programs
- elpa-tabbar (2.2-2)
- Emacs minor mode that displays a tab bar at the top
- elpa-vala-mode (0.1-6)
- Emacs editor major mode for vala source code
- elpa-yaml-mode (0.0.13-1)
- emacs mode for YAML files
- elvis-tiny (1.4-24+b2)
- Tiny vi compatible editor for the base system
- emacs (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor (metapackage)
- emacs
- virtual package provided by emacs-nox, emacs-lucid, emacs-gtk
- emacs-bin-common (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor's shared, architecture dependent files
- emacs-common (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor's shared, architecture independent infrastructure
- emacs-common-non-dfsg (1:26.1+1-1) [non-free]
- GNU Emacs common non-DFSG items, including the core documentation
- emacs-el (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs LISP (.el) files
- emacs-gtk (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor (with GTK+ GUI support)
- emacs-lucid (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor (with Lucid GUI support)
- emacs-nox (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs editor (without GUI support)
- emacs25 (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs transitional package to emacs-gtk
- emacs25-lucid (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs transitional package to emacs-lucid
- emacs25-nox (1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u1)
- GNU Emacs transitional package to emacs-nox
- emacsen-common (3.0.4)
- Common facilities for all emacsen
- emacspeak (49.0+dfsg-3)
- speech output interface to Emacs
- emacspeak-espeak-server (49.0+dfsg-3)
- espeak synthesis server for emacspeak
- emacspeak-ss (1.12.1-8)
- Emacspeak speech servers for several synthesizers
- entagged (0.35-6)
- graphical audio file tagger with freedb support
- expand-region-el (0.11.0-3)
- Transition package, expand-region-el to elpa-expand-region
- expand-region-el
- virtual package provided by elpa-expand-region
- exuberant-ctags (1:5.9~svn20110310-12)
- build tag file indexes of source code definitions
- feathernotes (0.4.6-1)
- Hierarchical notes-manager (binaries)
- featherpad (0.9.4-2)
- Lightweight Qt5 plain-text editor
- focuswriter (1.7.1-1)
- Fullscreen distraction-free writing program
- formiko (1.3.0-1)
- reStructuredText and MarkDown editor and live previewer
- freeplane (1.7.5-1)
- Java program for working with Mind Maps
- frescobaldi (3.0.0+ds1-2)
- LilyPond sheet music text editor
- fte (0.50.2b6-20110708-2)
- Text editor for programmers - base package
- fte-console (0.50.2b6-20110708-2)
- Text editor for programmers - console edition, no I18N support
- fte-terminal (0.50.2b6-20110708-2)
- Text editor for programmers - version for terminals
- fte-xwindow (0.50.2b6-20110708-2)
- Text editor for programmers - X Window System edition with I18N support
- ghostwriter (1.7.4-2)
- Distraction-free, themeable Markdown editor
- gnome-builder (3.30.3-2)
- IDE for GNOME
- gnuserv (3.12.8-7)
- Allows you to attach to an already running Emacs
- goby (1.1+0.20180214-3)
- WYSIWYG presentation tool for Emacs
- golang-mode (3:1.5.0-2)
- Emacs mode for editing Go code -- transitional package
- hexedit (1.4.2-5)
- viewer and editor in hexadecimal or ASCII for files or devices
- inform-mode (1.5.8-4)
- Emacs mode for editing Inform files
- initz (0.0.11+20030603cvs-17.2)
- Handles the switching of various initialization files of emacsen
- jaxe (3.5-11)
- JAva Xml Editor
- jed (1:0.99.19-7+b1)
- editor for programmers (textmode version)
- jed-common (1:0.99.19-7)
- S-Lang runtime files for jed and xjed
- jed-extra (2.5.7-2)
- collection of useful Jed modes and utilities
- jedit (5.5.0+dfsg-1)
- Plugin-based editor for programmers
- jeex (12.0.4-1+b2)
- visual editor to view and edit files in hexadecimal
- joe (4.6-1+b1)
- user friendly full screen text editor
- joe
- virtual package provided by joe-jupp
- joe-jupp (3.1.38-1)
- reimplement the joe Debian package using jupp
- jove (4.16.0.73-5+b1)
- Jonathan's Own Version of Emacs - a compact, powerful editor
- js2-mode (0~20180301-1)
- Emacs mode for editing Javascript programs (dummy package)
- js2-mode
- virtual package provided by elpa-js2-mode
- juffed (0.10-89-g3690b60-5)
- Lightweight yet powerful Qt text editor
- juffed-plugins (0.10-89-g3690b60-5)
- Lightweight yet powerful Qt text editor - plugins
- jupp (3.1.38-1)
- user friendly full screen text editor
- jvim-canna (3.0-2.1b-3+b3)
- Japanized VIM (Canna version)
- kakoune (2019.01.20-2)
- Vim-inspired, selection-oriented code editor
- kate (4:18.08.0-1)
- powerful text editor
- kimagemapeditor (4:18.12.0-1)
- HTML image map editor
- kwrite (4:18.08.0-1)
- simple text editor
- le (1.16.5-0.1)
- Text editor with block and binary operations
- ledit (2.04-1)
- line editor for interactive programs
- levee (3.5a-4+b1)
- very small vi clone
- lfhex (0.42-3.1+b1)
- large file hex editor
- libreoffice-base-core (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- shared library
- libreoffice-calc (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- spreadsheet
- libreoffice-common (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- arch-independent files
- libreoffice-core (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- arch-dependent files
- libreoffice-draw (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- drawing
- libreoffice-help-common (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- common files for LibreOffice help
- libreoffice-impress (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- presentation
- libreoffice-java-common (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- arch-independent Java support files
- libreoffice-math (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- equation editor
- libreoffice-style-breeze (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- Breeze symbol style
- libreoffice-style-colibre (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- colibre symbol style
- libreoffice-style-elementary (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- Elementary symbol style
- libreoffice-style-sifr (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- Sifr symbol style
- libreoffice-style-tango (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- Tango symbol style
- libreoffice-writer (1:6.1.5-3+deb10u6)
- office productivity suite -- word processor
- liquidsoap-mode (1.3.3-2)
- Emacs mode for editing Liquidsoap code
- lpe (1.2.8-2+b2)
- Lightweight Programmer's Editor
- lua-mode (20151025-3)
- Emacs mode for editing Lua programs -- transitional package
- lyx (2.3.2-1)
- document processor
- lyx-common (2.3.2-1)
- architecture-independent files for LyX
- malaga-mode (7.12-7)
- System for automatic language analysis - emacs mode
- manuskript (0.8.0-1)
- open-source tool for writers
- medit (1.2.0-3)
- Useful programming and around-programming text editor
- mg (20180927-1)
- microscopic GNU Emacs-style editor
- mle (1.3-2)
- flexible terminal-based editor
- mmm-mode (0.5.7-3)
- Multiple Major Mode for Emacs
- morla (0.16.1-1.2)
- GTK+ RDF editor
- mousepad (0.4.1-2)
- simple Xfce oriented text editor
- nano (3.2-3)
- small, friendly text editor inspired by Pico
- nano-tiny (3.2-3)
- small, friendly text editor inspired by Pico - tiny build
- ncurses-hexedit (0.9.7+orig-7)
- Edit files/disks in hex, ASCII and EBCDIC
- ne (3.1.2-1)
- easy-to-use and powerful text editor
- nedit (1:5.7-2)
- powerful, customizable, Motif based text editor
- neovim (0.3.4-3)
- heavily refactored vim fork
- neovim-qt (0.2.12-1)
- neovim client library and GUI
- neovim-runtime (0.3.4-3)
- heavily refactored vim fork (runtime files)
- ng-cjk (1.5~beta1-4+b1)
- Nihongo MicroGnuEmacs with CJK support
- ng-cjk-canna (1.5~beta1-4+b1)
- Nihongo MicroGnuEmacs with CJK and Canna support
- ng-common (1.5~beta1-4)
- Common files used by ng-* packages
- ng-latin (1.5~beta1-4+b1)
- Nihongo MicroGnuEmacs with Latin support
- noblenote (1.0.8-1)
- Qt program for taking notes
- nvi (1.81.6-15)
- 4.4BSD re-implementation of vi
- omegat (3.6.0.10+dfsg-1)
- Computer Assisted Translation (CAT) tool
- pyragua (0.2.5-6)
- Very lightweight Python editor
- retext (7.0.4-1)
- Simple text editor for Markdown and reStructuredText
- scala-mode-el (20111005-2.1)
- Emacs major mode for editing scala source code
- scite (4.1.3-1)
- Lightweight GTK-based programming editor
- sciteproj (1.12-1)
- project manager for the SciTE editor
- sigil (0.9.13+dfsg-1)
- multi-platform ebook editor
- sigil-data (0.9.13+dfsg-1)
- multi-platform ebook editor - data files
- sml-mode (6.9-1)
- Transition package, sml-mode to elpa-sml-mode
- speechd-el (2.8-2)
- Emacs speech client using Speech Dispatcher
- tea (47.0.1-1)
- graphical text editor with syntax highlighting
- tea-data (47.0.1-1)
- graphical text editor with syntax highlighting - data files
- tetradraw (2.0.3-9+b2)
- ANSI drawing and viewing utility
- texstudio (2.12.14+debian-1)
- LaTeX Editor
- texworks (0.6.2-3+b3)
- Environment for authoring TeX (LaTeX, ConTeXt, etc) documents
- texworks-help-en (20150506-2)
- English help files for TeXworks
- texworks-help-fr (20150506-2)
- French help files for TeXworks
- texworks-scripting-lua (0.6.2-3+b3)
- Plugin to bring Lua scripting to TeXworks
- texworks-scripting-python (0.6.2-3+b3)
- Plugin to bring Python scripting to TeXworks
- tilde (1.0.0-1)
- Intuitive text editor for the terminal
- treesheets (1:1.0.0-1)
- Data organizer that covers spreadsheets, mind mappers, and small databases
- tweak (3.02-4)
- Efficient text-mode hex editor
- universal-ctags (0+git20181215-2)
- build tag file indexes of source code definitions
- vala-mode-el (0.1-6)
- Transition Package, vala-mode-el to elpa-vala-mode
- vala-mode-el
- virtual package provided by elpa-vala-mode
- verilog-mode (20161124.fd230e6-2)
- emacs mode for Verilog code
- vigor (0.016-27)
- nvi with the evil paperclip
- vile (9.8t-1)
- VI Like Emacs - vi work-alike
- vile-common (9.8t-1)
- VI Like Emacs - support files for vile/xvile
- vile-filters (9.8t-1)
- VI Like Emacs - highlighting filters for vile/xvile
- vim (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor
- vim
- virtual package provided by vim-gtk, vim-athena, vim-gtk3, vim-nox
- vim-addon-manager (0.5.10)
- manager of addons for the Vim editor
- vim-addon-mw-utils (0.2-1)
- Vim funcref library
- vim-airline (0.10-1)
- Lean & mean status/tabline for vim that's light as air
- vim-airline-themes (0+git.20180730-6e798f9-1)
- official theme collection for vim-airline
- vim-athena (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor - with Athena GUI
- vim-autopep8 (1.0.7-1)
- vim plugin to apply autopep8
- vim-bitbake (0~git20180720-1)
- Vim plugin to interact with Yocto bitbake-based recipes
- vim-command-t (5.0.2-5-g7147ba9-1)
- open files with a minimum number of keystrokes
- vim-common (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - Common files
- vim-conque (2.3-1)
- plugin for running interactive commands in a Vim buffer
- vim-ctrlp (1.80-1)
- fuzzy file, buffer, mru, tag, etc. finder for Vim
- vim-editorconfig (0.3.3+dfsg-2)
- EditorConfig Plugin for Vim
- vim-fugitive (2.4-1)
- Vim plugin to work with Git
- vim-gtk (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor - with GTK2 GUI
- vim-gtk3 (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor - with GTK3 GUI
- vim-gui-common (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - Common GUI files
- vim-julia (0.0~git20190129.84104d0-1)
- Vim support for Julia language
- vim-khuno (1.0.3-1)
- Python flakes Vim plugin
- vim-lastplace (3.1.1-2)
- Vim script to reopen files at your last edit position
- vim-latexsuite (1:1.9.0-1)
- view, edit and compile LaTeX documents from within Vim
- vim-ledger (1.0.0-2)
- Vim plugin for Ledger
- vim-nox (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor - with scripting languages support
- vim-pathogen (2.4-1)
- Manage your runtimepath with ease
- vim-puppet (4~20181115+git4793b074-1)
- syntax highlighting for puppet manifests in vim
- vim-rails (4.5~20110829-1)
- vim development tools for Rails development
- vim-runtime (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - Runtime files
- vim-scripts (20180807)
- plugins for vim, adding bells and whistles
- vim-snipmate (0.87-3)
- Vim script that implements some of TextMate's snippets features.
- vim-snippets (1.0.0-4)
- Snippets files for various programming languages.
- vim-syntastic (3.9.0-1)
- Syntax checking hacks for vim
- vim-syntax-gtk (20110314-1)
- Syntax files to highlight GTK+ keywords in vim
- vim-tabular (1.0-3)
- Vim script for text filtering and alignment
- vim-tiny (2:8.1.0875-5)
- Vi IMproved - enhanced vi editor - compact version
- vim-tlib (1.23-1)
- Some vim utility functions
- vim-ultisnips (3.1-3)
- snippet solution for Vim
- vim-vimerl (1.4.1+git20120509.89111c7-2)
- Erlang plugin for Vim
- vim-vimerl-syntax (1.4.1+git20120509.89111c7-2)
- Erlang syntax for Vim
- vim-vimoutliner (0.3.4+pristine-9.3)
- script for building an outline editor on top of Vim
- vim-voom (5.3-1)
- Vim two-pane outliner
- vim-youcompleteme (0+20190211+gitcbaf813-0.1)
- fast, as-you-type, fuzzy-search code completion engine for Vim
- vis (0.5+ts-3)
- Modern, legacy free, simple yet efficient vim-like editor
- wily (0.13.41-7.3)
- A work-alike of the Acme programming environment for Plan 9
- wordgrinder (0.7.2-1)
- simple word processor for writing first drafts
- wordgrinder-ncurses (0.7.2-1)
- simple word processor for writing first drafts (terminal version)
- wordgrinder-x11 (0.7.2-1)
- simple word processor for writing first drafts (X11 version)
- writetype (1.3.163-1)
- application designed to help students write more easily
- wxhexeditor (0.23+repack-3)
- hexadecimal editor for massive files
- xemacs21 (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor metapackage
- xemacs21
- virtual package provided by xemacs21-mule, xemacs21-nomule, xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn
- xemacs21-basesupport (2009.02.17.dfsg.2-4)
- Editor and kitchen sink -- compiled elisp support files
- xemacs21-basesupport-el (2009.02.17.dfsg.2-4)
- Editor and kitchen sink -- source elisp support files
- xemacs21-bin (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- support binaries
- xemacs21-mule (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- Mule binary
- xemacs21-mule-canna-wnn (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- Mule binary compiled with Canna and Wnn
- xemacs21-mulesupport (2009.02.17.dfsg.2-4)
- Editor and kitchen sink -- Mule elisp support files
- xemacs21-mulesupport-el (2009.02.17.dfsg.2-4)
- Editor and kitchen sink -- source elisp support files
- xemacs21-nomule (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- Non-mule binary
- xemacs21-support (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- architecture independent support files
- xemacs21-supportel (21.4.24-8)
- highly customizable text editor -- non-required library files
- xjed (1:0.99.19-7+b1)
- editor for programmers (x11 version)
- xtrkcad (1:5.1.1-2)
- CAD program for designing model railroad layouts
- xtrkcad-common (1:5.1.1-2)
- CAD program for designing model railroad layouts (common files)
- xvile (9.8t-1)
- VI Like Emacs - vi work-alike (X11)
- xwpe (1.5.30a-2.1+b3)
- Programming environment and editor for console and X11
- xxd (2:8.1.0875-5)
- tool to make (or reverse) a hex dump
- yaml-mode (0.0.13-1)
- transition package, yaml-mode to elpa-yaml-mode
- yudit (2.9.6-8)
- Unicode text editor (arch-dependent binaries)
- yudit-common (2.9.6-8)
- Unicode text editor (arch-independent files)
- zile (2.4.14-7+b1)
- very small Emacs-subset editor
- By
For BBEdit 12.1.5 from Bare Bones Software can be the most basic note taking app you'll ever use but in the next moment it can do the most powerful text manipulation.
- Updates the long-standing text editor to 64-bit and now requires OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan or later. ($49.99 new, free update, 13.6 MB).
- BBEdit is the leading professional HTML and text editor for the Mac. Specifically crafted in response to the needs of Web authors and software developers, this award-winning product provides a plethora of features for editing, searching, and manipulation of text. BBEdit transforms text with high performance.
One of the most common mistakes WordPress-newbies make is using a word processor (like Microsoft Word, Pages, and WordPerfect) to edit server-side source-code files (such as .html, .css and .php files, etc). The problem here is that word processors need to embed a lot of extra data in the file (behind the scenes) in order to define various things like font styles, etc — data that is almost always both specific to the word processor being used AND completely incomprehensible to the kind of server-side systems required to run websites (be them powered by WordPress or otherwise). The solution, however, is extremely simple: when creating and/or editing server-side files (such as those used with WordPress) be sure to only ever use a purpose-built Text Editor. Let’s take a look at a few of the best options created specifically for the task: both free and premium — for both Macs and Windows:
Premium Text Editors:
Looking for more than just a basic text editor and got the cash to spare? Then go for one of these (note: scroll down for some excellent free alternatives)…
Sublime Text (for Windows, Macs, and Linux)
Publicly released in 2008, Sublime Text is now one of the most popular and highly-regarded text editors available! One of the most notable things that sets this particular software apart is that it works across all three major platforms (Windows, OSX, and Linux) — on top of which it also supports a huge range of languages, has extensive customizability via JSON settings files (including project-specific and platform-specific settings), and offers a huge range of features including column selection and multi-select editing, auto-completion, snippets, in-editor code building and a particularly handy navigation system that lets users open files with only a few keystrokes and instantly jump to specific symbols, lines or words.
(click to enlarge)
Price – $70 (note: free trial available).
BBEdit (for Macs)
Designed specifically for software developers and web designers (and with over 20 years of history), BBEdit contains powerful multi-file text searching capabilities including strong support for Perl-compatible regular expressions and GREP. It includes FTP and SFTP tools, integrates with various code management systems, supports version control, shows differences between file versions and allows for the merging of changes. Also noteworthy is the fact that the same company that makes BBEdit, also offer an entirely free version named ‘TextWrangler’ (see below) — which may very well suffice if all you’re looking for is a top-notch text editor to edit (or even create) a few source files from time to time!
(click to enlarge)
Price – $49.99 (note: free trial available).
TextMate (for Macs)
Billed as ‘the missing editor’ and awarded the Apple Design Award for Best Developer Tool at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in 2006, TextMate is a much-loved text editor with a number of notable features, including declarative customizations, tabs for open documents, recordable macros, folding sections, snippets, shell integration, and an extensible bundle system. In short: it’s both a joy to use and highly-capable — what’s more, it’s also particularly well-documented — heck, it even has its own book! If you’re a hardcore coder developing on the Mac, be sure to check this one out!
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Price – $54 (note: free trial available).
![And And](https://149473364.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/TextWrangler.jpg)
Free Text Editors:
Bbedit 12 1 – Powerful Text And Html Editor Text Editor
Although the above premium text editors are all very very nice, if you’re only a basic/beginner developer then you may well find one of these free options will more than suffice…
Atom (for Windows, Macs and Linux)
Released on June 25th 2015, Atom is the newest text editor on this list — and a choice that professional coders everywhere will likely want to seriously consider! Written in CoffeeScript and Less, Atom is a completely free and open-source text editor with support for plugins written in Node.js — referred to by its creators as “A hackable text editor for the 21st Century”.
Atom is a text editor that’s modern and extremely user-friendly — a tool you can customize to do just about anything with. It features cross-platform editing, a built-in package manager, smart auto-completion, a file system browser, four UI and eight built-in syntax themes, multiple panes and — of course: handy find and replace features.
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TextWrangler (for Macs)
The free alternative to BBEdit (see above), TextWrangler differs to its premium counterpart in a number of ways — all of which are detailed in a nice table on the official Bare Bones website here (notably lacking various HTML markup tools, text completion and file organization features). Whenever I find myself having to recommend an entirely free text editor for the Mac (or when I need to use one on someone else’s computer etc), I almost invariably go straight for this one — mainly because it’s just so darn simple to use!
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Komodo Edit (for Windows, Macs, and Linux)
The free and Open-Source counterpart of Komodo IDE, Komodo Edit allows user customization through plug-ins and macros, and boasts a range of different features, including auto complete, multiple selections, smart snippets (view a complete list). The downside of all this free power though is because of its IDE roots, it perhaps isn’t quite as user-friendly as some of its simpler rivals. By all means give it a go (especially if you’re more of an advanced user), but if all you’re wanting to do is edit a few individual source files, then this one might just be a bit too daunting to start out with!
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Notepad++ (for Windows)
Regarded by many as the best free text editor available for Windows (and with over 28 million downloads to date), Notepad++ is a robust, powerful and highly capable text editor that gets the job done! It supports over 50 programing languages, opens large files significantly faster than the default Windows Notepad (mentioned below) and boasts a range of impressive features, including tabbed editing (thereby allowing you to work with multiple open files in a single window), split screen, auto-completion, macros, syntax highlighting, syntax folding and a whole host of other handy functionality!
Plus two more (the Default Mac & Windows Text Editors):
Although sometimes completely overlooked, both Mac and Window operating systems both come with their own default text editors built in — and whilst they’re certainly not the best (having none of the refinements of their more fully featured counterparts), they’ll certainly do the job if all you’re looking to do is make a few simple edits…
Notepad (for Windows)
Offering only the most basic text manipulation functions, such as finding and replacing text, Notepad (not to be confused with WordPad — which is NOT a text editor) is by far the most basic text editor listed in this article — with almost none of the handy features (syntax coloring, code folding, regular expressions, macros, block-select, etc, etc) found in just about all of its 3rd party counterparts!
TextEdit (for Macs)
Mac’s default text editor, TextEdit, combines features of a text editor with those of a word processor, such as rulers, margins, and multiple font selections — allowing it to be used as both a text editor AND a basic word processor — depending on the settings/preferences. Similarly to Notepad (mentioned above), it has almost none of the numerous features found in its 3rd party rivals. While it may well do the job for a basic edit or two, if you’re intending to edit server-side files on a regular basis, you’ll do a lot better with one of the free or premium options mentioned above.
![Bbedit 12 1 – powerful text and html editor textbook Bbedit 12 1 – powerful text and html editor textbook](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4651/25322144547_622710517b_b.jpg)
Bbedit 12 1 – Powerful Text And Html Editor Text Generator
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Wrapping up: How to Choose? Which is Best?
Well, first off: all seven of these text editors are built for coders and all seven are pretty darn awesome! What’s more, every one of them is available as a free trial — meaning you can give each a carefree whirl before deciding. If you’re a hardcore coder working in multiple languages you’ll probably appreciate some of the specific software development tools and high-end functionality (like multiple selections, split editing and project organization features) found only in some of the premium options (if this sounds like you then be sure to check out about the most popular premium text editing software available: Sublime Text) — update: serious coders should also be sure to check out the newest on this list: Atom — however, if you’re only a casual coder looking for a top-end text editor with basic features like syntax highlighting, macros and spell-checking, etc, then maybe start with say TextWrangler (a personal favorite of mine) if you’re on the Mac or Notepad++ if you’re a Windows user and see how you get on — after all, there’s really no need to pay top-dollar for features you’ll perhaps never use/need!
Note: For a comprehensive list of just about all the different text editors currently available check out this Wikipedia article.
Top tip: before editing any files, ALWAYS make a quick back up of them first: because there’s usually no going back once things have been overwritten without one!
Know of any other top text editors for Macs and/or Windows? Any preferences?
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