There is no other third party text editor more efficient and lightweight than Notepad++ on Windows. I only use Notepad++ on Windows, to save my CPU cycles and RAM.
My biggest complaint is getting the ”An update is available” notification pretty much every time I restart it. I wish there was a ”stable channel” for it
Give EmEditor[0] a try, I can load gigabytes of text and edit with no issue, it's fast and snappy. Has a bunch of cool features, like visualising CSVs as tables :)
Several years ago I tried loads of "lightweight" graphical text editors for Windows, searching for something with fast start-up and ability to load (and edit) humongous text files. Been using PSPad back then, with NPP as a side-kick, but when it came to dealing with super large files, this editor came as the most performant and reliable. It's data and memory footprint is super tiny and is quite extensible.
I've never used it as a primary editor so cannot speak much about features (yes it seems dated and configurations seems wonky) but really proved to be workhorse for me.
(Nowadays I mostly live in VSCode but still keep this AkelPad (and Foxe [1] / First Object editor for XML files) around when necessity to deal with something huge arises.)
PSPad is very similar in both regards! If you are looking for a lightweight editor on Windows, give both a try. Though I found that PSPad has become a bit more buggy in more recent versions since 64-bit support was introduced (which, I think, has lead to several components being exchanged or upgraded, which caused these bugs). I ought to give Notepad++ a try again.
One thing unique to N++ IMO is how well it works with lots of files open, and how easy and fast it is to do search'n'replace across lots of files.
It has several modes (normal, regex, normal-with-multiline) so you can always choose easily the one that fits your scenario. The multiline one is IMO pretty useful - it allows multiline but allows to avoid clunkiness of regexes and escapings.
I used to be a big time notepad++ user, but at some point decided to try to use VSCode as my go to text editor. The ease of use and the large number of good quality extensions more than makes up for the slight latency at startup. To my big surprise VSCode can easily handle files of the size of hundreds of megabytes, it’s just great. I like notepad++, but needless to say, nowadays I only start Notepad++ accidentally on my machine.
There's latency in every part of the VSCode experience, not just on startup. And the startup delay is bad enough that it needs a harsher word than "latency". I made the mistake of associating VSCode with *.txt files and had to quickly switch it to something else, as I was otherwise waiting each time I tried to glance at a text file. Programs like Notepad++ and Sublime Text come up instantly.
I was using Notepad++ as my primary code editor for python some years ago. It was working good (still does) but missing one crucial feature: Fuzzy file find. It would be great if Notepad++ could somehow detect a .git file in the same or a parent directory of the file I was editing and allowed me to quickly open files from this project by searching their filenames. Similar functionality to the Ctrl+P keyword in VSCode or the ctrlp plugin in Vim. I don't know how difficult this is to implement but it will really improve the Notepad++ code editign expierience much more!
I used to hack away in N++ as Freelancer. At some point, I landed in a team for the first time, after hacking away solo for decades. It was like visiting a different planet. Fun experience. I got to see IDE's and even learned about NPM for the first time.
Even though I was way more productive (...solo) they looked at me like I came from a distant tribe, with just Notepad and no formatting, code coloring, code completing, packagemanager etc.
I use Notepad++ with NppFTP and TextFX, but I think TextFX is 32bit only and that most TextFX tools are integrated now anyway.
I love it, and in my current investigation into the viability of switching to a Linux Desktop it's something I haven't found a good replacement for yet. Notepadqq looks like a Notepad++ clone but I'm wary of its use of Javascript and would have to convert my custom UDLs to CodeMirror modes. I'll probably end up just using Notepad++ with Wine.
I use N++ along with NppFTP and PHP Autocompletion.
I have NppFTP pointed to the `www` dir on my dev webserver, and it's so convenient to just be able to edit files in N++, and whenever I Ctrl+S, it automatically uploads and updates content on the server.
when i started programing notepad++ was my go-to editor while sumatrapdf was my go-to pdf reader. today however i use emacs for everything except the browser and reading pdfs. i would still use sumatrapdf if it was available on gnu/linux
I used Notepad++ for almost 10 years, just for viewing text files because of its right click context menu option and performance. but few weeks ago I decided to try sublime which is good but still notepad++ if faster. (sublime takes a few seconds more to load)
Used to use Notepad++ a lot, but these days I mostly use VS Code.
One of the things that really frustrates me about Notepad++ is the way it does updates, even though the app's auto-updater initiated the installer, I still have to click through all the steps of the installer as if it's the first time it's being installed, quite tedious.
I would ideally like it to be done silently in the background, but I would still be very happy if after clicking a confirmation dialog in the app to do the update, the installer would just run unattended and re-launch the program automatically.
That, and the fact that it asks you immediately on program start (which is probably the worst time for an interruption!) and there is no easy way to come back to the update option if you answer "no".
It is fast, lightweight, uses a native Win32 GUI and by the time i have released the mouse button to launch it via right click in a file or the F4 key in Total Commander (which launches it to edit a text file) the UI is already open.
Also it has a neat feature where when you exit and open it again it "remembers" changes you made to files if you don't save them and new files you created and didn't save (basically saves modified/unsaved files to some temp place i guess) which i find useful to take quick notes.
I use both VSCode and Notepad++, for different purposes.
Notepad++ is great when only working on a few files, or just needing to edit something quickly. It's light, doesn't use a ton of memory and can open huge files quickly.
VSCode has a lot more functionality, like advanced code editing (suggesting function names, showing parameters, refactoring, etc.), and is an actual IDE where you can also debug code, even on remote machines or inside containers. The downside is that it uses a lot of memory, and it doesn't react as fast as Notepad++, especially on low-end hardware.
VSCode is heavy and slow. Not so much by IDE standards, but as a text editor, it is awful. It is what keeps me on Sublime Text.
On a decent computer, VSCode is completely usable, but it is slow enough to be felt, especially when compared to a more lightweight editor. On the old, underpowered and bloated corporate laptop I have to use from time to time, VSCode is slow enough to impact productivity. On the same computer, Notepad++ is fine.
I like it because it’s super fast, but the main reason is familiarity - I know how to do everything with it, and I haven’t seen a strong need for me to pick up another tool.
I’m not interested in jumping on the VS Code hype train, and I already use Visual Studio.
Do you believe everyone should use the same editor and no alternatives have any reason to exist anymore?
I used several editors (not Notepad++ since I moved away from windows many years ago), as they all have their own strengths and use cases where they are best at something.
I can't be classified as a developer (though I'm occasionally write some code), but VSCode on my external monitor is unusable because it plainly ignores ClearType hints. All GUI text in it looks like I had a 24h marathon and didn't clean my glasses for a week.
Everything else (including Notepad++, lol) on that monitor looks just fine. It works on integrated display, but thanks, I prefer 38" to 14".
Rarely do I see a mention of Ultraedit. Although it is a paid software, it was nice and polished as expected. However, I have very limited experience with it. Any thoughts?
Oh my. I used to have a license at some previous work. I was able to read two 2GB text files and do a graphical diff on those, while using a 4GB laptop on Enterprise Windows Vista.
That thing was polished as hell! But "never" versions broke a bit that experience.
I found it horrible to work with proper syntax highlighting and modern things like that, though. At least back then.
jEdit,gEdit,Kate,Npp, and even nagware like sublimeText were rage just a decade or two back because of the huge plugin ecosystem and they were quick heavy lifters. Even the plugin authors were responsive using some heavy php/java forums.
Hackathons and Competitive programming at CodeForces was a feast for us. We were timed and teamed. The setups were above editors or very simple IDEs like Zeus or Leo with almost zero additional cognitive burden. Some even used some esoteric inbuilt editor + FarManager + ConEmu because that is how they were developed for, it seems. It was as if their extended hand, one of them said. What?!!
Used UltraEdit for years but for a couple of years my economy has been so bad I could not pay for the updates so I tested N++ and found it started up so much faster and had pretty much everything I used in UE.
Can't live without it. Now if only the Markdown heading outlines in the function list panel stopped breaking after every upgrade I'd have no complaints.
[+] [-] bitigchi|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nikanj|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] simplyinfinity|4 years ago|reply
[0] https://www.emeditor.com/
[+] [-] ZeWaren|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] myfonj|4 years ago|reply
Several years ago I tried loads of "lightweight" graphical text editors for Windows, searching for something with fast start-up and ability to load (and edit) humongous text files. Been using PSPad back then, with NPP as a side-kick, but when it came to dealing with super large files, this editor came as the most performant and reliable. It's data and memory footprint is super tiny and is quite extensible.
I've never used it as a primary editor so cannot speak much about features (yes it seems dated and configurations seems wonky) but really proved to be workhorse for me.
(Nowadays I mostly live in VSCode but still keep this AkelPad (and Foxe [1] / First Object editor for XML files) around when necessity to deal with something huge arises.)
[0] http://akelpad.sourceforge.net/ [1] http://www.firstobject.com/dn_editor.htm
[+] [-] TonyTrapp|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jakub_g|4 years ago|reply
It has several modes (normal, regex, normal-with-multiline) so you can always choose easily the one that fits your scenario. The multiline one is IMO pretty useful - it allows multiline but allows to avoid clunkiness of regexes and escapings.
[+] [-] ComodoHacker|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] coolso|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] yardie|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vbezhenar|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] e-master|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ghusbands|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pjmlp|4 years ago|reply
Only start VSCode for the workloads MS thinks I must use it, like PowerShell's ISE replacement, Azure tooling, and so forth.
And dream of the day it might be converted into either React Native or MAUI with Blazor.
[+] [-] integricho|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] capableweb|4 years ago|reply
So in terms of bloat/complexity, the order of editors seem to be something like this currently:
Notepad > Notepad++ > Sublime/CudaText > Visual Studio Code > Visual Studio (Proper)/XCode/Other full-blown IDEs
[+] [-] trzeci|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] g8oz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pdevr|4 years ago|reply
The key feature for me is saving unsaved files when you close the editor. Notepad++ does it, Textpad doesn't. For everything else, they are on par.
[+] [-] spapas82|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] senectus1|4 years ago|reply
Those devs are machines
[+] [-] zibzab|4 years ago|reply
Do you use vanilla N++ or have added some extensions?
[+] [-] neals|4 years ago|reply
Even though I was way more productive (...solo) they looked at me like I came from a distant tribe, with just Notepad and no formatting, code coloring, code completing, packagemanager etc.
[+] [-] AnIdiotOnTheNet|4 years ago|reply
I love it, and in my current investigation into the viability of switching to a Linux Desktop it's something I haven't found a good replacement for yet. Notepadqq looks like a Notepad++ clone but I'm wary of its use of Javascript and would have to convert my custom UDLs to CodeMirror modes. I'll probably end up just using Notepad++ with Wine.
[+] [-] notRobot|4 years ago|reply
I have NppFTP pointed to the `www` dir on my dev webserver, and it's so convenient to just be able to edit files in N++, and whenever I Ctrl+S, it automatically uploads and updates content on the server.
[+] [-] medo-bear|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] throwawayair557|4 years ago|reply
https://okular.kde.org/download/
Edit: Wow I didn't know that SumatraPDF Reader is also FOSS. Awesome!
[+] [-] AnIdiotOnTheNet|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] behiri|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jonathanlydall|4 years ago|reply
One of the things that really frustrates me about Notepad++ is the way it does updates, even though the app's auto-updater initiated the installer, I still have to click through all the steps of the installer as if it's the first time it's being installed, quite tedious.
I would ideally like it to be done silently in the background, but I would still be very happy if after clicking a confirmation dialog in the app to do the update, the installer would just run unattended and re-launch the program automatically.
[+] [-] generationP|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AuthorizedCust|4 years ago|reply
Just curious, other than philosophical, why would a developer keep using Notepad++ today? What are its relative strengths?
[+] [-] badsectoracula|4 years ago|reply
Also it has a neat feature where when you exit and open it again it "remembers" changes you made to files if you don't save them and new files you created and didn't save (basically saves modified/unsaved files to some temp place i guess) which i find useful to take quick notes.
[+] [-] ale42|4 years ago|reply
Notepad++ is great when only working on a few files, or just needing to edit something quickly. It's light, doesn't use a ton of memory and can open huge files quickly.
VSCode has a lot more functionality, like advanced code editing (suggesting function names, showing parameters, refactoring, etc.), and is an actual IDE where you can also debug code, even on remote machines or inside containers. The downside is that it uses a lot of memory, and it doesn't react as fast as Notepad++, especially on low-end hardware.
[+] [-] GuB-42|4 years ago|reply
On a decent computer, VSCode is completely usable, but it is slow enough to be felt, especially when compared to a more lightweight editor. On the old, underpowered and bloated corporate laptop I have to use from time to time, VSCode is slow enough to impact productivity. On the same computer, Notepad++ is fine.
[+] [-] booleandilemma|4 years ago|reply
I’m not interested in jumping on the VS Code hype train, and I already use Visual Studio.
[+] [-] brabel|4 years ago|reply
I used several editors (not Notepad++ since I moved away from windows many years ago), as they all have their own strengths and use cases where they are best at something.
[+] [-] justsomehnguy|4 years ago|reply
Everything else (including Notepad++, lol) on that monitor looks just fine. It works on integrated display, but thanks, I prefer 38" to 14".
[+] [-] The_Colonel|4 years ago|reply
For serious work I have Intellij, for quick things N++. VSCode fits nowhere for me. YMMV
[+] [-] kasperset|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] szszrk|4 years ago|reply
That thing was polished as hell! But "never" versions broke a bit that experience.
I found it horrible to work with proper syntax highlighting and modern things like that, though. At least back then.
[+] [-] pjmlp|4 years ago|reply
No idea where it stands nowadays.
[+] [-] nvr219|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] isuleman|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] errantmind|4 years ago|reply
* Vim as default
* VSCode for Rust, the integration with Rust Analyzer is seamless. Semantic highlighting theme availability is also top notch
* Sublime Text for temporary or unsaved files and small file regex
* Notepad++ for huge file regex
Each in their right place (for my purposes anyway).
[+] [-] tpoacher|4 years ago|reply
Both nice, but I prefer Notepad2 on the rare occasion I land on windows and need to quickly download a proper editor to quickly edit something.
Occasionally I install ++ by accident and then go "augh, I meant the other one".
[+] [-] philonoist|4 years ago|reply
Hackathons and Competitive programming at CodeForces was a feast for us. We were timed and teamed. The setups were above editors or very simple IDEs like Zeus or Leo with almost zero additional cognitive burden. Some even used some esoteric inbuilt editor + FarManager + ConEmu because that is how they were developed for, it seems. It was as if their extended hand, one of them said. What?!!
Those were the days man!
[+] [-] Joyfield|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] g8oz|4 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gnuj3|4 years ago|reply