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Editing files quickly and effectively using the command line is vital for every user or system administrator. Whether it is a configuration file, user file, text document, or log, it is a good idea to have a reliable and powerful command-line text editor.
This article describes the top five open-source command-line text editors available on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Top 5 Command-Line Text Editors for Linux, Windows & Mac
Choosing the right command-line text editor depends on your needs and comfort level. The top five command line editors we have chosen to cover in this article are:
- Vim
- Emacs
- Nano
- Micro
- Gedit
The table below shows an overview of the editors’ key features:
| Editor | Supported OS | Capabilities | Expandability | GUI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vim | Windows, Linux, macOS | Highly configurable, syntax highlighting, code folding, powerful text commands. | Extensive plugins available. | Optional GUI through gVim. |
| Emacs | Windows, Linux, macOS | Supports multiple languages, email, calendar, and more. | Highly extensible with packages and modes. | Built-in GUI version available. |
| Nano | Windows, Linux, macOS | Simple and user-friendly, basic text editing. | Limited, but supports syntax highlighting and basic plugins. | / |
| Micro | Windows, Linux, macOS | Modern and intuitive, mouse support, multiple cursors, syntax highlighting. | Supports plugins written in Lua. | / |
| Gedit | Windows, Linux, macOS | Full-featured text editor, syntax highlighting, search/replace. | Supports plugins to extend functionality. | Primarily GUI, terminal mode on Linux. |
For more information about each text editor, refer to the sections below.
1. Vim
Vim is a very flexible text editor that is suitable for performing many different operations on text. It is widely regarded as one of the most powerful text editors available. Vim was released in 1991 as an enhanced version of the Vi editor, and it has since become a highly configurable text editing tool.
The editor is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It has a steep learning curve, but once you learn how to use it, it becomes incredibly efficient. Some of its features include syntax highlighting, code folding, find and replace with regular expressions, complex text transformations with minimal keystrokes, color schemes, and much more.
Vim’s functionality can be even further extended with a wide variety of plugins available through its plugin manager. The plugins enable syntax highlighting, auto-completion, integration with version control systems, and more.
The editor also comes with a graphical user interface, gVim, which adds menus and toolbars while retaining Vim’s powerful command-line interface. The following image shows Vim’s terminal and GUI view:
Vim’s flexibility and power make it the top choice for advanced users who need a highly customizable text editor.
2. Emacs
GNU Emacs is a powerful text editor that is part of an entire app ecosystem. It was created by Richard Stallman in 1976 and has since become one of the most extensible and feature-rich editors available. Emacs is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
The editor is highly versatile and supports editing in almost every programming language. Its built-in package manager provides functionalities that range from email clients to calendar systems. Its powerful scripting language, Emacs Lisp, enables users to customize and automate almost any aspect of the text editor.
Emacs’ functionality can be extended with various packages and modes, including specialized programming environments, document processing, and even games. The editor is also available in the GUI mode, with a more user-friendly interface with a menu and toolbars. The image below shows its terminal and GUI view:
Emacs focuses on adaptability, making it a preferred tool for users who want an all-in-one editor capable of much more than text manipulation.
3. Nano
GNU Nano is the go-to text editor for many users who need something simple and straightforward. It was designed with ease of use in mind, as part of the GNU Project that provides a more user-friendly alternative to the traditional Unix text editor, Pico.
Nano is supported on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and it offers basic text editing functions like cut, copy, paste, and simple search/replace, all within a clean and minimal interface. Unlike Vim or Emacs, Nano does not require users to remember complex commands. Most functions are accessible via keyboard shortcuts that the terminal displays at the bottom of the screen:
Although Nano is less flexible than Vim or Emacs, it supports some basic enhancements such as syntax highlighting and automatic indentation through configuration files. However, there is no GUI version, as Nano is a command-line-only editor.
Nano’s simplicity and accessibility make it a great choice for beginners or anyone who needs to make quick edits without the overhead of more complex editors.
4. Micro
Micro is a modern text editor that combines many benefits of traditional editors like Vim and Emacs with simplicity and ease of use. It is intuitive, making it accessible even to those new to command-line editors.
The editor is available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and it offers a user-friendly experience on all operating systems. It boasts features like mouse support, multiple cursors, and syntax highlighting out of the box. Its default keybindings are easy to learn.
Unlike many other command-line editors, Micro provides a more modern interface with smooth scrolling, split-pane editing, and an easy-to-navigate help system. The features are expandable through plugins, such as auto-completion, theming, and more.
Although Micro is a strictly command-line editor, its modern interface provides an experience similar to that of a GUI editor. The image below shows an example of its CLI:
It is an excellent choice for users who want the power of a command-line editor with a more modern and user-friendly interface.
5. Gedit
Gedit is primarily the default text editor for the GNOME desktop environment. Although it is mainly a graphical editor, it can be used in terminal mode on Linux, making it a versatile option for those who switch between GUI and CLI.
The editor is available in Windows and Linux, with unofficial macOS support. Some of the text editors’ features include syntax highlighting, search and replace, file backups, text wrapping, and more.
Gedit’s functionality can be extended with plugins for additional features like version control integration, spell checking, and more advanced editing tools. Although Gedit is primarily a graphical editor, it can also be launched in terminal mode on Linux systems. It is one of the few editors that is GUI-first.
The editor’s ease of use and cross-platform availability make it suitable for those who want a consistent experience across different environments.
Conclusion
This article listed the top command-line editors for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Choosing between them depends on what you expect from a text editor. Each editor has its strengths, so whether you are looking for raw power, simplicity, or something in between, this list should help you find the right tool for the job.
If you are a Linux user, check out our list of 7 best Linux text editors.
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When it comes to programming, nothing is arguably more heated than a debate about text editors. At times, the arguments border on fanaticism to the point that choosing the right editor almost confirms your status among your peers.
While in actuality it may not be that dramatic, selecting the right option from the plethora of text editors available is important. You have to consider your needs, the project, your current ability, and much more.
As such, this post is going to look at a number of different text editors. Throughout we’ll offer advice on which one may be more suitable. First, let’s talk more about why a dedicated text editor is necessary.
Why You’d Need a Dedicated Text Editor
In a nutshell, your choice of text editor is important enough to warrant some serious research. Among the YouTube channels and Reddit forums, you may come across some severe fanaticism for one particular editor.
While most is hyperbole and dramatics, there is sound reasoning for getting your choice right:
- As time goes on, you get used to a particular editor and the way it works. This will speed up your work compared to a newbie to the editor.
- One editor may offer a different ‘feel’ that suits you over another. This is obviously going to be subjective, hence the arguments.
- Some editors offer functionality that can assist your workflow with a particular language or framework.
As such, you’ll want to consider the makeup of your perfect text editor carefully. Getting the wrong blend of features and functionality could even set you back.
What You Should Look For In a Text Editor
When it comes to the exact features you should seek out, most of it is largely subjective. However, there is a list of considerations you should keep in mind:
- Can you export projects from one editor and import it into another?
- Do the keyboard bindings make sense, especially if you’re coming from an editor such as Vim, which has an idiosyncratic approach to editing?
- How well supported is the text editor, in case of issues? If there’s no active support, an open-source editor is going to be marginally more suitable.
- Is the workflow logical to you, in as much as setting up projects and working daily using the editor?
There are many more considerations you can make, but these are going to help you narrow down your options. One thing’s for certain, you should choose a text editor based on your own needs, rather than go with forum opinions.
Let’s take a look at the eight text editors we’ll feature. Here’s a quick summary of each one:
- Vim. This text editor has a reputation for a vertical learning curve. However, it’s actually intuitive to use.
- Atom. An open-source functional editor that has lots of ‘hackability’.
- Sublime Text. The ‘old man’ of premium text editors has been around for years, yet still delivers.
- Notepad++. Windows users will appreciate this flexible upgrade to Notepad, that can also scale with your ability.
- Visual Studio Code. A Microsoft product that has captured over half of the text editing market share.
- Intellij IDEA. A full-fledged Integrated Development Environment (IDE). There are actually a number of spin-offs available from the developers.
- BBEdit. This is a great first text editor that also has a bunch of excellent premium functionality.
- Nova. The developers are known for their previous Mac-only editor Coda – and for the popular Untitled Goose Game cult classic!
Without further ado, let’s take a look!
1. Vim
First off, let’s deal with the sorcerer’s text editor. Vim comes with a reputation. It’s known as power editor, mainly because of…well, everything about it.
It’s a terminal-based text editor that uses idiosyncratic key bindings to navigate and populate your files. There’s no Graphical Use Interface (GUI), and your hands practically have to stay on the keyboard for the entire time.
It’s open-source and pre-packaged with macOS and Linux machines. As such, it’s become an editor of choice for sysadmins and general IT techs. Even so, it’s actually intuitive, and the built-in vimtutor takes about an hour to complete.
We’d suggest that Vim isn’t necessarily suitable for a coding beginner, because you have to learn Vim as well as your language of choice. However, if you have the stomach, getting to grips with Vim is going to make you more efficient and knowledgeable in the long run.
2. Atom
Next, Atom is a text editor that once got a lot of love, but has fallen out of favor with developers. However, it’s still capable and worth installing – perhaps as your primary editor.
It’s based on the Electron framework, and was developed by the GitHub team prior to the Microsoft acquisition. As such, it can lag a little compared to other native text editors.
Atom looks like many other text editors, although there are some nice touches throughout. There’s a built-in terminal for running programs, and GitHub integration as standard:
It may be a touch slow, but Atom is a worthwhile editor for both those new to coding and long-time programmers. We haven’t even touched on its extensibility through ‘packages’, which makes Atom a text editor that can be adapted to any project or language.
3. Sublime Text
You’ll likely have seen Sublime Text in the past, or even heard of it. However, you may not have used it. This is a shame because it’s a fantastic minimalist text editor that can stick with you from your very first “Hello, World!” line, to large-scale professional projects.
At a base level its simply a text editor. However, it offers much more that the competition have adapted. For example, the Command Palette can be found in Atom and Jetbrains products, and the Goto Anything feature has Vim-like functionality:
Overall, Sublime Text is a great text editor, and what’s more the licensing is flexible. While the trial version is unrestricted, if you stick with Sublime Text you should pay the developer the $80 price. It’s a steal for the functionality you get.
4. Notepad++
Windows users are going to be familiar with Notepad. It’s the default text editor on the Operating System (OS) and, to be diplomatic, it’s functional. Still, this author remembers using Notepad to write early HTML, and it’s going to be the same for many web developers.
However, Notepad++ takes things up a peg or two. On the surface it looks like Notepad, but offers a bunch of other functionality such as split windows, support for over 80 programming languages, and much more.
While it may not look the part, its robustness is arguably great for big or complex projects. The user base is certainly huge, so there’s enough in the box to support this type of project.
Generally, you’ll find beginners using Notepad++ as a learning editor, and it often sticks around as a quick scripting editor at least. Of course, it also finds its way into professional development environments – testament to its quality.
5. Visual Studio Code
It isn’t even a decade old, and Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code has grabbed over half of the market share when it comes to text editors. It’s took much of Atom’s user base over the years given the common development team, and bitten into practically every other text editor available.
It’s not hard to see why. Visual Studio Code is a free text editor first and foremost, with a comprehensive extension library to customize the editor to your needs.
It also helps that the User Interface (UI) is gorgeous, and the code looks pretty:
Visual Studio Code also brings over functionality from Atom, such as the GitHub integration. What’s more, there’s support for JavaScript and TypeScript out of the box, which is going to please front-end developers.
Even so, practically all coders can use Visual Studio Code to create and deploy projects. It’s had take up from Python developers too, so it’s adaptable to your needs as much as any other text editor.
6. Intellij IDEA
Along with Visual Studio Code, Notepad++, and Vim, Intellij IDEA from Jetbrains is another of the top-tier text editors available.
In fact, IDEA is an IDE – hence the name – so offers much more than basic text editing. For example, you can create different run configurations to suit various production needs, or use the built-in terminal to interact with a project.
There’s also a fantastic database manager in the premium version that makes even Adminer look cumbersome. However, with this functionality comes a cost.
Jetbrains’ business model is to get you to subscribe to an annual package containing all of its tools. However, while many of these are great for working with individual languages, they’re all just spin-offs of the main IDEA program. What’s more, it can get expensive quickly.
Ultimately, unless you’re earning money from your programming, IDEA is likely out of reach. However, there is an open-source Community Edition that offers much of the same functionality, but for zero cost.
7. BBEdit
BBEdit is likely the least known on this list, but comes with a vocal user base and robust functionality.
It’s a macOS-only text editor that supports AppleScript – so if you’re looking to write powerful macros, BBEdit has you covered. Editing-wise it’s billed as a HTML editor primarily, so front-end developers are going to like this more than PHP coders.
You may have used TextWrangler in the past, which was a great all-purpose text editor that has now been sunsetted. However, those features are found in a free tier of BBEdit, which is great news for those looking for their first editor.
BBEdit has been around since 1991, so there’s a longstanding pedigree and degree of stability with the text editor. What’s more, an individual license is $49, which is good value for what’s in the box.
8. Nova (Formally Coda)
Finally, we have a Mac-only premium text editor – Nova. The developers (Panic) have a few macOS-specific utilities that get good reviews, such as the Transmit File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client. What’s more, they’ve published the cult Untitled Goose Game for many different platforms. Certainly, this is a company that likes to do things differently.
Suffice to say, Nova knocks it out of the park. It feels and looks just like a native Mac app would, but of course it’s a third-party text editor. There’s also a great floating quick launch bar for various Nova features:
What’s more, Panic wrote their own text layout engine after finding bugs in Apple’s own. This makes Nova snappy and responsive, which is welcome when you compare it to something like Atom.
There are a bunch of supported languages out of the box, and you can extend the functionality of Nova further too. For Mac users who don’t feel as though they’ll use another OS, Nova could fit the bill. It has a similar feel to Xcode, and at $99, it’s a steal.
In Summary
While it may not be as important as sites such as YouTube makes out, your choice of text editor can make your work run more smoothly. With the right blend of features and functionality, you’ll gain more in the way of efficiency and productivity.
This post has looked at eight text editors, and they will each suit different purposes. Atom or Notepad++ are great functional editors with flexibility in their design. However, an IDE could streamline your workflow in a professional environment. For power users, Vim is a ‘hardcore’ solution with a bark worse than its bite.
Is your favorite text editor on this list, or has our roundup caused you to have a roving eye? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Text editors can be used for writing code, editing text files such as configuration files, creating user instruction files, and many more.
In Linux operating systems, text editors are of two kinds that is the graphical user interface (GUI) and command-line text editors (console or terminal).
In this article, I am examining the best open-source text editors commonly used in Linux on both servers and desktops.
1. Vi/Vim Editor
Vim is a powerful command-line-based text editor that has enhanced the functionalities of the old Unix Vi text editor.
It is one of the most popular and widely used text editors among System Administrators and Programmers which is why many users often refer to it as a programmer’s editor. It enables syntax highlighting when writing code or editing configuration files.
Install Vim in Linux
You can install Vim editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install vim [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install vim [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/vim [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add vim [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S vim [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install vim [On OpenSUSE]
If you want to see our complete series on Vim editor, please refer to the links below:
2. Gedit
Gedit is a default text editor on the Gnome desktop environment, that is a general-purpose GUI-based text editor known for its simplicity, high extensibility, and powerful features.
Some of its notable features include:
- Support for UTF-8.
- Use of configurable font size and colors.
- Highly customizable syntax highlighting.
- Undo and redo functionalities.
- Reverting of files.
- Remote editing of files.
- Search and replace text.
- Clipboard support functionalities and many more.
Install Gedit in Linux
You can install Gedit editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install gedit [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install gedit [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/gedit [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add gedit [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S gedit [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install gedit [On OpenSUSE]
3. Nano Editor
Nano is an easy-to-use and user-friendly command-line text editor that offers essential text editing functions and keyboard shortcuts, making it a convenient choice for quick and efficient file editing tasks.
Nano has the following features:
- Highly customizable key bindings.
- Syntax highlighting.
- Undo and redo options.
- Full line display on the standard output.
- Pager support to read from standard input.
Install Nano in Linux
You can install Nano editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install nano [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install nano [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/nano [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add nano [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S nano [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install nano [On OpenSUSE]
4. GNU Emacs
Emacs is a highly extensible and customizable text editor that also offers an interpretation of the Lisp programming language at its core. Different extensions can be added to support text editing functionalities.
Emacs has the following features:
- User documentation and tutorials.
- Syntax highlighting using colors even for plain text.
- Unicode supports many natural languages.
- Various extensions including mail and news, debugger interface, calendar, and many more.
Install Emacs in Linux
You can install Emacs editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install emacs [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install emacs [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/emacs [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add emacs [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S emacs [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install emacs [On OpenSUSE]
5. Kate/Kwrite
Kate is a feature-rich and highly pluggable text editor that comes with KDesktop Environment (KDE). The Kate project aims at the development of two main products that are: KatePart and Kate.
KatePart is an advanced text editor component included in many KDE applications that may require users to edit text whereas Kate is a multiple document interface (MDI) text, editor.
The following are some of its general features:
- Extensible through scripting.
- Encoding support such as Unicode mode.
- Text rendering in bi-directional mode.
- Line-ending support with auto-detection functionalities.
Additionally, it offers remote file editing, along with a wide range of features, including advanced text editing, application capabilities, programming support, text highlighting, backup functionality, and search and replace options
Install Kate on Linux
You can install Kate editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install kate [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install kate [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/kate [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add kate [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S kate [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install kate [On OpenSUSE]
6. Sublime Text Editor
Sublime Text is a powerful cross-platform source code editor with a Python programming interface. It supports many programming languages and markup languages, and features can be added by users with plugins, mostly community-built and supported under free software licenses.
Install Sublime in Linux
You can install Sublime Text editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install sublime-text [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install sublime-text [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/sublime-text [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add sublime-text [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S sublime-text [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install sublime-text [On OpenSUSE]
7. Jed Editor
Jed is also another command-line editor with support for GUI-like features such as dropdown menus, color syntax highlighting, a variety of programming modes, regular expressions, and more.
It is developed purposely for software development and one of its important features is the support of Unicode mode.
Install Jed in Linux
You can install Jed editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install jed [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install jed [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/jed [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add jed [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S jed [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install jed [On OpenSUSE]
8. gVim Editor
gVim, short for “GNU Vim” is a powerful, highly configurable text editor popular among programmers and developers. It combines the capabilities of Vim with a graphical interface and offers similar functionalities like syntax highlighting, extensive plugin support, and a modal editing system, making it a versatile choice for text editing and coding tasks.
Install gVim in Linux
You can install the gVim editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install gvim [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install gvim [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/gvim [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add gvim [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S gvim [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install gvim [On OpenSUSE]
9. Geany Editor
Geany is a tiny and lightweight integrated development environment that offers basic IDE-like features with a focus on software development using the GTK+ toolkit.
It has some basic features as listed below:
- Syntax highlighting.
- Pluggable interface.
- Supports many file types.
- Enables code folding and code navigation.
- Symbol name and construct auto-completion.
- Supports auto-closing of HTML and XML tags.
- Elementary project management functionality plus many more.
Install Geany in Linux
You can install Geany editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install geany [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install geany [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/geany [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add geany [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S geany [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install geany [On OpenSUSE]
10. Leafpad
Leafpad is a GTK+-based text editor that prioritizes simplicity by minimizing its weight and incorporating only essential features that offer a user-friendly, lightweight solution for efficient text editing tasks.
It has the following features:
- Codeset option.
- Allows auto-detection of codeset.
- Options of undo and redo.
- Display file line numbers.
- Supports Drag and Drop options.
- Printing support.
Install Leafpad in Linux
You can install Leafpad editor in Linux systems using your default package manager or snap package manager as shown.
$ sudo snap install leafpad
11. Bluefish
Bluefish is a robust editor designed for programmers and web developers and offers extensive capabilities for website development, scripting, and coding. With support for numerous programming and markup languages, it empowers developers to work efficiently and effectively on a wide range of projects.
It offers a wide set of features as listed below:
- Lightweight and fast.
- Integrates external Linux programs such as lint, weblint, make, and many others and filters, piping such as sed, sort, awk, and many more.
- Spelling check feature.
- Supports working on multiple projects.
- Remote file editing.
- Search and replace support.
- Undo and redo option.
- Auto-recovery of modified files.
Install Bluefish on Linux
You can install Bluefish editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install bluefish [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install bluefish [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/bluefish [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add bluefish [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S bluefish [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install bluefish [On OpenSUSE]
12. GNOME Text Editor
GNOME Text Editor, also known as Gedit, is a default text editor for the GNOME desktop environment that provides essential features for text editing, code writing, markup languages, and plugin support which make it a popular choice among Linux users.
Install GNOME Text Editor on Linux
You can install the GNOME editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install gnome-text-editor [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install gnome-text-editor [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/gnome-text-editor [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add gnome-text-editor [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S gnome-text-editor [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install gnome-text-editor [On OpenSUSE]
13. Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code, commonly referred to as VS Code is a robust, free, and open-source modern code editor built by Microsoft for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
It offers tons of powerful features including:
- Full debugging capability with an interactive console, breakpoints, call stacks, etc.
- Built-in Git support with Git commands.
- IntelliSense
- 100% customizability
- Support for tons of languages straight out of the box.
- Toggable layouts.
- Built-in terminal.
Install Visual Studio Code in Linux
You can install VS Code editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install code [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install code [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/code [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add code [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S code [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install code [On OpenSUSE]
14. Neovim – Vim-based Text Editor
Neovim is a hyperextensible vim-based text editor with a focus on usability and function extensibility. It was forked from the popular Vim editor in order to aggressively refactor its functionality and usability with modern GUIs, asynchronous job control, etc.
Neovim’s feature highlights include:
- Free and open-source license.
- Support for XDG base directories.
- Compatibility with most Vim plugins.
- An embedded, configurable terminal emulator.
Install Neovim in Linux
You can install Neovim editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install neovim [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install neovim [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/neovim [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add neovim [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S neovim [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install neovim [On OpenSUSE]
15. Notepad++
Notepad++ is a customizable text editor built with a focus on speed and minimal program size for Windows platforms. It is developed based on the Scintilla text editor and can have its functionality extended with tons of plugins.
Its features include:
- Tabbed editing
- Code folding
- Bookmark support
- Document map
- Perl Compatible Regular Expression
Install Notepad++ in Linux
You can install the Notepad++ editor in Linux systems using the snap package manager as shown.
$ sudo snap install notepad-plus-plus
16. Kakoune Code Editor
Kakoune is a free and open-source Vim-based modal text editor with an editing model that implements Vi’s keystrokes as a text editing language.
It has several features among which are:
- Auto-indentation.
- Case manipulation.
- Piping each selection to an external filter.
- Hooks
- Syntax highlighting.
- Customization.
- Multiple selections.
Install Kakoune on Linux
You can install the Kakoune editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install kakoune [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install kakoune [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/kakoune [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add kakoune [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S kakoune [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install kakoune [On OpenSUSE]
17. Micro – Terminal-based Text Editor
Micro is a command line-based text editor built to be easy and intuitive enough for users to take advantage of the features in other terminal-based text editors without the steep learning curve.
Micro’s feature highlights include:
- Mouse support
- Multiple cursors
- Terminal emulation
- High customizability
- Plugin system
- Static library with no dependencies
Install Micro in Linux
You can easily install a micro text editor in your Linux distribution by running the following installation script using the curl command as shown.
$ curl https://getmic.ro | bash
18. Brackets Text Editor
Brackets is a modern free and open-source code editor created by Adobe with a focus on web development. It is written in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to offer web developers a rich code editing experience with the ability to extend its native features using several free extensions.
Brackets features include:
- A beautiful User Interface
- Preprocessor support for SCSS and LESS
- Inline editors
- Live preview
- Multiple tabbed editing
- PHP support
- Supports Language Server Protocol
- Support for plugin extensions
Install Brackets in Linux
You can install the Brackets editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install brackets [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install brackets [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/brackets [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add brackets [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S brackets [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install brackets [On OpenSUSE]
Alternatively, you can use the snap package manager to install Brackets in Linux.
$ sudo snap install brackets
19. Mousepad Text Editor
Mousepad is a lightweight and user-friendly text editor primarily designed for the Xfce desktop environment and offers essential features for basic text editing, making it suitable for quick tasks without overwhelming users.
Install Mousepad in Linux
You can install the Mousepad editor in Linux systems using your default package manager as shown.
$ sudo apt install mousepad [On Debian, Ubuntu and Mint] $ sudo yum install mousepad [On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora and Rocky/AlmaLinux] $ sudo emerge -a sys-apps/mousepad [On Gentoo Linux] $ sudo apk add mousepad [On Alpine Linux] $ sudo pacman -S mousepad [On Arch Linux] $ sudo zypper install mousepad [On OpenSUSE]
20. Lite Editor
Lite is a new text editor mostly developed in the Lua language, that aims to offer something practical, pleasing, tiny, and fast, created as simply as possible; easy to alter and expand, or to use without doing either.
21. Ash Editor
ash is a plain and clean command line-based text editor, that is designed to be easy to use with modern key bindings and it is efficient enough to manage a large number of files simultaneously and has a broad array of modern features.
22. CudaText
CudaText is a new clean open-source and cross-platform text editor that comes with tons of features which include:
- Syntax highlights a lot of languages.
- Find/Replace with regular expressions.
- Command palette, with fuzzy matching.
- Binary/Hex viewer for files of unlimited size.
- Support for many encodings.
23. Medit Text Editor
medit is a lightweight open-source text editor for Mac, Linux, and Windows. It originally started as a simple built-in component of the GGAP editor and is now its own stand-alone text editor.
medit’s features include
- Customizable syntax highlighting.
- Support for plugins written in Python, C, or Lua.
- Support for regular expressions.
- Configurable keyboard accelerators.
Concluding
I believe the list is more than what we have looked at, therefore if you have used other free and open-source text editors, let us know by posting a comment. Thanks for reading and always stay connected to Tecmint.
— 7 min read
Table of Content
While writing, it’s essential to have a distraction-free environment. That will help the writer formulate his ideas into words.
Most of the text processor software and document editor programs are full of tools, customization options which make them distracting the writer, and they already take large portion of the screen.
Distraction-free editors are required by writers, screenwriters, novelists, researchers and journalists.
Distraction-free modes have several criteria that starts from minimal user-interface, full-screen mode, few tools in the user-interface and focus mode.
If you are interested about open-source tools for writers and editors, we have created a new list here:
- 18 Recommended Open-Source Tools for Writers and content creators
However, some writers may require one-way writing mode: «Hemingway mode» which disabled backspace and delete key-press buttons. So, You can find Hemingway-enabled editors highlighted in the list.
In this article we collected the best open-source free distraction-free editors.
Distraction-free document editors
1- FocusWriter
I have been using FocusWriter for years, It’s a distraction-free editor so far on Linux and Windows. Mainly because its built-in alarms and timers features.
FocusWriter supports TXT, RTF and ODT (OpenDocument format). It features a timers and alarms, fully customizable theme, fonts and background, spell-checking, live statistics and multi-document support.
FocusWriter also is translated to more than 20 languages.
Platform: Linux, Windows.
License: GPLv3.0
2- Typora
Typora is a markdown editor with a beautiful layout theme and powerful customizable options.
It comes with an eye-candy interface, with live-preview option and minimal layout support.
Typora features include: File browser, outline preview panel, live-statistics (words and lines count), import/ export functionality which supports (PDF for export, Docx, OpenOffice, LaTeX, EPUB and Wiki files for import), and auto-complete brackets.
In addition to all the previous features, Typora support images, tables, diagrams, lists, LaTeX, code and inline-styles.
Personally, I have been using it for quite sometime and it’s really productive writing environment.
Platform: Windows, Linux and macOS (Beta)
3- PyRoom
PyRoom is a minimal full-screen text editor. It hides all the visual elements and tools from the screen even the visual clutter allows the writers to be more productive.
With PyRoom the user can control his writing environment with shortcuts, work on multiple documents, keep track of his word-counts, and customize the editor screen and editor options with preconfigured set of configuration.
To get the full experience with PyRoom, It’s required to go through its documentation to see how it can be customized.
4-Left: by HundredRabbits
Left is a lightweight plaintext editor for Windows, macOS and Linux. It can be downloaded from Itch the indie games marketplace.
Left features include a clean interface with theme support, file and document layout browser, reader/ writing mode, handy shortcuts to control the editor and live-statistics.
5- ghostwriter
If you are using multiple desktop environment like Windows, Linux or macOS together in your daily life, then ghostwriter is your best option in this list.
ghostwriter is built specifically for writers as distraction-free editor it comes with different writing modes: a focus mode and a Hemingway mode which disables the backspace and delete key. This unique feature may come handy for writers who like to proceed for their project without hitting backspace or delete.
ghostwriter features hud-style navigation, multiple file format export (Pandoc, markdown, discount, commonmark, HTML, PDF, ODT and Docs), custom themes, document statistics, and full-image insertion support which comes with native drag-drop option.
6- Apostrophe
Apostrophe is lightweight markdown editor focuses on simplicity and productivity for Linux desktops. It’s mainly developed by Wolf Vollprecht and Manuel Genovés.
It comes with rich-set of features which include live-preview or on-click preview, export to dozens of formats, full-screen focus mode, spellchecking, live-stats, an interface which is localized to about 20 languages.
Despite Apostrophe is using pandoc primarily for markdown processing, it also supports five different markdown flavors.
Hemingway mode is also a prominent feature for Apostrophe, and that makes it the second app on this list with this mode.
Platform: Linux.
Resources: GitHub
7- Laverna
Laverna is a note-taking application with full-markdown editing support and distraction-free mode.
Laverna features a rich-set of keybindings to ensure smooth usability, code highlighting for developers and a to-do list for task management.
Compared to the apps on this list, Laverna is the only one that offers a self-hosted version.
It’s an open-source software released under MPL-2.0 license.
Platform: Linux (x32/ x64) , Windows (x32/ x64) and macOS.
Web: Self-hosted edition.
Android: Android version is a work-in-progress.
8- Manuskript
If you are a professional writer, plot editor or novelist and you are looking for a tool to help you in your characters design, plot layout and world design, then Menuskript is for you.
Manuskript is packed with all what the professional writers need, starting from organizing their thoughts into a well-designed outliner, store line editor, a full-screen distraction-free mode and a novel writing assistant to help the writers dive into designing complex characters design and complex universe.
The distraction-free mode is fully customizable as it also allows importing your pre-defined themes from FocusWriter.
Menuskript uses card to help writers index and organize their thoughts, ideas, scenes and chapters.
Because professional writers often need more than word counts statistics, Menuskript offers a powerful frequency analyzer to help find what are the most used words or sentences.
9- Writemonkey
Writemonkey is a Windows editor with multi-markdown flavor support. It has a rich spelling engine which is used by Mozilla and OpenOffice.
As beside the common features, this editor is packed with many useable functions which I find them unique like: Bookmarks, Jumps, Progress bar, Multiple monitor support.
Writemonkey also features auto-save, data clipping, detailed document statistics and writing sounds.
Platform: Windows.
License: Freeware ads-free
10- Beat
Beat is a minimal lightweight editor for macOS. It’s built with complete integration to macOS Finder.
Beat is a Libre open-source software with features that compete with commercial apps. Beat features include PDF export, color coded scene, autocomplete characters, timeline, scene filtering, outlining, automatic paragraphs, automatic element insertion, screen numbering and automatic save.
Additional, Beat has full support for Fountain syntax, Final Draft import/ export and Fountain Quicklook in Finder.
Platform: macOS
License: GPL
11- Raven
Raven is a multi-platform editor for Windows, Linux and macOS. It can be used for book writing and editing because its custom features.
In the same manner, Raven is a minimal distraction-free, comes with chapters manager, novel and book import and export to markdown and HTML.
Besides that, It works with Dropbox and Google Drive. Note that Raven is in Beta stage until publishing this article.
Platform: macOS, Linux, Windows (32bit/ 64bit)
License: MIT license.
12- QuollWriter (Windows Only)
Menuskript alternative / share/ problem highlight/ advanced stats/ idea and thoughts organizer/ tags/ import/ export, automatic backup, Achievements, logging, auto-save.
QuollWriter is custom writing environment for Windows.
Besides having a zen modem, QuollWriter has many features for professional writers like chapters’ manager, problem highlighting, advanced statistics, logging (unique), tags, automatic backup (unique), achievements manager, logging, autosave and import/ export.
Professional writers many find QuollWriter as a good alternative for Menuskript.
13- PanWriter
PanWriter is an open-source minimal markdown editor with full support to pandoc format.
In addition to its simplicity, PanWriter can convert from and to markdown, HTML, MS Office Word, EPUB (eBook), LaTeX, and more. It also can export to PowerPoint slide-shows, and Adobe InDesign ICML.
Platform: Windows, macOS and Linux (AppImage)
Download: GitHub
License: GPLv3.0
14- Alighieri
Alighieri, yet another minimal writer with rich-features set which include zen-mode, dark mode, automatic formatting, full markdown and plain-text import and export, HTML5/ PDF export and document statistics.
Platform: Web, Windows, macOS and Linux.
Extra: works seamlessly on Android phones and tablets as well as iOS devices (iPhone and iPad)
License: MIT License
15- Litewrite
Litewrite is a minimal distraction-free web-based editor. It’s designed to work through all modern browser with complete offline support. It supports data synchronization with Dropbox and Google Drive.
You can try the project here.
Please note that the project has not been updated for more than two years.
16- EMACS Zen Mode
If you are using EMACS, then consider trying out Zen Mode for EMACS. It converts the editor to a distraction-free writing environment.
It’s very easy to install and use for EMACS users.
17- VSCode Writer Mode
Millions of software developers around the world use VSCode; a modular open-source code editor. Some may use it for writing articles as I do (sometimes), so VSCode Writer mode is for them.
The WriterCode module transform VSCode into a complete distraction free environment with full-screen support.
18- Foco (android)
If you are interested in using your Android tablet or phone for writing, We recommend trying Foco; a minimal full-screen text editor.
Foco is available as open-source project on GitHub.
19- WhiteRoom
WhiteRoom is a small lightweight minimal text editor for Windows. It’s also an open-source solution that is released under Open Software License V3.0.
Despite its tiny size, it has an impressive features list.
20- Flow Writer
Flow Writer App is a self-hosted web-based distraction-free writer that is compatible with Google Chrome and FireFox. It’s very minimal and does not offer options like import/ export or markdown support.
It works well with iPad and Android tablets.
21- ZenPen
ZenPen is a web-based free full-screen distraction-free written by Tim Holman. It’s already hosted online so it does not require any install.
22- TextRoom
is an abandoned distraction-free editor which is written for Linux desktops.
Conclusion
As this article comes to an end, It’s important to note that we selected the best ones of our collection that we went through for days. We missed some out there, but we do believe this list will help many writers to choose the best distraction-free writer software to boost their productivity.
If you have any idea or software that we can add to this list, please feel free to contact us.
Have you ever used a specific programming language to create a file from scratch, like HTML or CSS file? Are you familiar with building files with extensions such as txt, reg, bat, js, etc? Are you managed to view a text version of a file that you didn’t know the format?. If the answer is yes, then you are familiar with a text editor and what it is. If you haven’t done any of this then you might not have used a text editor for at least to remove text formatting such as italic, hyperlinks, etc. For them, text editors are mainly used to perform the above functions. So you know what text editor is, but you probably don’t know the best options out there.
Please read on to find out the best Text Editors for PCs. Whether it is Windows, Mac or Linux, these text editors are going to make you productive while you code next time.
Notepad++
If you are wondering which one is the best text editor for PCs to start with, read the title again; Notepad++. It might be the first text editor one may stumble upon. This best text editor is Windows only and it is free. One of the plus points of this text editor is its interface. You are getting a customizable interface with this popular code editor. Do you wish for a minimal and simple interface or do you rather prefer the toolbar-rich interface? You can choose either of them as you wish.
Another thing about the user interface of this text editor for Windows that the users would find useful is the tabbed interface. This would help you to work on multiple documents with ease. The document map is a feature of this best code editor which gives a view of where you are standing in your work at any given time.
And there are a few productive features such as auto-completion, text-shortening, macro recording, shortcut customization and more. You can also do syntax highlighting and it is customizable. You can get Notepad++ either as an installable app or as a portable app so that you can even run it from a flash drive/cloud storage service. This text editor for Windows is coming with a lot of other plugins to extend the features.
Download from Website: Notepad++
Note: Even though Notepad is a powerful editor, it is not supporting Mac OS. For Mac users, please see 8 Best Notepad++ Alternative for Mac Users.
Light Table
Light Table is a cross-platform text editor available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. This minimalist text editor is best suited for website development, but not limited to that. One of the most interesting features of this text editor for Mac is the instant preview of the webpage working on, which will display on the embedded browser.
To make the most use of screen space, this code editor fashions a tabbed and pane interface. The open-source text editor for Linux is a result of a Kickstarter project. Most of the features in this text editor meet the needs of users such as inline code feedback, instant testing of code, centralized plugins, and so on.
Download from Website: LightTable
BlueFish
BlueFish is yet another multi-platform text editor so that whether you are a Windows, Mac OS or Linux user, you can get the benefits of this Linux text editor. This text editor for PC can handle a huge number of files simultaneously and can still keep up its speed. This lightweight text editor may overwhelm some people as it got an excess amount of tabs and toolbars. You will appreciate this text editor for the snippet support and external program integration.
If you are a web developer, this text editor gives you the ability of remote editing. You also get features such as syntax highlighting and checking. With support for a majority of programming languages, BlueFish is one of the best code editors out there.
Download from Website: BlueFish
Related: Cortana on Android: A Complete Guide to use on Android
Sublime Text
Sublime is a feature-packed text editor with support for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. It’s distributed as evaluation software, or in other words, you can try it for free without any time limit. Then you might have to pay $70 to get the full license. Another attractive thing is that sublime text stays fast and responsive even on less-powerful devices.
This text editor for Linux features powerful search functionality within the app. There is a distraction-free mode to help you focus, by hiding away all the clutter. You can select multiple rows and make changes to them simultaneously in the sublime text editor.
One area where this best code editor shines is the keyboard shortcuts. You will get to use a large number of keyboard commands to operate inside this text editor Mac. Moreover, you could also customize these shortcuts to your convenience and even chain the shortcuts together to achieve complex and fast operations.
To open multiple documents at the same time, this best text editor has got a tabbed interface. If you wish to see where you are in the document at any point of time, look at the right side of the window and you can see the bird’s eye view of the same. The sublime text also provides plugins and add-ons for specific programming languages.
Download from Website: Sublime Text
Gedit
If you have used GNOME Linux desktop, you might know about Gedit, since it is the default text editor for Linux. But that doesn’t mean it is confined to that platform alone. You will get Gedit versions compatible with Windows and Mac OS too. The text editor for PC has a simple design and useful features are packed in. You will get syntax highlighting as many of other code editors does. To help you make changes quickly, it features a ‘search and replace‘ capability.
This Linux text editor has a tabbed interface. Many more features are included in it like bracket matching that will make your work smooth. ‘Snippets’ is a plugin that helps to add text macros and documentation statistics to analyze open documents. More of such plugins are available for Gedit
Download from Website: Gedit
Emacs
Emac is the text editor you could access if you have an operating system with a command-line interface (CLI). That means it’s a text editor for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS, and it is free. It is one of the powerful tools out there but not the easiest one to use. There are many variants of Emacs available among which GNU Emacs is the most used one. You can handle from simple documents to complex codes using Emacs text editor.
This text editor for Mac supports macro reading. If you get familiar with all the shortcuts (which are a lot actually), you can tame Emacs. This cross-platform text editor is also suitable for non-programming purposes such as calendaring, project planning, news reading, and word processing.
Download from Website: Emacs
Related: Best 10 Dark Themes for Windows 10
Brackets
Web designers might not need an introduction to Brackets, one of the best code editors basically meant for web designing. You can also view and edit text documents using it. One appealing thing about this is the extremely clean and modern interface that it fashions.
This too is a cross-platform text editor compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. The text editor features syntax highlighting, no-distraction mode and lots of keyboard shortcuts. To edit multiple documents, a split-screen capability is provided in this code editor.
Live Preview is another feature which gives you a real-time update of the CSS/HTML file in the default web browser. ‘Working files’ area is capable of opening all the files belonging to a single project. You can change the theme of Brackets between dark and light or can get more themes from the extension manager. Whether it is for W3C validation or to use Git or an HTML tag menu or Python tools, plugins are available in Brackets.
Download from Website: Brackets
MeetingWords
Meeting Words is yet another cross-platform and free text editor, and vastly different from any of the text editors in this list. How is it different!! It runs entirely online. Though, it differs from all other online text editors also. Unlike other online code editors, Meeting Words doesn’t require you to register an account and sign in.
It is as simple as opening the link and start typing. Collaboration function is the highlight feature of this text editor. Multiple users can edit the same document simultaneously. Also, they can chat back and forth (similar to Google Docs). Updates made to the document is instantly shown on the page. The updates by each collaborator can be identified easily as each collaborator will have text highlighted in unique colors.
To get your friends as collaborators just share the link using the ‘Share this pad’ button and it can also share an email. The time slider button shows the history of all edits done in the document, and you can even share a link to the specific version of the document.
One drawback of Meeting Words is that it is not possible to open existing documents using it. The only workaround on that is to copy and paste the content of an already existing document to the text box of Meeting Words. To download documents prepared in Meeting Words, make use of the Import/Export option and save it in a preferred format.
Visit the Website: Meeting Words
Vim
Just like Emacs, Vim and its variants are available for any operating system with CLI and it is free. This code editor is configurable and while it is not lightweight, it is not too heavy either. Vim supports a number of languages. The capability of this text editor for Mac is to keep a history of your actions that help you to repeat or undo the same.
The CLI centered Mac text editor can automatically recognize file types. You might feel Vim as difficult until you cover the not so small learning curve of it. It also packs features such as error detection, syntax highlighting, and customizability.
Download from Website: Vim
Related: 10 Best Linux Text Editors (Code Editors)
Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a powerful and free text editor that you would love to use. Its design and power may make you wonder that it is an IDE, let’s get that doubt cleared, it is not an IDE! The text editor for Windows is capable of contextual code completion as it has a built-in Intellisense. In fact, a lot of features are built into this text editor to make your experience great. This source code editor fashions a tabbed interface as many other text editors do.
There is a ‘Zen mode’ to hide all the menus and windows, so you can focus on your work on this Windows text editor. You are also getting built-in Git integration. To run your code with breakpoints and call stacks there is a built-in debugging feature. A number of keyboard shortcuts are also injected into this text editor. You can open an entire folder of a project in Visual Studio Code. This text editor is ideal for programming purposes. Even with all these features, Visual Studio Code never lacks in its speed and performance.
Download from Website: Visual Code Studio
Now you know which are the best text editors for your PC. If you are looking for a text editor for Windows, Mac OS or Linux, all options are covered here. All that you need to do now is to select the one that suits you the best. Let us know in the comments which one is your choice.
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