What types of text editor programs are there? The best text editors for Windows. Types of text editors

Disclaimer

I am young enough and inexperienced in the IT field to make any super-arguments, so everything listed below will be my personal subjective thoughts and reasoning. If someone disagrees with me, I will be only happy to support the discussion and discuss all this in the comments.


Now I work on Windows, in the future I may switch to Mac OS, so when choosing a text editor/IDE, I immediately emphasized cross-platform. I considered a little more options than I will list here, because I decided to highlight only the ones that caught my eye. I will try to briefly describe the view on different aspects of the listed software products.

Standard tasks

By standard tasks I mean banal layout tasks, i.e. HTML, CSS, maybe JavaScript. I will not emphasize those things that are everywhere, for example: changing color themes, project folder control system, etc.

An excellent editor for ASP.NET and node.js applications. The famous IntelliSense, the ability to work with classes and objects by reference. Everything is in Microsoft style. There is a built-in debugger. I want it too emphasize, which in my opinion is an excellent replacement for MonoDevelop for .NET developers outside of Windows (here that is Visual Studio).

The editor is still under development, but work is progressing quite quickly, considering that it is Microsoft.

Bottom line


Summarizing the above, I made my choice. You don’t have to settle on the same criteria as me. I will be happy to discuss everything in the comments to the article.

Thank you for your attention!

Most often, when working on a PC, the user works with text data, for working with which two main classes of software are used:

Text editor

Definition 1

Text editor– independent computer program(application) or part of a software package that is designed to create and edit text data.

Text editors are designed primarily only for entering and editing text, but do not have tools for designing the appearance of the text (formatting). Thus, they are used in cases where text formatting is superfluous or unnecessary (for example, when preparing documents for sending by email). Created text file water editor can be edited using another editor, because When saved, the text file contains only the codes of the entered characters.

In addition to creating and viewing text, text editors allow you to perform the following text editing operations - moving, copying, pasting text, text search and replacement, sorting strings, viewing character codes and converting encodings, printing a document, etc.

There are interactive text editors with additional functionality that is designed to automate editing actions or display text data in a special way (for example, syntax highlighting).

Types of text editors

A line-by-line text editor is designed to work with text as a sequence of numbered lines. For example, the Edlin line editor was included with MS-DOS.

A contextual editor that performs operations on text at the current position. For example, ECCE editor. An on-screen text editor allows the user to move the cursor within text using the keyboard or other input devices (such as a mouse). For example, the Notepad editor.

Popular text editors

  • Emacs is a multi-purpose, free editor, one of the most powerful in terms of capabilities, with a large number of operating modes. Can be used for programming.
  • Kate is a powerful, extensible free text editor with syntax highlighting for many programming and markup languages ​​with a flexible, customizable interface.

Figure 1. Emac editor

Figure 2. Kate Editor

  • Notepad - included operating system Microsoft Windows.
  • Vim is a free modal editor for administrators and programmers. One of the most powerful editors with extensive customization and automation capabilities. It has two operating modes: text and command.
  • Notepad is a free text editor with open source code for Windows, intended for programmers and ordinary users.
  • TEA is a free cross-platform editor with big amount text processing and markup functions in [X]HTML, LaTeX, Docbook, Lout, with syntax highlighting and spell checking.
  • KeyPad+ is a text editor developed by Russian programmers for ordinary users and programmers.

Word processors

Definition 2

Word processor – a computer program designed for creating and editing text documents, arranging the layout of the text and preview documents as they will be printed (a property known as WYSIWYG).

Modern word processors allow you to format fonts and paragraphs, check spelling, create and insert tables and graphics, and also include some desktop publishing capabilities.

Word processors are used in cases where, in addition to the content of the text, its meaning is also appearance(preparation of official documents). A document created using a word processor contains, in addition to text, information about its formatting, which is stored in codes that are not visible to the user.

Since different word processors are used to format text different codes(documents with different formats), then transferring formatted text documents from one word processor to another is not always correct. In such cases, the formatting may be only partially saved (as, for example, when transferring a document from MS Word to OpenOffice Writer) or not saved at all (only the text is transferred). Then you need to format the document again.

Popular word processors

Microsoft Word – a powerful word processor designed for creating, viewing and editing text documents. The program is included in Microsoft package Office. Produced since 1983 Current version MS Word 2016 for Windows and MS Word 2011 for Mac.

Possibilities Word programs extended with built-in macro language Visual Basic(VBA). However it provides additional features for writing viruses embedded in documents, called macroviruses.

WordPad is a word processor that is part of the Microsoft Windows operating system. Much more powerful than the Notepad program, but inferior to the full-fledged word processor Microsoft Word.

The processor supports formatting and printing text, but does not have tools for creating tables or spell checking tools.

Figure 3. MS Word word processor

LaTeX– the most popular macro package of the TeX computer layout system to facilitate typing complex documents. The package is designed to automate many tasks of typing text (in several languages) and preparing articles, numbering sections and formulas, cross-referencing, placing illustrations and tables on a page, maintaining a bibliography, etc.

OpenOffice.org Writer is a word processor that is part of the OpenOffice.org free software package. Writer is similar in many ways to Microsoft Word's word processor, but has some features that Word lacks (such as support for page styles).

Figure 5. LaTeX word processor

Figure 6. OpenOffice.org Writer word processor

We looked at the most popular text editors that can create, open, and edit files. Each program has a unique interface and different functionality. In your choice, focus on the options that meet your needs for working with text.

Microsoft Office 2016 , LibreOffice And IBM Lotus Symphony are full-fledged office suites and have a wide range of tools for creating and editing text and tabular data. Of course The most advanced features can be found in application from Microsoft . What does integration cost? cloud storage and opportunity remote access to large projects from any computer or gadget. On the other hand - quite high system requirements Not every PC can handle it. LibreOffice boasts support for a huge number of formats and an advanced formula editor. Lotus Symphony- to this day a worthy analogue to the two above competitors. Contains user-friendly interface and supports expansion through plugins. And yet, their number is limited, and the official website has not updated the utility for a long time.

MS Word 2007 And 2010 - excellent and time-tested programs with a developed set of functions. They are distinguished by a high-quality text search system, a spelling and punctuation checker, a built-in translator, and so on. Version 2010 received a more modern interface, support for more formats and the ability to store documents in the cloud. If the latest facts are not of particular importance to you, you can safely use a less resource-demanding computer Word 2007. An almost equally advanced text editor contains the OpenOffice package with its Writer, which is completely free.

AkelPad And Notepad++- fast, lightweight and easy-to-use analogues of the standard Windows notepad. Both programs They are open source, allow you to assign various actions to hotkeys, support multi-level rollback of actions, and contain automation settings. Notepad includes option Reserve copy data and text encryption tool. Akelpad perfectly implements highlighting of unicode strings and other useful features.

It is worth noting that the notepad application is universal: it will be useful for beginners and experienced programmers due to the presence of an integrated development environment, and by ordinary users it is used as an advanced version of notepad - a small and fast text editor. No less developed functionality is available in WPS Office Writer, in addition, the utility has received a very convenient night mode for people with low vision.

Sublime Text And Adobe Brackets were created as tools for working with different programming languages. They include good alternative editors for Windows and Macos. The applications are popular among programmers, layout designers and web page developers who are looking for a new free visual editor.

Our review did not include several programs that are also worth paying attention to: EditPad Lite, SoftMaker Office, RJ Texted, Crimson Editor, A tlantis Word Processor, Comodo Edit and TextMaker . The latter supports all versions of MS Word and opens documents in .docx, .docm, .dotx, .dotm, .doc, .dot, odt, .ott, .sxw, .rtf, .psw, .pwd, .htm, . html, .txt., .tmv, .tmd.

Task No. 1

Text editors.

What types of text editors are there?

We decided to place our list of text editors in order of functionality and popularity. We will look at text editors both for operating Windows systems, and for Linux OS.

Notebook. This is the simplest and most straightforward text editor in Windows. This text editor is used for any notes, small phrases and other notes. Many programmers copy various codes into Notepad, which remain in their original form in Notepad, since more advanced text editors can recognize them and transform them visually, ultimately losing part of the code. It is also convenient to copy passwords, links and console commands. Notepad comes along with the standard pre-installed operating system software package; in fact, it is free.

The Linux operating system has its own analogue of notepad - gedit. The program is absolutely identical in function and purpose to its Windows counterpart.

The advantage of these text editors is that they are simple and compact, this perfect option for marking and storing code elements. The disadvantage of this text editor is its advantage - an excessive prostate, which does not make it possible to complete the test.

Notepad++. For more advanced computer users, the best option is the extended version of the notepad - Notepad++, which has a large number of functions, but at the same time remains the same notepad. You can download the notepad from the official website of the program Notepad-plus-plus.org. The program has a Russian interface and is distributed free of charge.

WordPad. WordPad is another standard text editor that comes pre-installed in Windows programs. Looking ahead to more accurately describe this program, it is worth saying that WordPad is something between Notepad and Microsoft Word. That is, WordPad has a simple base, like Notepad, but it includes some text design elements from Word. This combination: simplicity + a minimal set of design functions makes it quite attractive for typing simple text that does not require special design. WordPad is an ideal option for those who need to type simple text documents By using this program, you can save on the purchase of Microsoft Word, just keep in mind that the program checks spelling very poorly.



LibreOffice. Originally given office suite was created for the operating room Linux systems, replacing the then established OpenOfficeOrg, which still exists today. A Windows version of LibreOffice was then released.

To briefly describe this office suite, it is Word 2003 with not very good spell check quality. But at the same time, what could you want from a free text editor? For everyday needs in Windows and Linux, in order to save beautifully framed text on your computer and print it, this is the best option, since you do not need to spend extra money on purchasing an office suite from Microsoft. You can download the office suite for Windows from the LibereOffice page; as mentioned earlier, it is installed by default on Linux.

Microsoft Word. Finally, we moved on to the flagship of text editors - Word. This application It is not without reason that it is a flagship, since even to this day it has no analogues that could implement a beautiful and user-friendly interface, with a large number of functions, for editing and designing texts. It is rightfully considered the best text editor in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Word is an indispensable text editor for any user who needs to frequently type texts and documents. In addition, it is worth noting the good quality of spell checking in texts, which no other text editor for a computer can boast of. The only drawback of Word is its price, since for the most budget office suite you will need to pay about 3,000 rubles, which is quite expensive. However, if you often encounter the need to type, then you have virtually no choice but to purchase an office suite from Microsoft.

Almost every programmer feels the need to search the best tools for development. These could be editors, libraries for task management, frameworks for simplifying work on projects, etc.

Tools make work easier and at the same time increase productivity.

Of all the tools developers ever use, the hardest one to choose is a text editor. Livecoding.tv streamers use a wide variety of editors, and almost everyone is passionate about their choice.

Not to mention that there are separate communities for each popular editor. In the end, everyone has their own preferences, their own arguments for and against.

The editor plays a fundamental role in any developer workspace. The code is written, debugged and executed using a text editor.

Choosing the perfect editor for your work can be a complex task that involves testing, personal preference, and the final decision. Before you make your choice, we'll take you on a tour through best editors 2016 of the year.

We will discuss 6 editors in detail, and you can find other lesser known editors at the end of the article.

SUBLIME TEXT EDITOR

Sublime Text editor is one of the best text editors today. It's a great alternative to powerful IDEs, it's lightweight and gets the job done with great efficiency and accuracy.

Sublime Text has tons of features that will make you feel the power at your fingertips. But, like any tool, it is not perfect. Let's look at the pros and cons of using Sublime Text editor.

Advantages:

  • Nice, easy, minimalistic interface.
  • Very flexible to configure. Multiple selection.
  • The ability to create any snippets and insert them using either hotkeys or letter abbreviations (in Zen Coding style).
  • The ability to assign hotkeys to absolutely any action.
  • In snippets, you can set where the cursor will be when inserted, set placeholders and switch to the desired sections of the snippet with Tab.
  • Availability of a code minimap for easy navigation.
  • Ability to display hidden characters (spaces, tabs) only when highlighting code.
  • There are many plugins available and an ever-growing community of users who write them to suit any need.

Flaws:

  • Sublime text paid. Considering that there are many good free editors on the market, everyone can choose an alternative.
  • Not updated as often as before.
  • Loading time is higher compared to Notepad++.
  • The quality of the plugins remains questionable.

Overall, Sublime text is a great editor to work with. You can use it for free with an endless trial. If you don't like pop-ups, you can purchase the editor for $70. It works on all major operating systems – Windows, Linux and Mac OSX.

Vim has stood the test of time and is one of the oldest editors in history.

Vim is very popular among developers and other computer enthusiasts who are obsessed with fully customizable editors.

Vim is famous for two reasons. Firstly, it can work using only the keyboard, without a mouse.

Secondly, it is present in almost all Unix machines. Thus, portability and ubiquity is key feature Vim.

Advantages:

  • Can be fully controlled using the keyboard
  • Can be used in a remote development environment using SSH.
  • Vim can be customized to your heart's content using .vimrc dotfile and VimScript.
  • Tons of plugins to support Vim, expanding its functionality.
  • Improves performance and copes well with large files.

Flaws:

  • Vim for advanced users. It's not easy to learn, and it takes a long time before you master it, but once you get the hang of it, it gives you power like no other editor.

Also read how to create.

Atom

Atom was introduced a year ago and is known as a modern, highly customizable, open source editor. Despite the use of browser technologies, Atom is not a web application, but in fact, is a specialized version of Chromium, in which each tab acts as a locally processed web page.

Advantages:

  • Atom is an open source editor that is free to use.
  • Cross-platform OS X, Windows and Linux;
  • Smart auto-completion;
  • File Browser;
  • Search and replace across many files.
  • Easy to use even for a beginner.

Flaws:

  • Cannot handle large files and tends to crash when downloading files larger than 10MB.
  • Uses a lot of memory.

If you're looking for a free, open source editor, Atom is perfect for you. It is highly mobile and available on all three major OSes. However, it is not advisable to use Atom in large projects.

Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a Microsoft product that aims to allow developers to code without downloading the massive Visual Studio (3GB+). Visual Studio Code is a lightweight, open source editor that works equally well on Windows, OS X and Linux. Key features of Visual Studio code include support for more than 30+ languages, auto-completion, easy navigation, etc. It also includes Git and debugging tools to make development easier.

Advantages:

  • Supports more than 30 languages, as well as major Microsoft languages ​​such as ASP.NET, C#, etc.
  • Small size guarantees quick installation and use.

Flaws:

  • Extension support needs improvement.
  • Updating on Linux can be a daunting task.

Visual Studio Code is a great choice for developers who don't want to download and use cumbersome IDEs. It's small, cute, and most importantly, it does its job!

Notepad++

Notepad++ is another open source editor. Overall, it resembles a vanilla notepad that supports tons of programming languages. The biggest advantage of Notepad++ over the other text editors listed here is the fact that it can handle large files without any major lags or glitches. It is very fast and light. In addition, its functionality can be expanded using hundreds of available plugins.

Advantages:

  • Support for a large number of encodings.
  • Syntax highlighting.
  • Parallel document editing.
  • Comparison of documents.
  • Search and autocorrect using regular expressions.
  • Working with files on an FTP server.
  • Auto-completion.
  • Extensible with plugins.

Flaws:

  • Not the best user interface.
  • Too simple.

Notepad ++ is perfect for those who are satisfied with a simple interface and set of functions. It will help you quickly and easily create new products.

Brackets

Our last text editor that we will discuss in detail is the open source editor “Brackets”. Brackets is not a universal editor, it is focused on front-end development and supports a large number of front-end technologies.

Advantages:

  • It's lightweight, modern, and has a great user interface.
  • Preview capability, preprocessor support and built-in editors. Light Table

The editor is an indispensable tool in any developer's arsenal. I hope after reading the article you will make your choice.

If you think there is a missing editor in the article that needs attention, please let us know by leaving a comment.