Description
Notepad++ is a powerful source code editor that has become a favorite among developers worldwide. It is designed to work on the Windows operating system and supports several programming languages, making it an ideal tool for developers who work with multiple languages.
One of the most significant advantages of Notepad++ is its lightweight design, which makes it an excellent replacement for the standard Windows Notepad application. Despite its small size, Notepad++ packs a punch when it comes to features and functionality.
The software supports over 30 programming languages, including C++, Java, C#, XML, HTML, PHP, JavaScript, RC file, makefile, NFO, doxygen INI file batch file ASP VB/VBS SQL Objective-C CSS Pascal Perl Python Lua Unix Shell Script Fortran NSIS and Flash action script. This broad range of language support makes Notepad++ an essential tool for developers who work with different programming languages.
Notepad++ offers several features that make coding more comfortable and efficient. One such feature is syntax highlighting and syntax folding. Syntax highlighting helps identify different elements in your code by color-coding them based on their function or type. Syntax folding allows you to collapse sections of your code so that you can focus on specific parts without being distracted by other elements.
Another useful feature in Notepad++ is regular expression search. This feature allows you to search for patterns within your code using regular expressions instead of just plain text searches. Regular expressions are powerful tools that allow you to find complex patterns quickly.
Notepad++ also offers WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) printing capabilities if you have a color printer available. This means that when you print your source code from within the application itself or export it as a PDF document or other formats like HTML or RTF files; all colors will be preserved as they appear on-screen.
Unicode support is another critical feature in Notepad++. Unicode support ensures that characters from all scripts are displayed correctly regardless of their language or origin.
Full drag-and-drop support makes working with files in Notepad++ easy and intuitive; simply drag files into the application window to open them automatically without having to navigate through folders manually.
Brace and Indent guideline highlighting helps keep track of nested blocks within your code by highlighting matching braces/parentheses/brackets/etc., making it easier to spot errors before they cause problems down the line.
Two edits synchronized view mode lets users compare two versions side-by-side while editing simultaneously; this can be especially helpful when working collaboratively with others on large projects where changes need approval before being committed back into version control systems like Git/SVN/Mercurial/etc..
Finally; user-defined language systems allow users to create custom syntax highlighters tailored specifically towards their needs – whether they're working with proprietary scripting languages not supported out-of-the-box by default installations or simply want more granular control over how certain elements are highlighted within their existing projects.
In conclusion; if you're looking for a lightweight yet powerful source code editor capable of handling multiple programming languages under one roof – look no further than Notepad++. With its extensive list of features designed specifically around developer workflows combined with its ease-of-use interface design philosophy – there's no better choice out there today!
Review
Notepad++ is a powerful, feature-packed text editor that more or less has everything Notepad needs but lacks (it can replace Notepad in Windows). It supports 27 programming languages, searches regular expressions, and supports syntax highlighting and folding, synchronized edits and views, and much more.
Pros
Loads of options: Behind a clean face and busy but efficient toolbar, Notepad++ is a wonder of features and options. One favorite: Default Directory has two choices, Follow current document and Remember last directory. Another: The "old, obsolete" desktop icon is a setup option.
Options to load: We could set Notepad++ not to use %APPDATA% but rather to load or write config files from the installation directory; this is handy when running Notepad++ from a USB device.
Plug-ins, too: Notepad++ comes loaded with useful plug-ins plus a Plug-in Manager. But we could also select a startup option to load plug-ins from AppData -- a potential security issue that Notepad++ only recommends for experienced users.
Cons
None, really: There's nothing we tried that we didn't like.
Bottom Line
If you just want a better text editor to replace Notepad, try Notepad++. If you want a powerful, versatile code editor, try Notepad++. In any role, it excels.
Full spec
| Publisher | Don HO |
| Publisher site | http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/ |
| Release date | 2020-03-06 |
| Date added | 2020-04-09 |
| Category | Developer Tools |
| Sub category | Coding Utilities |
| Version | 7.8.5 |
| Os requirements | Windows 7/8/10/8.1 |
| Requirements | None |
| Price | Free |
| Downloads per week | 399 |
| Total downloads | 3356184 |
Comments:
Notepad++ is an amazing text editor for Windows. I've been using it for years and it's my go-to tool for coding.
@Michael I completely agree! Notepad++ is so versatile and has a great set of features that make coding a breeze.
I love how Notepad++ supports multiple programming languages and has syntax highlighting. Makes coding much easier to read and understand.
@Mark Absolutely! Syntax highlighting is a must-have feature for any developer. Notepad++ does a fantastic job with it.
The UI of Notepad++ is clean and user-friendly. It's intuitive and easy to navigate. Highly recommended!
@David I couldn't agree more. Notepad++ has such a simple yet powerful interface. Love using it for my coding projects.
@Julia Notepad++ is indeed a fantastic choice for coding. The interface is clean, and it has all the essential features you need for a great coding experience.
Notepad++ also has a great plugin system. You can extend its functionality with various plugins depending on your needs.
@Eric That's one of my favorite things about Notepad++! The plugin system allows for customization and enhances the overall experience.
@Emma Absolutely! I've added several plugins to Notepad++ and it has significantly improved my workflow.
One thing that could be improved in Notepad++ is the startup time. Sometimes it takes a bit longer to load compared to other text editors.
@Jack I've experienced that too, but once it's loaded, the performance is smooth and I haven't encountered any issues.
Does Notepad++ have a dark mode? I prefer coding with a dark background.
@Oliver Yes, it does! Notepad++ has a dark mode option which can be enabled in the preferences. It's great for reducing eye strain during long coding sessions.
I've heard that Notepad++ has a powerful search and replace feature. Can anyone confirm?
@Jacob Yes, the search and replace feature in Notepad++ is excellent. You can search across multiple files, use regular expressions, and it has various options to customize the search.
Does Notepad++ have code folding? It's essential for dealing with large code files.
@Henry Yes, Notepad++ supports code folding. You can easily collapse and expand sections of code, making it easier to navigate and work on large projects.
@Lucy Thanks for mentioning that! Code folding is one of the features that I find really helpful in Notepad++.
I think Notepad++ has a great community around it as well. There are plenty of online resources and forums where you can get help and share tips.
@Emily Absolutely! The Notepad++ community is very active and supportive. It's always nice to have a place to go for assistance or to learn new things.
@John I couldn't agree more. The community is one of the reasons why I love using Notepad++ as my primary text editor.
Notepad++ is updated regularly, which is great to see. The developers are actively maintaining and improving the software.
@David That's true. It's reassuring to know that any issues or bugs are likely to be addressed in future updates.
@Sophia Definitely! The frequent updates show the commitment of the developers towards providing a quality product.
Is Notepad++ free to use? I'm looking for a text editor that doesn't cost anything.
@Jack Yes, Notepad++ is completely free and open-source. You can download it from their official website without any cost.
@Oliver That's great news! I was worried about finding a good text editor that fits my budget.
I've been using Notepad++ for both personal and professional projects, and it has never let me down. Highly recommended!
@Lucy Same here! Notepad++ is my go-to text editor for all coding tasks. It's reliable and packed with features.
Notepad++ has a built-in FTP plugin, right? That would be really useful for editing files directly on the server.
@Jacob Yes, Notepad++ does have an FTP plugin called NppFTP. It allows you to edit files on remote servers directly from the editor. Very handy!
@Ella I couldn't agree more. Notepad++'s search and replace feature is powerful and saves me a lot of time when working with large codebases.
@Ella I use the NppFTP plugin regularly. It makes it so convenient to update files on live servers without needing a separate FTP client.
One feature I love about Notepad++ is the ability to split the editing window. It's great for comparing code or working on multiple files side by side.
@David I find the split window feature really useful too. It saves me a lot of time when I need to reference or transfer code between files.
Notepad++ also supports macros, which can be a huge time-saver for repetitive tasks. You can record and playback macros to automate certain actions.
@Eric Macros are a lifesaver! I've used them countless times to speed up my workflow in Notepad++.
I'm impressed by the performance of Notepad++. It handles large files without any noticeable lag or slowdown.
@Oliver Agreed! Notepad++ handles large files smoothly, which is crucial for some of my projects that involve huge amounts of code.
The regular expression support in Notepad++ is top-notch. It's really powerful and allows for advanced search and replace operations.
@Michael Regular expressions in Notepad++ are a game-changer. They provide so much flexibility and make complex text manipulation a breeze.
I appreciate that Notepad++ has a portable version available. It's convenient to carry my favorite text editor on a USB drive.
@Henry I use the portable version too! It's great for when I need to work on different computers or don't want to install anything.
One minor improvement I would suggest for Notepad++ is the ability to open multiple instances of the editor with separate sessions.
@Sophia That would be a nice addition. Sometimes I need to work on completely separate projects and having multiple instances would be helpful.
@David It's great to see the developers actively improving Notepad++. Their dedication ensures that it remains a reliable and up-to-date software.
@David I agree. Opening multiple instances with individual sessions would enhance the overall user experience of Notepad++.
I've recently started using Notepad++ and I must say, I'm impressed. It has quickly become my favorite text editor for coding.
@Jack Welcome to the Notepad++ club! It's great to have you on board. Enjoy coding with your new favorite text editor!