Goodbye Geany, hello Notepad++
Since Geany in Windows can't manage to get the spacing between lines right without we selecting the LF mode (as opposed to the CR/LF mode) for every file I open, I decided to look elsewhere for my Windows text editor solution. (Note: this "setting" doesn't seem to make a difference in EditPad Lite -- things come out OK no matter which kind of line endings I choose.)
Next up: Notepad++, which unlike my former favorite EditPad Lite, is under the GNU license, meaning it's free and open-source -- a requirement for my new Windows text editor.
So far, Notepad++ is looking very good. I can open multiple files in tabs, I can wrap lines without the wrapping screwing up the file (the biggest detriment -- to me, specifically -- in Linux/Unix console editors -- is when word-wrapping inserts line-feeds everywhere they wrap; I just want to see the wrap, not have the wrap be permanent -- sorry, vi).
Confession: I opened up GVim for Windows, which I've had installed for a while. There's no way that would ever work. I'm just being realistic.
So I'll see how Notepad++ goes and report back.
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About this blog
As of today (2010-04-12) I checked out Geany on both Linux and Windows and I can confirm that it can do soft line wrapping.
Checking out the Geany tag, I see that you've since been using Geany, so maybe you already knew this. =)
I do not agree. Geany is much better than Notepad++ because of the following reasons:
1. Geany is an IDE + Text editor. This means, Geany can compile, build and execute Codes. I am mainly a C++/Java/Python developer, and Geany saves my time.
2. Notepad++ is not Cross-Platform. It is for Windows, while Geany is for Linux, Windows both. So, Geany is better.
3. Geany has extensive Plugins, and most are powerful enough to work on any OS.
The thing that makes Notepad++ a but better, is the support for more Languages in Syntax Highlighting. But on that case, why to use Notepad++? Use Kate, and see how Kate is better than Notepad++ in Highlighting. Kate has probably more than 50 languages Syxtax Highlighting, while Notepad++ has much less.
Also, things like Notepad++ are used on insecure Windows. For programming, Linux is great. The only reason one might try Windows for are 1. Gaming 2. Microsoft Visual Studio 3. Obligation to use it for some commercial software of pressure from boss.
As a 15 years old student, I find Ubuntu much better than Windows.
A more detailed explanation for why Geany is better than Notepad++ is:
- Status window with a history
- Scribble pad
- Built in terminal
- Color picker
- Support for projects
- Tight integration with my window manager
- The functions menu is expanded to contain all sorts of clever information that I can fold in a non buggy tree
Notepad++ has the following features which Geany lacks:
- TextFX (neat macros that help you with string related pattern updates)
- GUI for changing theme colors
- Tabbed find/replace and find in all (nit pick)
I agree with the author, because the choice of favourite editor is taste-subjective.
If you are in Windows, Notepad ++ works just that much better because it is a native Windows app, whereas Geany uses the GTK runtime in Windows.
I'm writing Web code - HTML and CSS - so I don't need to compile through an IDE.
That global search/replace that works on all files is great - that's a big reason why Notepad++ works for me in Windows.
In Unix/Linux, however, I do use Geany and Gedit. I like Kwrite and Kate a lot, too, but I don't run KDE so I don't use them very much.
Notepad++ and Geany are actually cousins; they use the same Scintilla text-editing core. I love them both, but moved to Geany when I moved to Ubuntu. Since that time, I've found that Geany can do pretty much everything that NP++ can, but some of it is buried (not visible in menus by default). It's worth your time to look at the keybinding preferences and see what you can switch on.
I find Geany a bit clunky in Windows. The native Notepad++ just feels better.
In Linux lately, I've been using Gedit more than Geany. It might be time to give Geany another run-through.