Pros and Benefits of Notepad ++

Notepad++ is a free code editor written in C++. Its installer file is just a 2.7MB large. There is an active community behind Notepad++ and it is available in multiple languages. After the installation, the editor only takes up about 4MB on your hard drive.

At the end of the installation, you can choose the automatic start of Notepad++ for the first time. You will see the screen with a changelog of the current version. Overall. Notepad++ does not have such a friendly UI as other famous code editors but it will not take a lot of time to find your way around.

Notepad++ has a long line of action buttons at the top of the window. Here, you can standard operations like create new documents, copy and paste, close all windows, zoom in/out, undo/redo and others. Notepad++ is not running for minimalism which is so popular in designs of modern software and offers as much functionality as possible in one screen.

Pros and Benefits of Notepad ++​

Open Source and Free​

As Notepad++ is an open-source project its users can contribute in different ways:

Submit feature requests and bug reports.

Provide online support

Translate the editor

Share themes, plugins, and auto-completion files

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As a consequence, the editor is also completely free and is widely used on Windows to replace standard Notepad as well as on Linux, Unix, and macOS X.

Solid Standard Features​

Notepad++ has a great package of standard features. First of all, it supports more than 50 programming, markup and scripting languages and includes code folding and syntax highlighting.

Notepad ++ does everything to make the coding process faster and more effective, providing users with such options as auto-completion for words, auto-indentation and brace highlighting.

Also, you can use a search and replace functionality with many different options and the ability to search across a few documents. You can easily run such Line operations as split, join, sort and move.

Finally, Notepad++ is highly portable and can be run from a USB stick.

Fully Customizable User Interface​

You have the ability to adjust the Notepad++ interface in different ways. You can control whether tabs align horizontally, vertically and/or behind one another. Also, you can use a split-screen as well as a full-screen mode.

In addition, you can visit Settings > Style Configurator to choose and activate one of 20 themes. These themes change the part where you code while the rest of the interface remains the same. In the theme's settings, you can also find options to control background and foreground color, font styles, font styles and other options to make the unique design.

You have the incredible ability to customize the interface of Notepad++ and make it different for each programming language.

If it is not enough for you you can also config the keyboard shortcuts to fit the desired workflow.

Loads of Plugins​

Notepad++ has plugins for almost anything you need. The process of installing plugins is going through the built-in plugin manager.

When you the manager, it automatically downloads the full list of plugins including their category, name, version, and stability. The process of plugins installation does not take much time. The plugin manager shows all installed plugins and those that can be updated to the newer versions.

But the manager is working only for the 32-bit version of Notepad++. If you want to use plugins on the 64-bit version you can download and install them manually.

Macros​

A great feature of Notepad++ is the ability to work with macros. It can really save your time when you are working with a big set of data. But you should know how to work with macros and the editor will run them properly.

Notepad++ has a plain exterior and may not be as attractive as modern editors. But it is one of the most powerful code editors and ahs a lot of features as well as supports many programming languages.

Click here to download Notepad++ for your Windows.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

Notepad++ is highlighted as a free and open-source code editor, written in C++, that offers a lightweight yet powerful solution for text and code editing, primarily for Windows. Its small installer file (2.7MB) and minimal disk space usage (around 4MB after installation) are emphasized, making it an incredibly efficient tool.

Upon first launch, users are greeted with a changelog of the current version. While the article acknowledges that Notepad++ might not possess the "friendly UI" of some other popular code editors, it suggests that users will quickly become accustomed to its interface. The editor features a long line of action buttons at the top, providing quick access to standard operations like creating new documents, copy/paste, close all windows, zoom, undo/redo, and more. The design philosophy of Notepad++ is presented as prioritizing functionality on a single screen rather than adhering to modern minimalism trends.

Key Pros and Benefits of Notepad++:

• Open Source and Free: As an open-source project, Notepad++ thrives on community contributions. Users can submit feature requests and bug reports, provide online support, translate the editor into various languages, and share themes, plugins, and auto-completion files. This collaborative model ensures it remains completely free and is widely adopted as a replacement for standard Notepad on Windows, and even used on Linux, Unix, and macOS X via compatibility layers.
• Solid Standard Features: Notepad++ boasts a comprehensive set of features, including support for over 50 programming, markup, and scripting languages with robust code folding and syntax highlighting. It offers functionalities like auto-completion for words, auto-indentation, and brace highlighting to expedite the coding process. Advanced search and replace capabilities, including searching across multiple documents, are also available. Users can perform "Line operations" such as split, join, sort, and move lines. Furthermore, its high portability allows it to be run directly from a USB stick.
• Fully Customizable User Interface: Users have extensive control over the Notepad++ interface. They can adjust tab alignment (horizontal, vertical, or stacked), utilize split-screen and full-screen modes, and choose from over 20 pre-built themes via the "Settings > Style Configurator." These themes primarily affect the coding area, and users can further customize background/foreground colors, font styles, and other options to create a unique design, even tailoring the interface differently for specific programming languages. Keyboard shortcuts are also configurable to match individual workflows.
• Loads of Plugins: Notepad++ offers a vast ecosystem of plugins for various needs, managed through a built-in plugin manager. This manager automatically downloads a comprehensive list of plugins with details like category, name, version, and stability, simplifying the installation process. It also tracks installed plugins and available updates. However, it's noted that the plugin manager works only for the 32-bit version of Notepad++; 64-bit users need to download and install plugins manually.
• Macros: The ability to work with macros is highlighted as a time-saving feature, especially when dealing with large datasets, provided the user understands how to properly configure and run them.

In conclusion, despite its "plain exterior" and less "attractive" appearance compared to some modern editors, Notepad++ is positioned as "one of the most powerful code editors" due to its rich feature set, extensive language support, and strong community backing. The article provides a link to download Notepad++ for Windows.