Linux text editors find utility in editing text files, writing codes, updating user instruction files, and other tasks. A Linux system offers a variety of text editors, including two main types:
1) Graphical user interface (GUI) text editors and
2) Command-line text editors (console or terminal-based).
The list of editors used in Linux includes:
1. Vi/VIM editor
2. Nano editor
3. Sublime text editor
4. VSCode
5. GNU emacs
6. Brackets editor
7. Pico editor
8. Atom
9. Kate
10. gVIM editor
11. Jed editor
12. Geany editor
13. Leaf Pad
14. Light Table
15. Medit text editor
Lets go through each of them:-
1. Vi/VIM editor
The editor can work with many different programming languages. It is a strong tool for software development. The editor supports many languages, acts as a powerful IDE, handles bi-directional text, and automatically detects line endings. It boasts support across the majority of Linux distros, providing a user-friendly editor and the same environment for all Linux distributions. Often referred to as a programmer's editor as most programmers prefer a Vi editor.
Benefits:
Vi editor is deeply integrated into Linux & is best for general usage. Using keyboard shortcuts it is fast and easy to navigate.
2. Nano editor
As it is simple and user-friendly, suitable for both beginners and experienced Linux users. It provides various customization features.
The Nano text editor has the following features:
1. Highly customizable key bindings
2. Syntax highlighting
3. Options for Undo and Redo
4. Full line display on the standard output
5. Page support to read from standard input
Benefits:
GNU Autoconf, auto-indent, interactive search-and-replace, and spellcheck are supported by Nano editor. It is intuitive, user-friendly, and displays keystroke commands at the bottom for easy reference. It is an ideal lightweight editor for beginners.
3. Sublime text editor
This Text editor holds a prominent position as one of the most popular text editors based on the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). It offers extensive support for numerous programming languages and markup languages. Additionally, users can expand its capabilities through plugins, predominantly crafted and supported by the community under free-software licenses.
Some important features are as follows:
1. Excellent Command Palette.
2. Python-based plugin API.
3. Parallel editing of code.
4. Project-specific preferences.
Benefits:
Sublime Text is customizable, allowing users to personalize its appearance and functionality with plugins. It includes standard editor features like colored syntax, searchability, and a powerful "Goto Anything" feature for quick file navigation and manipulation. Additionally, it supports multiple selections, enabling simultaneous editing of multiple lines.
4. VSCode
VSCode is a robust, free, and open-source modern text editor crafted by Microsoft for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
It offers a plethora of powerful features, such as:
1. Debugging capability with an interactive console, call stacks, breakpoints, etc.
2. Built-in support for Git & Git commands
3. IntelliSense
4. Customization
5. Supports lots of languages
6. Toggable layouts
7. Built-in terminal
Benefits:
It is a lightweight yet powerful text editor with an extensive library of add-ons, including support for various programming languages, debuggers, and commands. It is an excellent choice for developing JavaScript applications and working on cross-platforms.
5. GNU emacs
It is the oldest and most straightforward text editor for the Linux system, is an integral part of the GNU project. It remains a popular choice among thousands of users because of its simplicity. The editor is written using C and LISP programming languages.
GNU emacs has the following features:
1. User documentation and tutorials
2. Mail and news option
3. Debugger interface extension
Benefits:
GNU emacs text editor features content-aware editing modes, documentation, impressive language support, and a package manager for extensions. Additionally, it offers seamless cross-compatibility with various GNU applications, encompassing an organizer, mail app, calendar, and debugger.
6. Brackets editor
Brackets, a modern, free, and open-source code developed by Adobe, places a strong emphasis on web development. It is built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ensuring a feature-rich code editing experience for web developers. Moreover, users can augment its built-in functionalities by incorporating various free extensions.
Features of the Brackets editor are:
1. A beautiful User Interface
2. Preprocessor support for SCSS and LESS
3. Inline editors
4. Live preview
5. Multiple tabbed editing
6. PHP support
7. Supports Language Server Protocol
8. Support for plugin extensions
Benefits:
Brackets prove to be an excellent option for web developers, offering live-preview functionality for testing the appearance of HTML code and inline editors. Additionally, it supports a variety of extensions, allowing users to enhance its capabilities and add functionalities, much like other popular text editors.
7. Pico editor
Pico, an abbreviation for Pine Composer, is a Linux terminal-based text editor that comes with built-in support for the Pine news and email client. However, note that being a simple text editor, it lacks the extensive feature set offered by other Linux text editors. Pico lacks support for working with multiple files simultaneously.
Benefits:
Pico simplifies the user experience by displaying commands directly on the screen, eliminating the need to memorize key combinations. It offers essential text-editor functions, including finding/replacing within a single document Furthermore, Pico supports a wide array of plugins that enhance functionality and allow for customization.
8. Atom
Atom, a free and open-source cross-platform code editor crafted by GitHub, is designed to be entirely customizable through web technologies like HTML and JavaScript. It provides support for Node.js-based plugins and native Git control.
Features of Atom include:
1. Open source
2. Modern, customizable layout
3. Attractive themes
4. Embedded Git support
5. Real-time collaboration with Telesync
6. Smart auto-complete and IntelliSense
7. Built-in package manager
Benefits:
Atom has color-coded syntax, a smart autocomplete feature, support for multiple panes, and a convenient search-and-replace feature. It provides its own package manager, simplifying the process of adding plugins to extend its functionality. Additionally, users have the option to manually customize the editor's appearance using themes. The introduction of the "teletype" plugin, allows users to share workspaces with other Atom users.
9. Kate
Kate, an integral part of KDE since version 2.2 and a default editor in Kubuntu, is a versatile and extensible multi-document editor. It functions as both a text editor and an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), boasting powerful features for editing configuration files, viewing HTML sources from Konqueror, creating new applications, and more. The Kate project focuses on developing two main products, KatePart, and Kate, to provide users with a feature-rich and customizable text editing experience.
Benefits:
The text editor supports numerous languages and functions as a robust Integrated Development Environment (IDE). It also offers text rendering in a bi-directional mode and supports various line endings with automatic detection features.
10. gVIM editor
gVim is the graphical user interface (GUI) version of the well-known Vim editor, featuring similar functionalities and modes as the command line editor. Easily downloadable from software stores, gVim offers a user-friendly experience with the power and versatility of Vim.
Benefits:
For those aware of Vi and Vim, gVim offers additional features such as encryption, pop-out menus, and cross-platform compatibility. It excels in handling large files compared to other text editors and employs distinct cursors for insert and command modes, making it a convenient choice for efficient editing.
11. Jed editor
Jed is a versatile command-line editor that leverages the S-Lang library and is compatible with Linux, Windows, Unix, VMS, MSDOS, OS/2, BeOS, QNX, and win9X/NT platforms. It's a simple and user-friendly editor that suits both software developers and regular users. With support for Unicode mode, dropdown menus, and an array of programming languages, Jed is an ideal choice for composing simple emails and editing complex programs with ease.
Benefits:
This text editor offers color syntax highlighting on color terminals, making code reading easier. It is highly customizable and extensible using the C-like language S-Lang, providing the flexibility to tailor the editor to specific needs. Additionally, the editor supports code folding, allowing users to hide and show sections of code for improved organization. Moreover, it features drop-down menus accessible right on the terminal interface, enhancing user-friendliness.
12. Geany editor
Geany is a powerful and lightweight integrated development environment (IDE) primarily designed for Linux systems. It offers a variety of essential IDE-like features with a focus on software development using the GTK+ toolkit. With built-in support for multiple programming languages, Geany ensures stability and usability. Moreover, Geany is compatible with other operating systems like Windows and Mac, making it a flexible option for developers who want a code editor with many features but still lightweight.
Benefits:
Geany offers various helpful features, such as auto-closing of HTML and XML tags, support for numerous file types, an auto-completion option, a pluggable interface, as well as code folding and code navigation capabilities.
13. Leaf Pad
Leafpad's focus on simplicity means that it provides only the most essential features required for text editing, avoiding unnecessary bloat and complexity. This straightforward approach makes it accessible to both novice and experienced users alike, as it doesn't overwhelm them with excessive options or complicated menus.
Benefits:
Key features of the text editor include the option to select the codeset, auto-detection of codeset, Drag and Drop functionality, printing support, and Auto/Multi-line Indent.
14. Light Table
Light Table is a powerful and Simplified multi-platform. text editor that prioritizes customizability, enabling users to mold it according to their preferences. it is a modern open-source IDE-based text editor, it stands out as one of the finest options available for the Linux system.
Benefits:
Light Table is a free and open-source text editor featuring a modern, smart UI with a minimalist design, along with a command palette for easy access to commands. It boasts powerful editing capabilities and presents a lightweight, clean, and sleek interface, with the entire code being accessible to the community.
15. Medit text editor
Medit, a lightweight open-source text editor, was initially integrated as a simple component within the GGAP editor but has since developed into a stand-alone application compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows. Supporting all major operating systems, Medit offers users a user-friendly and efficient text editing experience.
Benefits:
Medit text editor supports plugins in Python, C, and Lua, making it effortless for users to enhance its functionality through extensions.
Wrapping Up!
Experienced Linux users are likely familiar with most, if not all, of the options listed here.
For the majority of users, Nano, Vim, or Emacs would suffice. However, seasoned terminal enthusiasts might enjoy exploring alternatives like Micro, Helix, or other terminal text editors.