dred

The classic Notepad doesn’t always cut it, and there are numerous alternatives out there that you can use instead. However, while these often come with handy extra features, they are sometimes too resource-intensive and difficult to use.

dred is an open-source, cross-platform text editor that maintains Notepad’s lightweight design and offers an impressive array of interesting features. Customizable and unobtrusive, it is a Notepad alternative you should definitely keep an eye out for.

The application consists of a single executable file, less than 1 MB in size. There is no need to install anything, so you can just place it on a portable storage device and use this text editor on the go.

While it is not a fully portable app, as configuration files are stored in your user folder (%APPDATA%/dred), you can easily copy them and use them on multiple machines, as well as edit them directly.

The first thing you will likely notice is that dred allows you to open multiple documents at once in separate tabs. The tab order cannot be changed, however, but this is not a major issue.

The application also supports automatic indentation, and you can enable line numbering if you feel that it is helpful. A particularly useful feature is the ability to select and edit sections of text from multiple lines at once.

dred comes with a command bar that allows users to change various program settings and perform certain other operations more efficiently. It can be accessed by pressing ESC, and a full list of the supported commands is available in the online documentation.

We were quite pleased with the application’s default look, but you can change pretty much everything about its appearance it if is not to your liking. For instance, you can alter the text, background and active line color, and several interface elements can be enabled or disabled.

If you prefer to have a distraction-free workspace, you should be pleased to learn that it is possible to hide the command bar, tab bar and menu bar, leaving only the editing panel and title bar.

On the whole, dred is a great Notepad alternative that may just be the app you were looking for. You will need to try it out to make sure it offers everything you need, but we were impressed by the features it provides, as well as its lightweight design.