jEdit

jEdit has been designed as a simple text editor for programmers. The application is written in Java and, as such, it can be used on other operating systems without trimming down its functionality.

Installing the editing tool is a simple job that requires little effort from the user if all the dependencies (Java) are present on the system.

Most of the main application window is occupied by the text editing area. Starting a new project can be done in various edit modes, which come with syntax highlighting rules, automatic indentation, depending on the type of code written, and there is generous support available.

Apart from this, the program features extensive search capabilities that also allow modifying selections, looking for regular expressions and even searching and replacing data in files stored in a specific location.

Macros can help the coder with getting the job done faster by automating certain routines. jEdit offers the possibility to record macros and store them either permanently or temporarily; the latter function comes in handy when a routine has to be executed only on the current project.

The functionality of the application can be extended through various plug-ins. The built-in manager allows handling all the add-ons and provides access to a hefty list that can be installed in the editing utility.

Each of them is accompanied by a brief description so there is no need to install them in order to learn about their purpose.

Large set of configuration options

Configuring the text editor can be time consuming because the versatility of the application also drags along a plethora of options.

The developer included options that touch on every aspect of jEdit, from the abbreviations used when coding, general look and feel of the product to the context menu options syntax highlighting.

jEdit is not designed for the average user and integrates a hefty list of customization options along with support for various edit modes. It is an all-purpose text editing utility that can be used for simply editing plain text as well as for checking various code types.