Aurora Editor

While many prefer the feature-rich layout of an Integrated Development Environment, a more lightweight option free of distractions may be the right choice for some users, which is where a nifty Markdown processor known as Aurora Editor comes into play, offering the same experience on both Windows and Linux-based operating systems, for those who tend to dual-boot often on their main devices.

Once installed, launching the app greets users to a compact layout that will feel familiar to those accustomed to popular Windows desktop applications, given the quintessential command ribbon sitting underneath the title bar, which houses all the application’s available options without taking up any screen real estate through always visible toolbars with nondescript tag-less icons, thus leaving more horizontal space for viewing code lines and avoiding having to scroll down.

Night owls may suffer from eye-strain when working with certain applications, which is why the app includes an option for a dark mode during late night editing sessions in dimly lit environments. In order to minimize distractions, the program also provides users with a full-screen toggle that hides the taskbar and notification counter in the bottom right corner of the screen. Those who wish to preserve the Markdown format of the file they are working on can export it into an HTML form-factor to quickly test the way content is arranged in the webpage.

Moreover, while the usual hotkey combinations work for cutting, copying and pasting content within the app, the omission of a right-click context menu puts those with mouse-based workflows at a disadvantage. However, since the program’s source code is openly available, those with programming experience can make suggestions or fork the repository to create custom versions that implement such features without having to start from scratch or dramatically altering the look and feel of the app.

If you are in the market for an open-source HTML editor that respects your privacy and maintains focus on the essential features, and you happen to have a keyboard-based workflow, then Aurora Editor may be the right tool for you, given its accessible layout and optional dark theme that can fit in with the rest of Windows’ native programs.