RadNotepad

While a vast majority of users opt for comprehensive integrated development environments due to the sheer amount of features meant to automate operations and save time, some may prefer a more lightweight approach for less intensive workflows, which is where a nifty utility known as RadNotepad comes into play, equipped with multi-tab support for easily navigating between various documents and comparing code excerpts.

With large and ultrawide monitors increasing in popularity over the years, making the most of the available screen real estate is a must for most users, an objective that is achieved through this program thanks to the implementation of resizable sidebars, which can be repositioned anywhere inside the application’s window, thus removing the need for other utilities running side-by-side and providing you with a customizable layout designed to fit your particular workflow.

For instance, instead of manually opening the document picker and navigating to a certain directory, the “File View” section lets you expand folders into a tree-style view and preview any series of documents without leaving the application itself. Moreover, while the output can also be easily glanced at underneath the editing windows, large files can be navigated more easily through the use of the built-in bookmarking system for those who wish to remember to change specific lines of code before debugging.

Where RadNotepad shines most, however, is in its customization support. Not only can users jump between documents through the tabbing system instead of opening multiple instances of the app, but implementing a function from one app to another can be made easier through the virtually unlimited number of files being previewed side-by-side when dragging and dropping them inside the editing section’s edges. Finally, each programming language is tied to a preset, which users can edit according to their preferences, from the background and text colors to the fonts for each type of strings.

If your use case requires less processing power, and you prefer a lightweight, portable and open-source alternative to industry standards such as Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code, then RadNotepad may be the right tool for you, given its powerful array of features packed into a small form factor that does not skimp on multitasking capabilities.