Compare Bluefish vs. HTML-NOTEPAD vs. Notepad++

Bluefish is a robust text editor designed specifically for programmers and web developers, offering a wide array of tools for creating websites, scripts, and various coding languages. It accommodates numerous programming and markup languages, making it versatile for different coding needs. For a detailed look at its features, users can explore the overview, browse through screenshots, or download the editor directly. As an open-source project, Bluefish is distributed under the GNU GPL license, promoting free use and distribution. This multi-platform application is compatible with a variety of desktop operating systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, MacOS-X, Windows, OpenBSD, and Solaris. The latest version, Bluefish 2.2.12, is a minor maintenance update that introduces some new features, including a crucial fix for a crash that occurred during simple searches. Enhancements have also been made in Python 3 compatibility, and the detection of encoding in Python files has seen improvements. Additionally, the triple-click function now allows users to select entire lines easily, and on Mac OSX, Bluefish has been optimized to better handle new permission features. Furthermore, issues with displaying the correct language in the Bluefish user interface for certain languages on OSX have been resolved. With these updates, users can expect a smoother and more efficient coding experience.

HTML-NOTEPAD is a WYSIWYG editor tailored for structured documents, which feature a hierarchical and semantically rich layout, including elements like headers, lists, plaintext segments, tables, and more. This tool is distinctly not designed as a “web page editor,” so users shouldn't anticipate creating “cool web pages” with its functionality. Given the complexities of modern CSS, achieving true WYSIWYG web design is essentially unfeasible, as web pages are predominantly built through direct CSS manipulation, which is inherent to CSS itself. Nevertheless, HTML-NOTEPAD proves beneficial for web designers in scenarios that require the construction of textual yet structured content for their websites. Utilizing the Sciter Engine for its user interface, HTML-NOTEPAD is compact, efficient, and operates without external dependencies across all major desktop platforms, including Windows (from XP to 10), Mac OS, and Linux. While WYSIWYG editing can be beneficial, it has its constraints, as some tasks are far more straightforward when approached through the source code. Consequently, HTML-NOTEPAD includes a “pass-through selection” feature to enhance user experience and flexibility in content creation. This tool strikes a balance between ease of use and the robust capabilities often required by professionals in the field.

Notepad++ serves as a free alternative to traditional Notepad and is designed for editing source code across various programming languages. Functioning within the Microsoft Windows ecosystem, it operates under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The editor is built on the robust Scintilla editing framework and is developed using C++, making use of the pure Win32 API and Standard Template Library (STL) to achieve enhanced execution speed and a compact file size. By optimizing numerous processes while maintaining user-friendliness, Notepad++ aims to contribute to the reduction of global carbon dioxide emissions. The software’s efficiency allows computers to use less CPU power, enabling them to operate at lower energy levels, which in turn leads to reduced power consumption and a more sustainable environment. This approach exemplifies how software development can align with eco-friendly initiatives.