NotepadNext
A cross-platform, reimplementation of Notepad++
A free, cross-platform text editor built to feel like Notepad++ but runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, good for editing code, config files, and notes across operating systems.
Notepad Next is a free text editor for your computer. It is a from-scratch rebuild of Notepad++, a well-known and popular text editor on Windows that programmers and other people use for writing code, notes, and configuration files. The main reason this rebuild exists is portability: the original Notepad++ only runs on Windows, while Notepad Next is designed to work across Windows, Linux, and macOS, so people on different operating systems can use a familiar editor.
The README is honest about the project's state. It says the application is generally stable and usable, but that it should not be trusted with critically important work because it still has a number of bugs and some features that are only partly finished. The authors welcome help from other developers in the form of pull requests, which are proposed code changes.
Most of the document explains how to install the program on each operating system. On Windows you can use an installer, a plain zip file, or the Winget package manager, with the installer adding extras like automatic updates and a right-click menu option. On Linux you can download a self-contained AppImage, install a Flatpak from Flathub, or add a community-maintained package source for Ubuntu. On macOS you can download a disk image or install it through Homebrew. There is also a small tip for macOS users about turning off font smoothing so the text looks more like the Windows version.
The last part of the README is aimed at people who want to build the program themselves from its source code. It explains that development is done with a toolset called Qt and the Qt Creator program, names the supported version, and points to a longer step-by-step building guide for newcomers.
The project is open source and released under the GNU General Public License version 3.
Where it fits
- Use a familiar Notepad++-style editor on Linux or macOS where the original doesn't run.
- Edit code and configuration files with syntax highlighting on any major operating system.
- Install via Winget on Windows to get automatic updates and a right-click context menu entry.
- Build the editor from source using Qt to add or modify features.