But writers, programmers, and others who use text files a lot know that Notepad has its limitations. Notepad2's developer, Flo's Freeware, notes that there's nothing wrong with Notepad, the default text editor in Windows: it's lightweight, fast, and fully integrated with the operating system. We've rated the best laptops for programming. Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar. The aim was to push each software platform to see how useful its basic tools were and also how easy it was to get to grips with any more advanced tools. We then tested the service to see how the software could be used for different purposes and in different situations. To test for the best text editors we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. Additionally, free and budget software options can sometimes prove limited when it comes to the variety of tools available, while higher-end software can really cater for every need, so do ensure you have a good idea of which features you think you may require.

When deciding which text editors to download and use, first consider what your actual needs are, as sometimes free platforms may only provide basic options, so if you need to use advanced tools you may find a paid platform is much more worthwhile. We've also highlighted the best Linux distro for developers. It also provides the ability to create nifty custom keyboard shortcuts for additional speed and complete control. Ultraedit sports a highly customizable column-based interface that can be tweaked to help you manage the project you’re working on, and like others on this list it comes with a wide range of add-ons and features – such as autocomplete, Find in Files, Templates and debugging. In addition to text, it can be used to edit a wide range of programming languages – from PHP and Javascript to HTML.

Ultraedit is a powerful text editor suitable for editing massive text files that exceed gigabytes in size.

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