Notepad++ Final

About Notepad++

Notepad++ is a powerful, free source code editor for Windows with syntax highlighting and code completion for 80+ programming languages. Developed by Don Ho since 2003, Notepad++ is beloved by programmers, developers, and tech enthusiasts for its lightweight nature, extensive plugin ecosystem (100+ plugins), and advanced editing features that put Microsoft’s built-in Notepad to shame.

Key Features

• Syntax Highlighting: Support for 80+ programming and markup languages (C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, JSON, Markdown, etc.)
• Code Completion: Auto-completion for code snippets and keywords
• Plugin System: Extend functionality with 100+ community plugins (TextFX, NppExec, Compare, XML Tools, etc.)
• Macro Recording: Record and playback editing macros for repetitive tasks
• Multi-Tab Interface: Edit multiple files simultaneously in tabs
• Column/Block Selection: Select and edit multiple lines simultaneously
• Find & Replace: Regular expression search and replace with advanced options
• Code Folding: Collapse/expand code blocks for better readability
• Vertical Split View: Compare or edit multiple files side-by-side
• File Encoding Support: ANSI, UTF-8, UTF-16, ISO-8859-1, and 140+ other encodings
• Line Endings Conversion: Convert between Windows (CRLF), Unix (LF), Mac (CR)
• Regular Expression Support: Powerful regex search, replace, and filtering
• Plugin Manager: Easy installation of plugins from Plugin Manager

System Requirements

Windows: Windows XP or later (32-bit and 64-bit versions available)

RAM: 50 MB minimum

Storage: 5 MB for installation

Processor: Any modern processor (extremely lightweight)

Pricing

Notepad++ is completely free, open-source software under GPL license. No ads, no spyware, no trial limitations. Donations are accepted but never required.

Programming Language Support

Popular Languages: C, C++, C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, Go, Rust, Kotlin, Swift, Objective-C

Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, SCSS, LESS, XML, JSON, YAML, Markdown

Scripting: Bash, PowerShell, VBScript, Perl, Lua, SQL

Other: 80+ languages total with highlighting support

Installation Guide

Download from notepad-plus-plus.org, run installer, choose components. Notepad++ integrates with Windows context menu for “Edit with Notepad++”.

Advantages (Pros)

• Completely free and open-source
• Extremely lightweight and fast (5MB)
• Syntax highlighting for 80+ languages
• 100+ community plugins for extended functionality
• Advanced features (macros, regex, column editing)
• Multiple encoding support
• Regular updates and improvements
• No ads, spyware, or tracking
• Perfect for code editing and manipulation
• Portable version available (no installation needed)

Disadvantages (Cons)

• Windows-only (no native macOS or Linux support)
• No project management features (IDE-light)
• Less polished than commercial IDEs
• Limited built-in refactoring tools
• Smaller community than VS Code
• Plugins can be hit-or-miss in quality
• No built-in git integration (plugins available)

Notepad++ vs Alternatives

Microsoft VS Code: More features, cross-platform, larger community. Heavier resource usage, Microsoft tracking concerns.

Sublime Text: Fast, commercial, cross-platform, $80 paid license. Excellent but not free.

Atom: Electron-based, feature-rich, less lightweight than Notepad++. Archived by GitHub.

Windows Notepad: Minimal features, built-in. No syntax highlighting, limited editing capabilities.

Who Should Use Notepad++

Best for: Programmers and developers on Windows, code editing and manipulation, system administrators writing scripts, web developers, anyone wanting a lightweight editor without IDE overhead, budget-conscious developers.

Download Notepad++

• Notepad++ – Official Site
• Notepad++ – GitHub Releases

Current Version: 8.5+

File Size: 2-3 MB installer

License: GPL (Free, Open Source)

Portable Version: Available at no extra cost