Text Editors

(Free Web Tutorials & Resources)

by Michael Thomas

Java First Steps Home Page

You can use any text editor to edit the Java Programs.  One of the best environments to program in is called an IDE (Integrated Development Environment).  For training purposes, you do need to create some programs using a Text Editor and the DOS compile process.

Warning:  Some programs created in different Operating Systems (Unix, Mac, Windows) may use different end of line characters.  This may cause some editors to read in the source code differently.  A good text editor will take care of this for you.

Text Editors - my favorite

• NotePad++ - https://notepad-plus-plus.org/download - free & GPL license, written in C++
  
• I really like this editor.
• Download an installer or a .zip file with the .exe.
  

Editors that come with Windows (Win 10, Win 8, Win 7, NT, Win 98)

• WordPad
  • Start, Accessories, Word Pad
  • Now open up the program "MyFirstApplet.java" created in the "Compile Your First Program" step of Java, Your First Steps.
  • Change the words, "Hello World" to "Hello Mickey Mouse"
  • Recompile the program and test.
  • Features/Problems
    • Opens larger programs.
    • Not really designed for the programmer.
    • May have problems w/Unix source.
• NotePad
  • Start, Accessories, Note Pad
  • Now open up the program "MyFirstApplet.java" created in the "Compile Your First Program" step of Java, Your First Steps.
  • Change the words, "Hello World" to "Hello Mickey Mouse"
  • Recompile the program and test.
  • Features/Problems
    • Opens programs totally in memory - so you may run out of memory on large programs.
    • Not really designed for the programmer.
    • May have problems w/Unix source.
  • Note:  NotePad adds the extension .txt to files that you create.  If you put the file name in quotes it will not  (ie: " MyFirstApplet.java" )
    

Other Free Editors (Freeware) (as of 2008 - I need to update.)

• Synedit - For Windows
  • http://synedit.sourceforge.net/ - SynEdit Development Website. Click on downloads and choose one of the .zip files.
  • http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-4003619-100-1555436.html - CNet's Download.com page for SynEdit.
• http://www.nedit.org - NEdit, for Unix
• http://www.barebones.com/free/bbedit_lite.html - BBEdit - for Macintosh.  Other platforms also.

Other Text Editors (as of 2008 - I need to update.)

• Other Editors
  • MultiEdit Pro - great text editor.
  • UltraEdit - great text editor.
  • Edit+ - http://www.editplus.com/ - Quote from site, "EditPlus is an Internet-ready 32-bit text editor, HTML editor and programmers editor for Windows. While it can serve as a good replacement for Notepad, it also offers many powerful features for Web page authors and programmers."  Is distributed as shareware and purchase at $30.
  • Med - Programmers Text Editor.  Free 30 day trial. $30 for private/educational single lifetime license. http://www.utopia-planitia.de (German Site I think)