FocusWriter

Spec sheet

What it does

FocusWriter is a distraction-free word processor with an interface revealed by moving the pointer to screen edges.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Purpose

FocusWriter is a simple, distraction-free word processor with a hide-away interface that appears when you move the mouse to the screen edges.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Security

The version 1.9.1 notes say FocusWriter can use strict mode to disable unsafe Qt APIs.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Privacy

Gott Code says it collects no personal data and does not share personal data.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Support

The maker asks bug reporters to provide operating system details, reproduction steps, expected behavior, and what actually happened.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

License

Version 1.9.1 was released July 23, 2026, under GPL version 3.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

AlternativeTo popularity

AlternativeTo shows 214 likes and 14 user comments or reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Bug support

The maintainer asks bug reporters to provide operating-system details, reproduction steps, expected behavior and actual behavior, and says fixes can take time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Company identity

The maker identifies himself as Graeme Gott, an open-source programmer and Linux user.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Daily goals

Writers can configure daily writing goals.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Developer

Graeme Gott describes himself as an open-source programmer and avid Linux user since 2001.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Developer documentation

The repository includes build and installation files plus a contributing guide, but its README describes the application rather than an API or SDK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Dictionary links

The official page links to LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice dictionary resources.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Download platforms

The download page lists Linux packages and Windows 10 x64 installers, including a portable Windows version.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Independent description

SourceForge describes FocusWriter as a full-screen application that hides menus and notifications until summoned.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Independent feature summary

SourceForge lists daily goals, timers, alarms, typewriter sounds, themes, autosave, session statistics and spell check.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Latest release

Version 1.9.1 was released July 23, 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Licence

The official project is released under GPL version 3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Limit: markup

AlternativeTo reviewers complain that FocusWriter lacks syntax highlighting and Markdown compatibility.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Limit: RTF on Windows

An AlternativeTo reviewer said Windows RTF handling appeared dependent on the WordPad engine, which Microsoft is discontinuing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Limit: text controls

An AlternativeTo reviewer complained that the toolbar lacks a direct increase or decrease text-size control.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Limit: typesetting

AlternativeTo reviewers describe its typesetting options as limited.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Linux dependencies

The Linux packages require Qt and Hunspell.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Live statistics

The application updates writing statistics while text is being entered.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Maker structure

The official site presents Gott Code as Graeme Gott’s personal collection of projects rather than a staffed software company.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Multiple documents

FocusWriter supports multiple documents open at the same time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Portable mode

A Data folder beside the executable enables running FocusWriter from a USB drive with settings stored there.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

Praise: focus

AlternativeTo’s review summary praises the distraction-free environment, customizability, typewriter mode and word counting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Praise: simplicity

Reviewers on AlternativeTo describe the program as simple, lightweight and preferable to heavier office software for lightweight editing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Rating on AlternativeTo

4.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net

Release changes

Version 1.9.1 added an AI-prohibiting document policy and a strict mode that disables unsafe Qt APIs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Release history

Version 1.9.0, released February 10, 2026, added heading keyboard shortcuts and fixed smart-quote sound effects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Resume work

When opened, FocusWriter automatically loads the current work in progress and returns to where the user last left off.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Scalarly limitation

Scalarly reports no native macOS build, no mobile version, no cloud synchronization and only basic text editing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · scalarly.com

Session restore

The current work and previous cursor position load automatically when the program starts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Source repository

The public GitHub repository is marked GPL-3.0 and contains CMake files, source, translations, installation instructions and a changelog.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com

SourceForge licence

SourceForge identifies the project as GNU GPL version 3.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

SourceForge status

SourceForge hosts an exact mirror, states it is not affiliated with FocusWriter, and records the last update as July 23, 2026.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net

Spell checking

Spell-checking is included.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Support limits

The maker says bug reports can take a while to fix and that he cannot fix issues he cannot recreate.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

TechRadar limitation

TechRadar says FocusWriter is not ideal for editing because its feature set is intentionally light.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com

TechRadar praise

TechRadar highlights distraction blocking, timers and alarms, and automatic saving as reasons to choose FocusWriter.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com

Themes

Users can create themes controlling fonts, colors and background images.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Windows requirements

The current download is a Windows 10 x64 build of 55.2 MB and bundles Qt 6.11.1, Hunspell 1.7.3 and KDSingleApplication 1.2.1.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Wired format note

WIRED says FocusWriter uses rich text format rather than Markdown and has no mobile client or file syncing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · wired.com

Writing tools

The program includes on-the-fly statistics, daily goals, multiple open documents, and spell-checking.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gottcode.org

Plans and prices

Every FocusWriter plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Text App#3 of 248.7
• Word Processing Software#7 of 458.6
• Document Creation Software#4 of 258.6
• Text Editors#36 of 828.2
• Writing Apps#71 of 1358.0