Flux vs Textadept
Flux
flux.gautamsuthar.inTextadept
orbitalquark.github.ioSide by side
| Figure | Flux | Textadept |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · JavaScript Package Managers | 7.7 (#9) | 8.0 (#5) |
| Purpose | Flux installs, updates, lists, and removes packages from the npm registry and runs scripts in package.json. | Textadept is a fast, minimalist, extensible cross-platform text editor for programmers. |
| Requirements | The npm installation requires Node 18 or later; the standalone binary includes no runtime. | Pre-built binaries require Windows 10 or later, macOS 13 or later, or Linux with Qt 5 or GTK 3 for the GUI and ncurses for the terminal version. |
Plans
In their own words
Flux
Flux is an open-source command-line package manager for JavaScript and Node.js projects, built by Gautam Suthar. It installs, updates, lists, and removes packages from the npm registry, and runs scripts defined in package.json. Packages are placed in node_modules, while downloaded tarballs remain in a shared per-user cache that later projects can reuse. Flux is available through a global npm installation or as a standalone binary without Node.js. The npm route requires Node 18 or later; the standalone binary includes no runtime. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, uses package.json, and has no workspace or lockfile support. The alpha handles direct dependencies only, without dependency-tree resolution, so installs are not reproducible. Flux has no telemetry, requires no account, and is MIT licensed for personal and commercial use. The maker recommends it for side projects and experiments, not production projects.
Textadept
Textadept is a free, open-source text editor for programmers, available with graphical and terminal interfaces. It supports more than 100 programming languages and includes multiple carets and selections, unlimited split views, configurable key bindings, nested snippets, column editing, and macro recording. Lua scripting can extend and customize nearly every aspect of the editor. Shell commands can be used to run code, build projects, and execute tests; optional modules add language debuggers, file comparison, source formatting, an LSP client, scratch buffers, and spell checking. The project says Textadept does not connect to the internet. Pre-built binaries are self-contained and require no installation, and source code is available under the MIT License. Requirements vary: Linux GUI use needs Qt 5 or GTK 3, while the terminal version needs ncurses. Pre-built macOS binaries are for Apple Silicon only. The project provides a manual, Lua API documentation, issue tracker, discussions, wiki, and FAQ.