Geany vs jEdit

Geany is a free, lightweight integrated development environment for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It provides syntax highlighting, code completion, call tips, and code folding for languages and file types including C, Java, PHP, HTML, Python, Perl, and Pascal. An embedded terminal emulator is included, and plugins can extend the editor. Geany supports macro recording and column editing, but not multi-cursor editing. The project distributes it under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later. Linux, BSD, and similar systems are directed toward distribution packages, including packages named for Debian, Fedora, and Ubuntu. Prebuilt Windows and macOS binaries are available from geany.org, along with links to additional third-party packages and a portable Windows version. Building from source requires GTK3 libraries and headers, dependency libraries, and C and C++ compilers. Geany has no free trial because the listed plan is free.

jEdit is a Java-based text editor for programming, with packages for Linux, macOS, and Windows and supported-platform listings that also name VMS and OS/2. Version 5.7.0 provides syntax highlighting for 233 languages and file types. Editing tools include auto indent, bracket matching, code folding, word wrap, multi-cursor and column editing, and unlimited undo and redo. Search handles literal or regular-expression queries across open files or a directory. Users can adjust keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, and context menus, and automate work with BeanShell macros. Its Plugin Manager installs, updates, and removes extensions; listed options include FTP, SVN, XML, XSLT, and project management tools. Plugins can add compiler, code-completion, debugging, visual-diff, and language-specific capabilities. jEdit is free software with full source code under GPL 2.0. Version 5.6 and later requires Java 11 or later, and the maker notes that installing many plugins can slow startup. Help is available through mailing lists, web message boards, and bug trackers.