Geany vs Notepad++

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.

Notepad++ is a free source code editor and Notepad replacement for programming and natural-language text. It is made for Windows and supports Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Editing features include multi-cursor work, column editing, macro recording, and handling large files. Plugins add extension support, and the built-in Plugins Admin can list, install, update, deactivate, and remove them. The project is governed by the GPL license, with a listed plan cost of free. The project says it has no plans to port the editor to other systems. Its FAQ suggests Windows API emulators such as Wine on Linux or similar options on macOS, while warning that performance or functionality may be affected. Plugins Admin can flag incompatible plugins, but compatible releases may not appear until added to its Plugin List. Plugin installation may need elevated Windows permissions if the program or Plugins directory is not writable.