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GNU Emacs vs jEdit

GNU Emacs

gnu.org

jEdit

jedit.org

Side by side

FigureGNU EmacsjEdit
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
AndroidYes—
Plans published11
Spec score · Text Editors9.0 (#4)8.4 (#19)
Spec score · Editor Software8.7 (#4)8.1 (#15)
Column editingYesYes
Customization optionsUsers can customize it with Emacs Lisp code or a graphical interface.Users can customize keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, and context menus, and automate editing with BeanShell macros.
EditingIt provides content-aware editing modes, including syntax coloring, for many file types.Features include auto indent, bracket matching, code folding, word wrap, and unlimited undo and redo.
Extension supportYesYes
Free planYesYes
Macro recordingYesYes
Multi-cursor editingYesYes
SupportUsers can seek help through the help-gnu-emacs mailing list or gnu.emacs.help newsgroup, and report bugs with M-x report-emacs-bug.Users can seek help through mailing lists, web-based message boards, and bug trackers.
Supported platformsGNU/Linux, BSDs, Haiku, Windows, macOS, and Android.Windows,Unix/Linux,Mac OS X,VMS,OS/2

Plans

GNU Emacs

  • GNU EmacsFree

GNU Emacs pricing →

jEdit

  • jEditFree

jEdit pricing →

In their own words

GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit gnu.org

jEdit

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.

Visit jedit.org