What are some good barebones text editors for Windows/WSL?
Asked by
QuietPanda37
I've been using Atom because I really liked its user interface, but now that it's no longer maintained, I'm in search of alternatives. I'm on Windows using WSL, doing most of my coding in C and Assembly. I'm looking for a text editor that is very minimal, similar to the default Ubuntu text editor. I've previously tried Notepad++ (which I find unappealing), Code::Blocks (which is slow to boot), and VSCode (way too complex for my needs). I want something without any fancy features like autocomplete—just a simple environment where I can compile and debug through the terminal in WSL. I heard about Zed Text Editor but it's not available for Windows yet. Can anyone suggest a lightweight editor that meets these criteria?
Answers
You can use any Linux distribution with WSL. Since it defaults to Ubuntu, you can just run `nano` for Ubuntu's default editor. If you're looking for GUI options like `gedit` or `Kate`, you can install those in WSL, too. Personally, I recommend `vim`; it's very lightweight and has versions for both Linux and Windows, but it does require a bit of a learning curve.
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For a truly barebones experience, dte is a great option. I've been using it daily and it fits the minimalistic vibe you're looking for.
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Have you tried neovim? It's command-based, but I've been using it with WSL after years on VSCode, and it's fantastic! You can customize it to be lightweight or packed with features, depending on your preference.
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If you're comfortable using the terminal, you might want to try Helix Editor. It's a solid choice and quite efficient for coding.
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Definitely check out Neovim! It's a solid choice for minimal editing and has a great community around it.
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