What is the Best Notepad Replacement with Syntax Highlighting?

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For HTML editing with syntax highlighting, TextPad is recommended for its user-friendly interface and functionality. Users seek alternatives that are lighter and easier to use than Dreamweaver, with a preference for free options. Cygwin is suggested for accessing various non-Windows editors. jEdit is highlighted as an excellent open-source text editor that is easy to learn and customize, though it requires Java. Emacs is noted for its extensive capabilities but demands significant time investment for effective use. Notepad++ is also mentioned as a viable option for those looking to avoid more complex editors.
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whats the best one? I am wanting something with syntax highlighting(view source in Firefox to see what I mean) and any other good html helping tools.
 
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Astronuc said:
For a great text editor, I use TextPad

www.textpad.com

is it good for html editing(does it do syntax highlighting or anything else helpful)
 
I imagine you want something lighter than Dreamweaver.
 
-Job- said:
I imagine you want something lighter than Dreamweaver.

yeah. lighter, easier to use(in terms of not needing to learn anything) and free
 
Might not be the lightest option (certainly isn't), but install cygwin and make use of all the "real" non-originally-Win editors.
 
If you want an open-source text editor that has tons of cool features and is easy to learn and customize and you don't mind Java, jEdit is great. In fact, I've been trying for a while to switch from jEdit to Emacs (for various reasons), but if I'm in any kind of a hurry, I keep going back to jEdit because it's so headache-free to use. It's pretty too.

(If you go with jEdit and don't have the necessary runtime environment already, don't use their link to the full development kit. And don't pay any attention to the mess of acronyms (SDK, JDK, J2SE, etc.). The development kit is the runtime environment plus additional stuff (compiler and packages) that you don't need unless you are building Java programs. You only need http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp , which you likely already have.)

Emacs seems like it can do anything, but it also seems to take a lot of energy to customize and start using efficiently. I wouldn't go with Emacs unless, or until, you have time to read and learn before actually needing to use it much.

I used Cream (Vim) briefly, but there was nothing special about it either way. I can't imagine going back to Notepad. I think I would love jEdit if I didn't dislike Java so much right now. It's really a great program.
 
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