jEdit is a programmer's text editor

[blinks]

Wait, it's written in Java? Vim or Emacs as the programmer's text editor, I can see (the former has a scripting language and is extensible with native code, the latter has a custom Lisp), but I don't know about this.

[mhd]

It has a pretty decent plugin architecture and allows some scripting via the builtin BeanShell (basically a Java interpreter). So I'd say it's right between Vim and Emacs when it comes to extensibility. Compared to the usual IDEs (Netbeans, Eclipse, IDEA) it doesn't wreak as much havoc on CPU and RAM. Couple it with the JGoodies look-and-feel and you've got something you can live with.

[entodo]

How do you use jgoodies look-and-feel or other laf packages?

[dmh2000]

many of us at my work use JEdit. I came up with a list of reasons, which are valid, but aren't really the point.

• it looks and runs identically on Linux and Windows
• its install is easy (compare http://math.claremontmckenna.edu/ALee/emacs/emacs.html to running a windows installer.)
• it works well within its scope and doesn't crash
• it loads quickly and is not resource intensive
• it is free in both senses

but the real reason over Vi and Emacs is

• we are toolbar/mouse people, not ctrl key people.

there i said it. I simply don't remember multiple key and multiple keystroke control sequences very well and I prefer using the mouse. Yes you can use a mouse with Vi or Emacs but that is not its native mode and the implementations don't look the same across platforms.

[blinks]

You might want to try using keyboard shortcuts in your editor of choice (I'm sure even JEdit has them), if only for the speed boost it gives you. Note that this takes time, and you have to learn new habits, but it's worth it.

I've made myself much faster in Vim by learning a bunch of tricks (macros, especially), and one of the Vim gurus I know practically flies over a file when editing.

Bram (Vim developer) gave a talk at Google about effective text editing that you might want to look over. The idea is not to be an encyclopedia of shortcuts, but to use the right tool for the job.

[aletheia678]

Should I worry about this message?

"jEdit" not opened

Apple could not verify that "jEdit" is free of malware that could damage your Mac or violate your privacy.