CodeEdit
CodeEdit App for macOS – Elevate your code editing experience. Open source, free forever.
Top Related Projects
Visual Studio Code
:atom: The hackable text editor
TextMate is a graphical text editor for macOS 10.12 or later
Desktop WebKit wrapper for HTML/CSS/JS applications.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
An open source code editor for the web, written in JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Quick Overview
CodeEdit is an open-source code editor for macOS, designed to be fast, lightweight, and extensible. It aims to provide a native macOS experience while offering powerful features for developers, including syntax highlighting, project management, and Git integration.
Pros
- Native macOS application with a clean, modern interface
- Fast and lightweight compared to some other code editors
- Extensible architecture allowing for future plugin support
- Active development and community involvement
Cons
- Currently only available for macOS, limiting its user base
- Still in early development, may lack some advanced features found in more established editors
- Limited language support compared to more mature editors
- No built-in terminal or debugger (as of the current version)
Getting Started
To get started with CodeEdit:
- Visit the CodeEdit GitHub repository
- Download the latest release from the Releases page
- Drag the CodeEdit.app file to your Applications folder
- Launch CodeEdit from your Applications folder or Spotlight
Alternatively, if you want to build from source:
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/CodeEditApp/CodeEdit.git
- Open the project in Xcode
- Build and run the project
Note: CodeEdit requires macOS 13.0 or later.
Competitor Comparisons
Visual Studio Code
Pros of VS Code
- Extensive ecosystem with a vast library of extensions and themes
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Robust IntelliSense and debugging capabilities
Cons of VS Code
- Larger resource footprint, potentially slower on older hardware
- Electron-based, which can impact performance and battery life
- Steeper learning curve for customization and advanced features
Code Comparison
VS Code (settings.json):
{
"editor.fontSize": 14,
"editor.tabSize": 2,
"editor.wordWrap": "on",
"files.autoSave": "afterDelay"
}
CodeEdit (preferences.plist):
<dict>
<key>EditorFontSize</key>
<integer>14</integer>
<key>EditorTabSize</key>
<integer>2</integer>
<key>EditorWordWrap</key>
<true/>
</dict>
VS Code uses a JSON-based configuration file, while CodeEdit uses a property list format. Both allow for similar customization options, but VS Code's approach may be more familiar to developers accustomed to working with JSON configurations.
:atom: The hackable text editor
Pros of Atom
- Mature and well-established project with a large user base and extensive plugin ecosystem
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Built-in package manager for easy installation and management of extensions
Cons of Atom
- Development has been discontinued, with no future updates planned
- Slower performance compared to newer, more lightweight editors
- Higher memory usage, especially with multiple packages installed
Code Comparison
Atom (CoffeeScript):
class AtomEnvironment
constructor: (params={}) ->
{@clipboard, @updateProcessEnv} = params
@emitter = new Emitter
@disposables = new CompositeDisposable
@views = new ViewRegistry
CodeEdit (Swift):
class CodeEditApplication: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
static var shared: CodeEditApplication!
var appKit: AppKit!
var workspace: WorkspaceDocument?
var welcomeWindow: WelcomeWindowController?
}
While both projects are code editors, they differ significantly in their implementation languages and architectures. Atom is built using web technologies and CoffeeScript, while CodeEdit is a native macOS application written in Swift. This difference reflects in their performance characteristics and platform support.
TextMate is a graphical text editor for macOS 10.12 or later
Pros of TextMate
- Mature and well-established project with a long history
- Extensive language support and customization options
- Large community and ecosystem of bundles and themes
Cons of TextMate
- Slower development cycle and less frequent updates
- Limited to macOS platform
- Older codebase, potentially harder to contribute to
Code Comparison
TextMate (Ruby):
def run_command(cmd)
IO.popen(cmd, "r") do |io|
io.each_line { |line| yield line }
end
end
CodeEdit (Swift):
func runCommand(_ cmd: String) -> String? {
let task = Process()
task.launchPath = "/usr/bin/env"
task.arguments = ["-c", cmd]
let pipe = Pipe()
task.standardOutput = pipe
task.launch()
return String(data: pipe.fileHandleForReading.readDataToEndOfFile(), encoding: .utf8)
}
Both examples show command execution, but CodeEdit's implementation is more modern and Swift-specific, while TextMate's is in Ruby, reflecting their different tech stacks and target platforms.
TextMate has a rich history and extensive features, but CodeEdit offers a fresh, Swift-based approach for macOS development. CodeEdit's open-source nature and active development make it an attractive option for those seeking a modern, customizable editor specifically for Apple platforms.
Desktop WebKit wrapper for HTML/CSS/JS applications.
Pros of MacGap1
- Simpler and more lightweight, focusing on creating native-like Mac apps using web technologies
- Easier to get started for developers familiar with web development
- Provides a bridge between web content and native Mac features
Cons of MacGap1
- Less feature-rich compared to CodeEdit, which is a full-fledged code editor
- Limited active development and community support
- Not specifically designed for code editing, unlike CodeEdit
Code Comparison
MacGap1:
- (void)loadWebView {
NSString* htmlFile = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"index" ofType:@"html"];
NSString* html = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:htmlFile encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding error:nil];
[[self.webView mainFrame] loadHTMLString:html baseURL:[NSURL fileURLWithPath:[[NSBundle mainBundle] resourcePath]]];
}
CodeEdit:
struct ContentView: View {
var body: some View {
NavigationView {
SidebarView()
WorkspaceView()
}
}
}
The code snippets highlight the different approaches: MacGap1 focuses on loading web content, while CodeEdit uses SwiftUI for native UI components.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
Pros of IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
- Extensive feature set and support for multiple programming languages
- Large and active community, resulting in frequent updates and improvements
- Powerful built-in tools for debugging, refactoring, and code analysis
Cons of IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition
- Larger resource footprint and slower startup times
- Steeper learning curve due to the abundance of features
- More complex configuration and setup process
Code Comparison
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition:
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
CodeEdit:
import Foundation
print("Hello, World!")
Summary
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition is a comprehensive IDE with a wide range of features and language support, backed by a large community. However, it comes with a higher resource usage and complexity. CodeEdit, on the other hand, is a lightweight, native macOS code editor focused on simplicity and performance. While it may lack some advanced features of IntelliJ IDEA, CodeEdit offers a more streamlined experience for Swift and other Apple-ecosystem languages.
An open source code editor for the web, written in JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Pros of Brackets
- Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Extensive plugin ecosystem with a wide range of extensions
- Mature project with a large user base and community support
Cons of Brackets
- No longer actively maintained by Adobe
- Slower performance compared to native applications
- Limited built-in features without extensions
Code Comparison
While a direct code comparison is not particularly relevant due to the different technologies used (CodeEdit is built with Swift, Brackets with JavaScript), we can compare some configuration aspects:
CodeEdit (Package.swift):
let package = Package(
name: "CodeEdit",
platforms: [.macOS(.v12)],
products: [
.executable(name: "CodeEdit", targets: ["CodeEdit"])
],
// ...
)
Brackets (package.json):
{
"name": "Brackets",
"version": "2.0.1",
"homepage": "http://brackets.io",
"issues": {
"url": "http://github.com/adobe/brackets/issues"
},
// ...
}
CodeEdit is a native macOS application, while Brackets is built on web technologies, allowing for cross-platform support but potentially sacrificing performance. CodeEdit's development is more active, focusing on creating a modern, Swift-based code editor specifically for macOS.
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CodeEdit for macOS
CodeEdit is a code editor built by the community, for the community, written entirely and unapologetically for macOS. Features include syntax highlighting, code completion, project find and replace, snippets, terminal, task running, debugging, git integration, code review, extensions, and more.
[!IMPORTANT] CodeEdit is currently in development and not yet recommended for production use, however you can take part in shaping it's future by test-driving pre-release versions and submitting an issue to let us know what you think.
Table of Contents
Motivation
Most editors in use today rely on Electron or other cross-platform frameworks, limiting their ability to fully utilize system resources. While Xcode provides a native experience, it is specifically designed for projects targeting Apple platforms.
We think developers working on projects not written for Apple platforms deserve that same macOS-native experience we get with Xcode while unlocking the full potential of the Mac.
This raised the question "what if such an editor existed?", a question that led to the creation of this concept, which our project aims to make a reality.
Mission
It is our commitment to keep CodeEdit open source and free forever, supported by the community.
Our goal is to maintain a lightweight experience, similar to TextEdit, while being able to scale up to a more feature-rich experience, comparable to Xcode, as necessary.
We strive to remain true to Apple's human interface guidelines and development patterns, ensuring CodeEdit looks and feels like an application developed by Apple themselves, which includes a meticulous attention to detail.
Community
Join our growing community on Discord and GitHub Discussions where we discuss and collaborate on all things CodeEdit. Don't be shy, jump right in and be part of the discussion!
[!NOTE] We hold a weekly meetup on Discord every Saturday at 3pm UTC where we discuss latests development, feature requests, goals, and priorities.
Activity
Contributing
Be part of the next revolution in code editing by contributing to the project. This is a community-led effort, so we welcome as many contributors who can help. Read the Contribution Guide for more information.
This project spans multiple repositories so instead of browsing issues in the issues tab, it may be helpful to find an issue to get started on in our project board.
For issues we want to focus on that are most relevant at any given time, please see the issues scoped to our current iteration here.
Contributors
Sponsors
Support CodeEdit's development by becoming a sponsor.
Backers
Support CodeEdit's development by becoming a backer.
Thanks to all of our other backers
@ivanvorobei @albertorestifo @rkusa @cadenkriese @petrjahoda @allejo @frousselet @wkillerud
License
Licensed under the MIT license.
Related Repositories
Top Related Projects
Visual Studio Code
:atom: The hackable text editor
TextMate is a graphical text editor for macOS 10.12 or later
Desktop WebKit wrapper for HTML/CSS/JS applications.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
An open source code editor for the web, written in JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot