the best (free) text editor to edit code files?

oooh, this could be a dangerous thread…. but I’ll share.

vi. Finger memory is a powerful tool. And I can find a version for any OS.

If on windows, I used to be a notepad2 fan, but I recently converted to notepad++ with no regrets. Both easily found via a quick web search.

so you’re not using vi?

I presume you mean in Windows? If so, Notetab.

It’s not very 1337, but I have an enduring fondness for jEdit. A bit of a memory hog, but it’ll handle most any language I throw at it on the three main OS platforms, and I really appreciate some of the features and plugins available. (Split buffer panels to die for, FTP plugin very useful.)

I’m gonna go Notepad++ on this one.

With Notetab I didn’t find the option to encode in utf-8 without BOM.
I am using Notepad++ and the UTF-8 without BOM option is confusing. If you select “encode in UTF-8” the “without BOM” option is greyed out, so what are you supposed to do? Encode in ANSI with “utf-8 without BOM” selected? How does everyone deal with this BOM problem that’s driving me crazy?

I like Textpad myself, but it’s not free. It’s nagware, basically.

This discussion has come up several times here, do a quick search of the forums…
For a pretty good list of options, you can check the the codex Glossary#T

Can a Notepad++ explain to me how to create files without BOM.
When I open a file I have “encode in ANSI” checked with ” “encode in UTF-8 without BOM” selected. I figure I don’t want that so I select “encode in UTF-8” (the “without BOM” option becomes greyed out) and I save. I still get BOM warnings from the validator so what should I do?

So um, Notepad++ support might be a lot more useful if you try the Notepad++ folks.

There’s no such thing. There’s this site:
https://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=331754
where getting an answer seems to take between a week and never, so since there are lots of people here who use it and who need to deal with this BOM issue, I thought I’d ask.

You just don’t get it, flush, do you?

WP users probably are using tens of different editors. If we start to answer support questions for one – why not support all of them? Teaching people how to use a tool that has NOTHING to do with WordPress…

This is a support forum for WordPress issues. You’ve got enough information to work and learn on your own. Do not post non-WP questions, please.

Thank you for your understanding.

Well, I found something that’s free, clear, and works.
It’s called UNIRED.