Notepad++ - free Windows Notepad alternative

I find Windows standard Notepad program very handy for many small tasks. Because it's fast, simple and I always know that texts files can be opened from any computer. For simple notes standard notepad is more than enough. But let's say you need to edit non standard documents like html files, C code and other syntax where specific features like highlighting, auto-completion, and other tools would make work more efficient and faster. Good programs don't have to be expensive and event doesn't have to be commercial at all.

Notepad++ is great replacement of standard notepad and it is free. It is written and optimized for win32 api that ensures fast performance and small program size. Notepad++ can be installed as separate stand alone program or you can simply replace standard notepad with it (what I do not recommend) with simple Notepad++ launcher. There are numerous of customizing possibilities with various plugins, language files and other features. For instance if you are designing html or php pages you can track all your project files, highlight syntax and even print highlighting with color printer, type faster with auto-completion, edit multiple documents ant one time, views are dynamically configurable with simple drag and drops, text can be zoomed in and out and even macro can be recorded to save time from routine tasks.

Only one thing that I don't like with Notepad++ is that program is supported by one man. So there is no guarantee that project will be supported in future. This disadvantage comparing to open source projects may not look attractive, but again, this is great program which is still supported and has lots of fans.

Go to download area to get latest version and give it a try.