Kate (KDE Advanced Text Editor)

[stuart]

Kate - Review Page

Kate is a multi document editor, based on a rewritten version of the kwrite editing widget of KDE, offering all the features of that plus a bunch of its own. Kate has been been moved to the kdebase package, and is a builtin part of your favorite desktop since release 2.2.

Being a native KDE application, Kate is of course born with networking transparency, as well as it integrates with the outstanding features of KDE. Choose it for viewing HTML sources from konqueror, editing configuration files, writing new applications or any other text editing task. You still needs just one running instance of Kate.

Some of the Previous Reviews/Comments:

User: Binny V A (added on: 2005-11-21)

Comments: I use Kwrite - kate without the multiple document interface.

Rating: 5/5

User: Anja (added on: 2005-09-07)

Comments: detects matching brackets, collapsed or expands code parts, connects if - else parts

Rating: 5/5

User: Darcy (added on: 2005-08-04)

Comments: I was migrating from Mac to Linux, and was looking for something to replace the amazing Mac-only edit "Text Wrangler". Kate is a great editor to migrate to!

Rating: 4/5

User: rlandry (added on: 2005-06-21)

Comments: I'm a big fan of EditPlus for the Win32 environment, and when I set up a "stealth" Linux workstation in my Windows-only office I wanted an editor that replicated what I had grown to find indispensable: low processing overhead; transparent ftp; power/stability; friendly GUI; well-developed syntax/highlighting; wide availability and support.

I first deluded myself that I'd bite the bullet and go the EMACS/Vim route. I'm not a touch-typist, however, and the dynamics of buffers vs. windows vs. mode were ultimately more than I wanted to take on in one bite.

I tried jEdit for a while. It's snazzy and has a bunch of available plugins, but the Java interface was sluggish and big data files just overwhelmed it.

I'd tried Kate and Quanta in earlier versions and remembered disliking certain quirks. I also didn't turn to them right away because I now prefer a lighter window manager (usually IceWM or Fluxbox). But whatever it was that bugged me about Kate before wasn't an issue with version 2.4 (or maybe it just seemed pretty inconsequential after a couple weeks wrestling with GVim), and Kate provides all features even when not run under KDE.

It's free, well-supported, and part of KDE base (which I consider crucial to install even though its not my default environment), so it comes with any up-to-date Linux distro.

Rating: 4/5

User: ado (added on: 2005-05-13)

Comments: The only feature I miss is a function list. Everything else is almost perfect!

Rating: 4/5

User: radcc (added on: 2004-11-10)

Comments: I have tried several editors and have found Kate to be the most versatile of the bunch...

Rating: 5/5

User: minck (added on: 2004-11-04)

Comments: I love Kate for bigger projects - when I have code with lots of includes, Quanta Plus starts slowing down. I love Quanta but in reality can live without a lot of it's extra features, so Kate's there for me when lightweight is key.

Rating: 5/5

User: trouby (added on: 2004-05-30)

Comments: very good editor, love it

Rating: 5/5

User: Paul O (added on: 2004-05-20)

Comments: I love kate, it is not loaded (or bloated) with features. I have to admit I love the default syntax highlighting colors. I also hope for a similar (nearly identical) program for windows (when i'm not using linux).

Rating: 5/5

User: Travis S (added on: 2004-04-14)

Comments: Excellent editor if speed is what you're a competent programmer looking for speed in their editor.

Rating: 5/5

User: Plantum (added on: 2004-04-12)

Comments: Great editor! Aw yeah! =) no need for code completion, just in the way and often pisses me off :P

Rating: 5/5

User: j_edge (added on: 2004-04-06)

Comments: I can't understand how anyone that programs for a living could not appreciate code completion, refactoring tools, unit testing frameworks, etc.

Anything that makes my job easier and saves me having to lookup the correct order of parameters to iconv() or other less-often used functions can only be considered a "Good Thing" to me.

j-E

Rating: 3/5

User: GeoTrail (added on: 2004-03-07)

Comments: Well, I prefer to type my own code. Not let anyone else do it for me. And I was never hit on the head as a child like some people :lol:

Rating: 5/5

User: rmckay's Mother (added on: 2004-02-26)

Comments: I used to beat up my son when he was young, he has been looking for editors with code completion ever since.

Please excuse his lack of knowledge (of not just programming) but common sense as well.

The 1 star rating is for him.

Love,
Mom.

P.S: Call me soon son.

Rating: 1/5

User: rmckay (added on: 2004-01-30)

Comments: No editor without code completion should have a 5 star rating

Rating: 2/5

User: GeoTrail (added on: 2003-06-12)

Comments: I totally love this editor.
Specially the fold feature for functions and such.

Hopefully there will be a similar release for Windows aswell. Event if it cost a few bucks, I'd buy it

Rating: 5/5

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