Microsoft is preparing to release a new “lightweight” text editor Edit for Windows 11. The editor weighs only 230 KB and, according to the developers, pays homage to the minimally computationally intensive classic MS-DOS Editor, but with a modern interface and controls like in Visual Studio Code.
Image source: Microsoft
After discontinuing WordPad, Microsoft added many features to Notepad, which drew criticism from users who valued the app for its simplicity. In response, Microsoft decided to offer an alternative: a new minimalist text editor called Edit.
Edit is launched via the command line. To open a text file for basic editing, type edit in the terminal, then press Enter. Edit lets you switch between documents, jump to a specific line, and perform other simple operations. However, there is no formatting, AI, or other advanced features. It is a “pure” text editor for those who value speed and minimalism.
Image source: Microsoft
Edit also has one serious limitation: you can’t save files directly, and after editing, you have to copy the text into another application, such as Notepad, Visual Studio Code, or Word. As PCWorld writes, this is because the program is still in active development, and its functionality will be improved.
The editor is currently only available via installation from GitHub, but Microsoft has confirmed that it plans to make it “the default text editor, but only for the command line” in the near future. The exact release date is unknown, but it will likely not appear for several months at the earliest.