When comparing UltraEdit vs Write!, the Slant community recommends UltraEdit for most people. In the question“What are the best text editors for UNIX-like systems?” UltraEdit is ranked 18th while Write! is ranked 22nd. The most important reason people chose UltraEdit is:
UltraEdit has small memory usage and allows for fast parsing/searching when handling large files.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Handles large files (>1GB) extremely well
UltraEdit has small memory usage and allows for fast parsing/searching when handling large files.
Pro Works perfectly with remote files
Supports several protocols for accessing remote files and working on them with the same ease as local files. Files can be integrated in the projects as normal files.
Pro Probably the most versatile general editor in existence.
If you need a general editor, UltraEdit is the way to go. If you were writing C/C++ all day, then this would be your editor. If you need to slog through large files then this is your go to editor. If you need to go through XML files, then this is your editor. If you need to sort data, then this your my editor.
Pro Fast, stable, easy to use
It loads with a short delay, but once loaded it's snappy and rock-solid. Anyone accustomed to using Windows text editors will feel at home in its interface, and those that prefer alternate keybindings can easily change them.
Pro Search and replace capabilities
From Ultraedit to Perl to Unix regex engines, the search and replace can accomplish just about anything.
Pro Responsive company
Whether for feature requests, technical support or license questions, IDM is always quick to respond.
Pro Nice hex display & edit
There's a handful of other features like this that make UltraEdit indispensable.
Pro Extremely customizable GUI editor
UltraEdit offer the best of both worlds. it has a full on GUI along with all the shortcut commands you need. There's no need for the user to suffer 80 char limitations of a terminal editor.
Pro Highly flexible
UltraEdit allows you to handle groups of files as a project.
Pro Allows easily switching between working on multiple files
Write! has tabs at the top and a tree view on the left that allows quickly switching between different files.
Pro Interface doesn't get in the way of work
The interface is minimal, when it's windowed there are no buttons or toolbars, so it doesn't distract from work. When it's in fullscreen, there's just text, no interface at all.
Pro Endless undo/redo
Write! uses a file format that saves all versions of a document. Meaning even if the app is closed and then opened up again, Write! can restore any previous version of the document.
Pro Can double as a to-do list app
Write! has a to-do list mode that allows creating lists of items in groups (tabs) that can be ticked off when completed.
Pro Picks up where you left off next time you start the app
Write! saves the state that it's in when closed and restores that state when opened. You can pick up working on documents in the exact same place you left off - same documents open, same cursor placement, etc.
Cons
Con Proprietary
It's not free and a license costs $79.99.
Con The themes introduced in version 20 regressed certain aspects of syntax coloring
The themes simplified the syntax highlighting which lost the capacity to have as many colors as one wanted to define. Now it is limited to around 20 different colors. In general it's not a problem but in certain cases it broke coloring.
For some reason, the classic theme is the only one that is totally pleasant for readability well with syntax highlighting.
Con You need to login to the App, and it reconnects to their server
There is no offline use.
Con Not free
There are free markdown editors for windows, this is not one of them.
Con Needs better folder document management like Ulysses
Con Needs nested folders
Con Bad MarkDown features
Not worth $20, the markdown editor sucks.
Con In beta
The app is not yet complete. A lot of the promised functionality is not yet implemented.