Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Arduino IDE VS Notepad++

Compare Arduino IDE VS Notepad++ and see what are their differences

Arduino IDE logo Arduino IDE

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware...

Notepad++ logo Notepad++

A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.
  • Arduino IDE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-14
  • Notepad++ Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-07

Arduino IDE features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    The Arduino IDE features a simple and intuitive interface that makes it accessible even for beginners with little to no programming experience.
  • Wide Community Support
    With a large community of developers and users, finding tutorials, forums, and examples is fairly straightforward, which can be immensely helpful for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Extensive Library Support
    The IDE supports a vast array of libraries that make it easy to add functionality to your projects without needing to code everything from scratch.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Arduino IDE is available for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile and easy to integrate into various development environments.
  • Built-in Support for Multiple Boards
    The IDE supports a wide range of Arduino and compatible boards, making it a versatile choice for different types of hardware projects.

Possible disadvantages of Arduino IDE

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it's great for beginners, the simplicity of the Arduino IDE means it lacks more advanced features found in professional development environments, which can limit experienced developers.
  • Performance Constraints
    The IDE's compilation and upload processes can be slower compared to more optimized environments, which can be a drawback for large, complex projects.
  • Basic Code Editing Tools
    The IDE lacks some advanced code editing tools such as autocomplete, refactoring tools, and advanced debugging features, which are available in other professional IDEs.
  • Monolithic Structure
    The IDE operates as a monolithic package, which can make it cumbersome to integrate with other development tools and environments.
  • Limited Customization
    Customization options for the IDE are somewhat limited compared to more sophisticated development environments, which could be restrictive for power users.

Notepad++ features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Notepad++ is completely free to download and use, and its source code is open for anyone to review, modify, and contribute to.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    Notepad++ is lightweight, meaning it uses fewer system resources compared to more complex IDEs, allowing for quick loading times and responsiveness.
  • Syntax Highlighting
    Supports syntax highlighting for over 80 programming languages, making it easier to read and write code.
  • Plugin Support
    Offers a wide range of plugins to extend its functionality, including customization options, code analyzers, and more.
  • Tabbed Interface
    Allows multiple documents to be opened in the same window through a tabbed interface, which greatly improves productivity.
  • Regular Updates
    Frequently receives updates and patches, improving its features and fixing bugs.

Possible disadvantages of Notepad++

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Lacks some of the advanced features and integrations of full-fledged IDEs, which might be necessary for professional software development.
  • Windows Only
    Natively available only on Windows, although it can be run on other systems using compatibility layers like Wine, which might affect performance.
  • Manual Plugin Management
    Managing plugins can be cumbersome, as users often need to download and install them manually.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Although generally stable, users sometimes encounter crashes or bugs, particularly when using many plugins.

Analysis of Arduino IDE

Overall verdict

  • The Arduino IDE is generally considered good, especially for those beginning to explore electronics and programming. Its simplicity and strong community support make it an excellent choice for creating prototypes and learning the basics of embedded systems.

Why this product is good

  • The Arduino IDE is widely regarded as a good development environment because it is user-friendly, versatile, and open-source. It provides a simple and intuitive interface for beginners, while still offering the features and flexibility needed by more experienced developers. The IDE supports a vast array of libraries and is compatible with various Arduino boards, making it accessible for a wide range of projects. Additionally, the active community provides substantial support and resources, which enhances the learning and development process.

Recommended for

    The Arduino IDE is recommended for beginners, hobbyists, educators, and anyone interested in developing small to medium-sized electronics projects. It's an excellent starting point for those looking to learn about microcontrollers and embedded systems without a steep learning curve.

Analysis of Notepad++

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Notepad++ is considered a good editor for both programmers and general users who need a reliable and feature-rich text editing tool.

Why this product is good

  • Notepad++ is a popular text and code editor due to its lightweight design, wide array of features, and support for numerous programming languages. It offers syntax highlighting, macro recording, customizable interfaces, and plugin support, making it highly versatile for various coding and text editing tasks. Its open-source nature allows for community-driven improvements, and it runs efficiently on Windows systems without consuming significant resources.

Recommended for

    Notepad++ is recommended for programmers, developers, and writers who need a robust text editor with advanced features. It's ideal for anyone using Windows who wants a free, efficient, and customizable editing solution capable of handling a wide range of file types and coding languages.

Arduino IDE videos

ESP32 Review: Using the ESP32 with the Arduino IDE

More videos:

  • Review - M5stack core module kit unboxing | Review | programming in Arduino IDE

Notepad++ videos

Notepad++ Review

More videos:

  • Review - Notepad++ Review
  • Review - Notepad++ Text Editor: Intro for Beginners

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Arduino IDE and Notepad++)
IDE
13 13%
87% 87
Text Editors
8 8%
92% 92
Software Development
7 7%
93% 93
Electronics
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Arduino IDE and Notepad++

Arduino IDE Reviews

Autohotkey Alternatives and Similar Free Software
This alternative to AutoHotkey, makes programming easier for beginners, as it provides a simple interface and a system that is community-driven. Arduino IDE is perfect at making simple coding and works with programming-specific functions. The best thing about this software is auto-format, and you will get an easy to understand format.

Notepad++ Reviews

  1. the best assistant at work

    I've been using it for a long time, I can say that it has become my main tool in my work. First, you need to get used to using it and look at all the functionality. Overall, it's useful for me!


Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
Notepad++ provides a tabbed interface, allowing you to work on multiple files simultaneously. Its intuitive user interface makes it easy to navigate and edit your code efficiently. With features like syntax highlighting, code folding, and auto-completion, Notepad++ helps you write clean and error-free code.
Source: convesio.com
13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
If you’re a beginner who needs a text editor, Notepad++ is far easier to understand than some of the other options on this list. Not only that, but you’ll enjoy the ability to locate words and replace them all, while also revealing certain bits of code with highlighting. As for advanced users, Notepad++ also does the trick, with its syntax highlighting for HTML, PHP, and...
Source: kinsta.com
Top 10 Free CSV Readers in 2023!
Notepad++: A popular text editor for Windows that has a CSV plugin for viewing and editing CSV files.
Source: www.retable.io
Top 10 Notepad++ Alternatives for Mac in 2022
First, you can get a better version of Notepad++ Mac. For instance, Setapp caters to your own Notepad++ Mac. You can also Notepad++ Mac using an emulator. Typically, the emulator is a form of creating a layer of compatibility where you can run the Notepad++ Mac on your operating system. Another thing you can do t enjoy Notepad++ Mac is by using Wine. This can help you have e...
Source: www.imymac.com
The Top 7 Notepad++ Alternatives for You
I have provided you with mainly free Notepad++ alternatives here. This is not that surprising because Notepad++ is free also. When choosing a Notepad++ alternative you need to consider what you are going to use it for and your level of programming experience.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notepad++ seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 176 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Arduino IDE mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Arduino IDE yet. Tracking of Arduino IDE recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Notepad++ mentions (176)

  • Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad as 'Copilot all the things' mania takes hold
    I would like to recommend notepad++. It does the job and I especially like it for multi-document and the other feautures like regex replace and plugins, etc... https://notepad-plus-plus.org. - Source: Hacker News / 25 days ago
  • How to Run Windows Applications on Linux Using Bottles: A Step-by-Step Guide
    Are you transitioning from Windows to Linux but struggling to replace tools like Notepad++ or WinMerge? Thanks to Wine and Bottles, you can now run Windows-only applications natively on Linux. This guide will show you how to install Windows apps on Linux effortlessly, perfect for .NET developers or anyone needing Windows tools in a Linux environment. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Currency converter in Rust + WebAssembly
    Then we need to modify Cargo.toml file located in your folder that you created with the above command, right click and edit I use notepad++ (to download notepad++ use this link (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/) so you will get the option to edit file directly. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • What I learned from my NodeJS course (part 1)
    Always working in the js-fundamentals.js file Open the file with any text editor. For now, use Notepad++. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • 6 free Markdown (.md) WYSIWYG desktop Editors – Part3
    Where to get it: Https://notepad-plus-plus.org/ Plugin: inside Plugin Admin. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Arduino IDE and Notepad++, you can also consider the following products

Eclipse - Eclipse is an open source community, whose projects are focused on building an open development platform comprised of extensible frameworks, tools and runtimes for building, deploying and managing software across the lifecycle.

Sublime Text - Sublime Text is a sophisticated text editor for code, html and prose - any kind of text file. You'll love the slick user interface and extraordinary features. Fully customizable with macros, and syntax highlighting for most major languages.

Netbeans - NetBeans IDE 7.0. Develop desktop, mobile and web applications with Java, PHP, C/C++ and more. Runs on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris. NetBeans IDE is open-source and free.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

IntelliJ IDEA - Capable and Ergonomic IDE for JVM

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing