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GNU Emacs VS CodeLite

Compare GNU Emacs VS CodeLite and see what are their differences

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GNU Emacs logo GNU Emacs

GNU Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor—and more.

CodeLite logo CodeLite

CodeLite is an open-source, cross platform IDE for the C/C++/PHP and Node.js programming languages.
  • GNU Emacs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-19
  • CodeLite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-07-19

GNU Emacs features and specs

  • Highly Extensible
    GNU Emacs is highly customizable, allowing users to configure nearly every aspect using Emacs Lisp. This makes it remarkably adaptable for various workflows.
  • Rich Plugin Ecosystem
    There is a wide array of plugins available for Emacs, extending its functionality for programming, text editing, project management, and more.
  • Versatile
    Aside from text editing, Emacs can function as an email client, web browser, terminal emulator, and more, making it a powerful multi-purpose tool.
  • Free and Open Source
    GNU Emacs is free to use and modify, with source code available under the GNU General Public License, encouraging collaborative improvement and transparency.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Emacs runs on many different operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and various Unix-like systems, ensuring a wide reach and consistent experience across platforms.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Emacs

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its vast array of features and unique keybindings, new users often find Emacs difficult to learn initially.
  • Performance
    Emacs can be slower compared to more lightweight text editors, especially when heavily customized or handling large files.
  • Keyboard-Centric Interface
    Emacs relies heavily on keyboard shortcuts, which can be overwhelming and complex, leading to potential finger strain from extensive use.
  • Complex Configuration
    While its customizability is a strength, configuring Emacs to fit personal needs can be time-consuming and complex, requiring knowledge of Emacs Lisp.

CodeLite features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    CodeLite operates on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it accessible to a wide range of developers regardless of their preferred platform.
  • Open Source
    It is an open-source IDE, which means it's free to use and has a community of developers contributing to its improvement and customization.
  • Debugger Integration
    CodeLite offers robust debugging tools, including support for GDB and LLDB, making it easier to identify and fix issues within code.
  • Multiple Language Support
    It supports a variety of programming languages such as C, C++, PHP, JavaScript, and Python, allowing developers to work on different types of projects within the same IDE.
  • Code Completion
    The IDE provides advanced code completion and real-time code linting, which helps developers write code quickly and efficiently with fewer errors.
  • Git Integration
    CodeLite has built-in Git support, providing easy version control and collaboration capabilities directly within the development environment.

Possible disadvantages of CodeLite

  • User Interface
    The user interface of CodeLite can be less polished and less intuitive than some other popular IDEs, potentially leading to a steeper learning curve for new users.
  • Performance
    While CodeLite is feature-rich, it may be slower and more resource-intensive on certain systems, especially when handling large projects.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to more comprehensive IDEs like Visual Studio or IntelliJ IDEA, CodeLite may lack some advanced features and extensions that professional developers might expect.
  • Community and Support
    Although it’s open source, the community size and availability of comprehensive support are relatively smaller compared to larger, more established IDEs.
  • Additional Configuration
    Setting up CodeLite for specific project needs might require additional configuration and tweaking, which can be time-consuming, particularly for less experienced developers.

Analysis of GNU Emacs

Overall verdict

  • GNU Emacs is widely considered to be a powerful and versatile text editor, especially among programmers and developers.

Why this product is good

  • Highly Customizable: Emacs can be extensively customized with Emacs Lisp, enabling users to tailor the editor to fit their specific workflow.
  • Rich Ecosystem: There is a large variety of plug-ins and extensions available, which can transform it into much more than just a text editor.
  • Built-in Tools: Emacs includes numerous built-in tools such as a debugger, calendar, email client, and file manager, making it a comprehensive development environment.
  • Cross-Platform: Emacs runs on multiple platforms, which makes it accessible to a broad audience.

Recommended for

  • Programmers and developers who appreciate a customizable and extensible tool.
  • Users who want to integrate various development tools into a single environment.
  • Individuals comfortable with learning Emacs Lisp to create and understand custom scripts and configurations.
  • People interested in a text editor that has a strong and supportive community.

Analysis of CodeLite

Overall verdict

  • CodeLite is considered a solid IDE for developers seeking a free and versatile C++ development environment. While it may not have as many advanced features as some paid options, its balance of performance, usability, and extensive support for various programming languages makes it a good choice, especially for beginners or those working on smaller projects.

Why this product is good

  • CodeLite is a free and open-source IDE primarily known for its strong support for C, C++, PHP, and JavaScript development. It is appreciated for its lightweight nature, fast performance, and its own built-in debugger. CodeLite also supports wxWidgets for creating cross-platform GUI applications. Its plugins system extends functionality, which can be beneficial for developers who need specific tools integrated into their work environment.

Recommended for

  • Beginners in C++ programming seeking an accessible and cost-free IDE.
  • Developers working with PHP or JavaScript who need an environment with debugging capabilities.
  • Programmers needing a lightweight IDE that supports wxWidgets for cross-platform application development.
  • Users who prefer an open-source solution with an active community and customization options through plugins.

GNU Emacs videos

+ Add

Switching to GNU Emacs

CodeLite videos

+ Add

Configuring CodeLite on Ubuntu Linux

More videos:

  • Review - Codelite IDE : Download, Install and Run First Program in C language

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GNU Emacs and CodeLite)

GNU Emacs

CodeLite

Text Editors
79 79%
Text Editors
21% 21
IDE
73 73%
IDE
27% 27
IDEs And Text Editors
100 100%
IDEs And Text Editors
0% 0
Software Development
62 62%
Software Development
38% 38

User comments

Share your experience with using GNU Emacs and CodeLite. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare GNU Emacs and CodeLite

GNU Emacs Reviews

14 BEST LaTeX Editor for Mac & Windows in 2022
Emacs is a Unix based text editor tool which is used by programmers, engineers, students, and system administrators. It is one of the best LaTeX editor for Mac that allows you to add, modify, delete, insert, words, letters, lines, and other units of text.
Source: www.guru99.com
The Top 7 Notepad++ Alternatives for You
Emacs has been around in its various forms since 1976 and is another very worthy Notepad++ alternative. When I first started using Emacs I have to admit that I didn’t find it the easiest to use. But once I got used to it I realized just how powerful Emacs is for the programming community.
Source: www.technize.com
10 Best Notepad++ Alternatives in 2020
Emacs is a Unix based text editor tool which is used by programmers, engineers, students, and system administrators. It allows you to add, modify, delete, insert, words, letters, lines, and other units of text.
Source: www.guru99.com
7 open source alternatives to Dreamweaver
Vim or Emacs. Without participating in the holy war between these two traditional text editors, I can safely say that there are a number of enhancements for web editing available for both. So if you're already a terminal junkie, take your pick. Or, if those don't satisfy, try one of these Emacs/Vim alternatives.
Source: opensource.com
10 Best Sublime Text Alternatives in 2019
Emacs is a Unix based text editor tool which is used by programmers, engineers, students, and system administrators. It allows you to add, modify, delete, insert, words, letters, lines, and other units of text.
Source: www.guru99.com

CodeLite Reviews

We have no reviews of CodeLite yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

CodeLite might be a bit more popular than GNU Emacs. We know about 8 links to it since March 2021 and only 6 links to GNU Emacs. 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.

GNU Emacs mentions (6)

  • Emacs daemon as sytemd service in debian 12 (gnome)
    Cat .config/systemd/user/default.target.wants/emacs.service [Unit] Description=Emacs text editor Documentation=info:emacs man:emacs(1) https://gnu.org/software/emacs/ [Service] Type=notify ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/emacs --fg-daemon # Emacs will exit with status 15 after having received SIGTERM, which # is the default "KillSignal" value systemd uses to stop services. SuccessExitStatus=15 # The location of the... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Why does emacs exec path variable not just copy the users path variable?
    ## If your Emacs is installed in a non-standard location, you may need ## to copy this file to a standard directory, eg ~/.config/systemd/user/ . ## If you install this file by hand, change the "Exec" lines below ## to use absolute file names for the executables. [Unit] Description=Emacs text editor Documentation=info:emacs man:emacs(1)... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Hi DM's, what medium do you use to organise your campaign?
    For gathering notes, writing and organizing, Org-Roam which implies Org and Emacs. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • This Guy is getting out of control at this point.
    I was heading to gnu.org/software/emacs to prove my point and it said:. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • opam doesn't see emacs?
    <><> Version-specific details <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 🐫 Version 1 Repository default Homepage: "http://gnu.org/software/emacs" Bug-reports: "https://github.com/ocaml/opam-repository/issues" Authors: "anil@recoil.org" Maintainer: "anil@recoil.org" License: "GPL-1.0-or-later" Flags: conf Synopsis Virtual package to install the Emacs editor Description This... Source: almost 4 years ago
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CodeLite mentions (8)

  • Geany 2.0 Is Out
    This one's good, too: https://codelite.org/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Using Visual Studio for Mac with wxWidgets? (NOT VSCode)
    You can try CodeLite or Code::Blocks, both open source and uses wxWidgets. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Gitlab Web IDE Beta, Powered by Visual Studio Code
    > I really hope some of the open source alternatives that aren't corporation-controlled gain traction over the next year. Shout out to CodeLite. https://codelite.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CodeLite. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • My IDE is too heavy so I moved to Emacs
    > running the community edition of Jetbrains’ IntelliJ IDEA ... > As much as it hurts me to say this, as a fan of JetBrains and its tools, IntelliJ just seems to have become too heavy to run properly on a laptop that’s not at the very higher end of laptops in the early 2020’s. IntelliJ does what I want, but only barely. The autocompletion gets it wrong as much as it gets it right and it is a performance... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • codelite can not detect mingw64
    Regarding your actual question. Looking at docs.codelite.org, they seem to expect you to download all of these things using Mysys in bash. Maybe codelite is using the path variables set in that shell as opposed to your windows path? Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GNU Emacs and CodeLite, you can also consider the following products

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

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.

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.

Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) from Microsoft.

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

Code::Blocks - Code::Blocks is a free C++ IDE built to meet the most demanding needs of its users.

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