Comments on: Looking for a lightweight Latex editor

Question: Looking for a lightweight Latex editor

alligatorman — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:19:27 -0800

I'm looking for a lightweight text editor that can easily be configured to work with LaTeX.

I don't want an editor that is loaded with features.

I'm essentially looking for a syntax-highlighting Wordpad that would allow me to build and view a LaTeX file by pressing F9 (or something similar).

Does something similar to this exist? Thanks!

By: vkxmai

vkxmai — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:27:36 -0800

TextMate for OS X
Notepad++ for Windows

By: DecemberBoy

DecemberBoy — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:35:03 -0800

The One True Editor, VIM, with VIM-LaTex. VIM is simultaneously lightweight and loaded with features, and you don't have to use what you don't need, unlike EMACS which accosts you with its feature overload. You may not like vi-style modal editors, though, it's kind of an acquired taste.

By: alligatorman

alligatorman — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:54:08 -0800

Thanks for the replies. I'll check them out.

To anyone who may want to answer, I am using Windows XP.

By: kdar

kdar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:08:20 -0800

This isn't exactly what you're looking for, but LyX is pretty excellent.

By: leahwrenn

leahwrenn — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:15:50 -0800

Have you looked at TeXnicCenter? It may have more features than you want, but it's free and plays nuce with (La)TeX.

By: matematichica

matematichica — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:21:08 -0800

LyX standard output is not standard Latex, and can only be compiled with LyX. You can create a Latex-compatible output, but it's not as person-readable as normal Latex. I say don't do it.

I have successfully used Emacs on Windows XP to create Latex documents for many years now. Unlike DecemberBoy, I don't find that it's in-your-face with features. I don't like the modal-editing vim style and find it counter-intutive. Emacs has great keyboard shortcuts, which is nice. To install Emacs on Windows, I followed this tutorial. You can install Emacs and then Auctex, which is tells Emacs about Latex and lets you compile from within Emacs.

Happy texing!

By: shadow vector

shadow vector — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:27:09 -0800

WinEdt is exactly what you're looking for.

By: nat

nat — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:28:31 -0800

WinEdt probably doesn't qualify as lightweight, and I'm pretty sure it's not free (it wasn't several years ago when I got it). But it's been my standard program for LaTeX-ing for years, and for a reason. I'm a big fan; it was especially useful for me when writing my thesis, with its many separate tex components. Would be good for any large project; may be too bulky for quick use.

Now what I'd really love is a chat program a la aim/gchat/etc that would take any tex code I typed in and output appropriately...... anyone?

By: Melismata

Melismata — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 20:35:34 -0800

Brief is a good one, as is Scientific Notebook.

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:02:53 -0800

I've used WinEDT for a while now and like it.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:00:34 -0800

SciTE is decent, free and cross-platform, and LaTeX support is available.

By: bluefly

bluefly — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:33:15 -0800

Texmaker isn't bad. Melismata, what is Brief? Googling didn't turn anything up (I am admittedly an amateur Googler).

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:52:44 -0800

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=brief+editor

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 05:56:10 -0800

Also, the very first result for

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=brief

Is this Wikipedia disambiguation page, which contains a link entitled "Brief (text editor)".

Honestly, the Googling is not so difficult.

By: bluefly

bluefly — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:01:44 -0800

Honestly, you're a bit of an asshole.

http://www.google.com/search?q=brief+latex+editor

didn't turn up anything. I also tried searching for brief tex editor (since we're talking about editing tex files). Thanks for the links and the redressing.

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:46:58 -0800

I'm actually a complete arsehole, but I'm still willing to donate my time to help you improve your Google skills.

The second result for brief tex editor is a link to the Wikipedia article on Brief. Most of the first page of results is links to download sites offering the product.

Perhaps you need to use the button on the left - the one marked "Google Search". It often works better than the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button on the right.