FeatherPad

Free plan LinuxMac

What FeatherPad is

FeatherPad is a free, open-source Qt plain-text editor for Linux, with instructions for compiling on macOS. It provides tabs, drag-and-drop editing, detachable tabs, column selection, line numbers, text zooming, and a side-pane mode. Users can jump to a specific line and highlight selections. An optional permanent search bar keeps separate searches per tab, highlights matches, and opens a docked replacement window. Syntax highlighting covers common programming languages, while Hunspell provides spell checking. Session management and auto-saving support ongoing work, and the editor can print documents or open URLs with appropriate applications. On Linux, FeatherPad works under Wayland. X11 support provides virtual desktop awareness; disabling X11 at compile time removes that feature. The project recommends distribution repositories and also documents source compilation. Listed Debian dependencies include CMake, g++ 12 or later, Qt 6 development packages, and Hunspell development files. The repository lists the GNU General Public License version 3.0 and credits support for macOS, Haiku OS, and OS/2.

Who it suits

FeatherPad suits Linux users wanting a lightweight plain-text editor with tabs, search, programming-language highlighting, and spell checking. macOS users can consult the project’s compilation instructions.

What it does well

Free and open source under GPLv3
Tabs support detaching and reattaching
Column selection and large-file handling
Syntax highlighting and Hunspell checking
Session management and auto-saving

What to know first

Primary purpose is a Linux editor
macOS use requires compilation instructions
Disabling X11 removes virtual desktop awareness
OS/2 clipboard support can be limited

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
FeatherPad	Lightweight Qt plain-text editor	Free

As github.com lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

FeatherPad offers a focused plain-text workflow with useful navigation, search, editing, and session tools. Linux installation is the most directly documented path, while macOS and other platform support depends on the project’s instructions and contributors.

Facts from FeatherPad's own pages

Build requirements: The listed Debian build dependencies include CMake, g++ 12 or later, Qt 6 development packages, and Hunspell development files. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Column editing: Yes · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
Editing: It supports line numbers, jumping to a specific line, selection highlighting, and column selection. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Editing features: It supports tabs, drag and drop, column selection, line numbers, text zooming, and a side-pane mode. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Installation: The project recommends installing FeatherPad from distribution repositories and also provides source compilation instructions. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Language tools: It provides syntax highlighting for common programming languages and spell checking with Hunspell. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Large-file handling: Yes · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
License: The GitHub repository identifies FeatherPad as licensed under GPL-3.0. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Linux display systems: On Linux, FeatherPad works under Wayland; X11 support provides virtual desktop awareness, and disabling X11 support removes that feature. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Linux environments: On Linux, FeatherPad works under Wayland, and X11 support can be disabled at compile time with virtual desktop awareness omitted. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
macOS support: The installation instructions state that FeatherPad can be compiled on macOS. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Maintainer: The README identifies FeatherPad as written by Pedram Pourang, also known as Tsu Jan. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Maker: The README identifies FeatherPad as written by Pedram Pourang, also known as Tsu Jan. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
OS/2 port limitation: On OS/2, older Qt5 ports may lack system clipboard support; the application clipboard still works. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Other features: It can open URLs with appropriate applications and supports printing and text zooming. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Other functions: It supports session management, auto-saving, printing, and opening URLs with appropriate applications. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Other platform support: The project README credits contributors for macOS, Haiku OS, and OS/2 support. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose: FeatherPad is a lightweight Qt plain-text editor for Linux and is independent of any desktop environment. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Search: It offers an optional permanent search bar, separate search entries per tab, and instant highlighting of found matches. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Search and replace: It has an optional permanent search bar, highlights found matches, and provides a docked text-replacement window. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Spell checking: It supports spell checking with Hunspell. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Support channel: The project asks contributors to submit translations as pull requests on its GitHub repository. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: Linux,macOS · github.com, 22 Sept 2026
Syntax: It provides syntax highlighting for common programming languages. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026

Where FeatherPad stands on Freedom251

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