Comments on: Why Text Editors & FTP Clients?

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:40:13 +0000

By the way for #17 and any other Windows users, try EditPlus if you haven’t already. One of my favorites that I’ve tried. Loads fast, has integrated ftp, with an explorer-type side-bar the lists all the files in the selected directory. Great for programmers, web developers, etc. There’s a free trial, but after that’s over, there’s just an annoying pop-up that urges you to pay. you can still use it with no decrease in functionality.

By: Lee

Lee — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:34:24 +0000

Personally I think it’s a GOOD thing. Yes I understand that there can’t really be that much different between one app and the next, but does that really matter? The fact that people can put together one of these apps and still sell it speaks to the market. Supply and demand. But even if the market is flooded with these apps, if even a small number of people purchase the licenses for them, the developers can make a modest profit, given that these types of apps are relatively easy to generate. And also given the fact that there are so many GOOD ones out there to choose from is a good thing too. Everyone has their own opinions, needs, desires, etc.

Think about it this way. The more people putting out apps, the more competition there is. the more competition, the more thinking will go into each design, which will provide the rest of us with increasingly useful applications to use. A perfect example is the merging between FTP and Text editors. How nice is it to only have to have one window to edit your html or php and then upload it to your server all from one easy to use app? Makes my life simpler that’s for sure!

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:36:07 +0000

Oops. Coda isn’t free and someone already posted it.

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:33:31 +0000

Recently looking around at I came across a free one that has awesome features, Coda. Whilst I haven't used it, it looks great. Cheers, Brad

By: WiredJournal » Blog Archive » Why more FTP clients?

WiredJournal » Blog Archive » Why more FTP clients? — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:14:06 +0000

[...] over at The Apple Blog, asks why we need so many ftp clients options. I don’t understand it [...]

By: An FTP Application to Break The Mold?

An FTP Application to Break The Mold? — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:49:39 +0000

[...] week I wrote about my failure to understand why everyone and their dog seems to be churning out FTP and Text Editor applications. The discussion that was generated in the comments was a good one, and many good points were [...]

By: An FTP Application to Break The Mold? - The Apple Blog

An FTP Application to Break The Mold? - The Apple Blog — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:00:07 +0000

By: Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:56:42 +0000

Text editors are the primary tool of programmers and writers, and they are not interchangeable. BBEdit, the standard Mac programmer’s editor for the last 10 years, is an astoundingly good HTML and scripting language editor, has a great find/replace/regexp facility, integrated FTP and CVS, and is easily scripted, but isn’t much of a word processor. WriteRoom is, as you noted, great for those with ADD who need to concentrate on some writing. You can’t replace either one with TextEdit.

I’m accustomed to BBEdit, so TextMate seemed weird and alien and very un-Mac-like, but I’m sure the reverse is true for someone weaned on TextMate. It’s pretty weak on the HTML editing side, too.

New variant editors are created to scratch a specific itch, when the developers of the current dominant product don’t want to go in the direction you do. In open source programs, that usually manifests as a fork, but in commercial software, it’s just a new program written from scratch.

The profusion of FTP programs, I don’t entirely understand. The command-line ftp is fine for simple tasks, and beyond that Fetch used to be the only serious choice. It’s not all that hard to make an FTP, but none of them seem significantly better; I would expect over time that Cyberduck (and maybe some forked variants) would replace all the others, as it’s free.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 17:16:54 +0000

As a software user who likes highly customizable, feature-rich apps, and as a developer who wrote a text editor many years ago, the reason I’d be most likely to create a new text editor or ftp client or whatever is because:

a) I don’t like what’s already available.
b) I can. ;)
c) The decent available products are shareware and only work for a limited period or in a limited fashion. Like it or not, many people hate to pay for things when there are free alternatives.
d) I’ll also add that many developers want to get in on the application X bandwagon and make some dough.

By: Joe Pecoraro

Joe Pecoraro — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:48:36 +0000

This article really hits home right now. I just recently decided that I am going to purchase a new Mac Book Pro in October with the release of Leopard. I spent the last week researching software that I want to download and try. Among the list of 40 or so applications, I have a list of about 5 editors and equally as many FTP clients that I want to try out. Not to mention many of the Mac browsers that people swear by.

I have seen clear favorites that everyone seems to favor, and those are certainly on my list. But the thing is there are free alternatives that are almost equally appealing.

This one really put a smile on my face after another 2 hours of reading about Mac applications and I caught this post just before I retire for the night =)