Kate

KDE's text editor: syntax highlighting for over 400 languages, split views, multi-cursor editing and an embedded terminal.

FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinux
Official websitekate-editor.orgDownload pagekate-editor.orgSource codeinvent.kde.orgDocumentationdocs.kde.org

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About Kate

Kate is the advanced editor from KDE, and it is considerably more capable than its plain appearance suggests. Syntax highlighting covers over 400 languages, it understands bracket hierarchies for navigating complex code, and it includes on-the-fly spell checking.

The plugin set is where most of the power is: an embedded terminal for running commands in place, powerful search and replace across projects, and a preview plugin that renders Markdown, HTML and even SVG as you type. Multi-cursor and multi-selection editing were added relatively recently, and keyboard shortcuts can be remapped to match whatever editor you came from.

Strengths

  • Syntax highlighting for over 400 languages with bracket hierarchy navigation
  • Embedded terminal plugin runs commands without leaving the editor
  • Live preview of Markdown, HTML and SVG while editing
  • Multi-cursor editing, split views and remappable shortcuts

Limitations

  • Pulls in KDE Frameworks, which is a large dependency outside a KDE desktop
  • On Windows it is distributed through the Microsoft Store rather than a plain installer
  • Not a full IDE; debugging and project tooling are limited
  • Feels out of place visually on GNOME, Windows or macOS

Details

Pricing
FreeFree and open source, part of the KDE project.
License
GPL-2.0
Developer
KDE
Platforms
Windows, Linux
How it runs
Downloadable app
Account
Not required
Works offline
Yes
Best suited for
A capable general-purpose code and text editor on a KDE desktop
Categories
Code editors
Last verified
Added
Provenance
Selected from the TechWalrus downloads catalog (Editors); facts checked against the developer's own pages, 3 sources on file.

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