Keep Your Software Simple! A Review of EditPlus

By Kempton Smith
Posted Sunday, August 1, 2004

I like my software simple. If it's too complex or difficult to figure out, I don't use it.

For example, I have tried a lot of different programs for creating my web pages. These include:

* Namo Webeditor
* Microsoft Frontpage
* Dreamweaver
* NetObjects Fusion
* Hotdog Pro
* CoffeeCup HTML Editor

and a variety of other commercial, shareware and freeware editors. Each time I tried one of these, I found it too complicated. What are all these "panels" for? How to I see the underlying HTML code for my page? What's a "web"? How do I begin to use this package? I just couldn't get answers to my questions easily.

Now my hard disk is bulging from the growing number of HTML editors I got from download.com and then abandoned.

A couple of years ago, I discovered EditPlus. It's a very simple and easy-to-use editor. Yet is also has plenty of sophistication if you need it.

You can use EditPlus both as a text editor and as an HTML editor. This nifty piece of software has an internal preview capability so that you you get a quick check on your HTML code. It also has a spelling checker, word wrap, and a word counter. It even includes FTP functions so that you can upload your web pages to your host provider.

I wrote this article, formatted it for publication, added HTML code and published it on my web page using EditPlus.

So far, I haven't read a manual for EditPlus and don't feel I need to because the program is so intuitively easy to use.

I admit that you need to learn some HTML if you want to create and edit your web pages with EditPlus. But I get nervous when I try to create a web page with one of those designer packages where the HTML code is hidden from view.

I keep going back to EditPlus after trying those other complicated web design programs.

If you want to test it, you can download a trial of EditPlus from (http://www.editplus.com). The cost of the software is minimal (only about $30) and well worth it.

Why can't more software developers follow the KISS philosophy? Keep it Simple, Stupid! I'm convinced they would capture more of us simple-minded users if they followed this principle. Then it would be Keep It Simple, Smarty!

About The Author
Kempton Smith reviews computer software. Drop in to (http://www.kemptonsmith.com)