E (editor)
Encyclopedia
E Text Editor is a text editor
for Microsoft Windows
. Its notable features include a personal revision control system
; branched, multi-level, graphical undo; and the ability to run TextMate bundles through the use of Cygwin
.
A Linux
version is planned.
repository. Because most bundle commands rely on Unix
commands not typically available on Windows, e uses the Cygwin
toolset. Bundle commands can therefore use Bash, Unix
command line tools, or scripting languages like Ruby
or Python
. As of v1.1.121 beta e bundle commands can be set to use the native Windows environment. This allows bundle commands access to non-Cygwin interpreters.
A key limitation is the use by many bundles of Mac OS
specific commands or applications. These bundles often need porting
ranging from minor changes to significant rewriting. Bundles which require Windows-specific changes can be saved in the bundle editor as Windows Cygwin or Windows native. Because bundle commands use the same plist XML
format as TextMate, these Windows-specific changes are put in their own sections. This, in theory, allows the e community to contribute back changes to the central MacroMates repository.
Some bundles are included with the e's base distributions. Additional bundle ports are available under the MIT License
from the e Bundles Project.
e also supports text editing via FTP in the form of a plug-in called Remote Projects.
project called wxCocoaDialog. wxCocoaDialog is a Windows port of the Mac OS X
CocoaDialog application. wxCocoaDialog provides a set of common GUI controls such as text input, progress bars, yes/no confirmations and more from within a command-line application.
wxCocoaDialog requires no knowledge of the underlying WxWidgets
graphics toolkit. Many bundle commands in e and TextMate
use (wx)CocoaDialog controls.
with an additional clause requiring that any derivatives must also include the licensing code which requires users to pay Stigsen for the software. Stigsen also indicated that while the Windows version would continue to be pay software, the Linux version would be licensed for free.
Text editor
A text editor is a type of program used for editing plain text files.Text editors are often provided with operating systems or software development packages, and can be used to change configuration files and programming language source code....
for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. Its notable features include a personal revision control system
Revision Control System
The Revision Control System is a software implementation of revision control that automates the storing, retrieval, logging, identification, and merging of revisions. RCS is useful for text that is revised frequently, for example programs, documentation, procedural graphics, papers, and form...
; branched, multi-level, graphical undo; and the ability to run TextMate bundles through the use of Cygwin
Cygwin
Cygwin is a Unix-like environment and command-line interface for Microsoft Windows. Cygwin provides native integration of Windows-based applications, data, and other system resources with applications, software tools, and data of the Unix-like environment...
.
A Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
version is planned.
TextMate Bundle Support
A prominent element of the promotion and marketing of e is its ability to run many TextMate bundles directly from the MacroMates CVSConcurrent Versions System
The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
repository. Because most bundle commands rely on Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
commands not typically available on Windows, e uses the Cygwin
Cygwin
Cygwin is a Unix-like environment and command-line interface for Microsoft Windows. Cygwin provides native integration of Windows-based applications, data, and other system resources with applications, software tools, and data of the Unix-like environment...
toolset. Bundle commands can therefore use Bash, Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
command line tools, or scripting languages like Ruby
Ruby (programming language)
Ruby is a dynamic, reflective, general-purpose object-oriented programming language that combines syntax inspired by Perl with Smalltalk-like features. Ruby originated in Japan during the mid-1990s and was first developed and designed by Yukihiro "Matz" Matsumoto...
or Python
Python (programming language)
Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language whose design philosophy emphasizes code readability. Python claims to "[combine] remarkable power with very clear syntax", and its standard library is large and comprehensive...
. As of v1.1.121 beta e bundle commands can be set to use the native Windows environment. This allows bundle commands access to non-Cygwin interpreters.
A key limitation is the use by many bundles of Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
specific commands or applications. These bundles often need porting
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
ranging from minor changes to significant rewriting. Bundles which require Windows-specific changes can be saved in the bundle editor as Windows Cygwin or Windows native. Because bundle commands use the same plist XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
format as TextMate, these Windows-specific changes are put in their own sections. This, in theory, allows the e community to contribute back changes to the central MacroMates repository.
Some bundles are included with the e's base distributions. Additional bundle ports are available under the MIT License
MIT License
The MIT License is a free software license originating at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . It is a permissive license, meaning that it permits reuse within proprietary software provided all copies of the licensed software include a copy of the MIT License terms...
from the e Bundles Project.
e also supports text editing via FTP in the form of a plug-in called Remote Projects.
Open source spinoffs
e has also spawned an open sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
project called wxCocoaDialog. wxCocoaDialog is a Windows port of the Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
CocoaDialog application. wxCocoaDialog provides a set of common GUI controls such as text input, progress bars, yes/no confirmations and more from within a command-line application.
wxCocoaDialog requires no knowledge of the underlying WxWidgets
WxWidgets
wxWidgets is a widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces for cross-platform applications. wxWidgets enables a program's GUI code to compile and run on several computer platforms with minimal or no code changes...
graphics toolkit. Many bundle commands in e and TextMate
TextMate
TextMate is a general-purpose GUI text editor for Mac OS X created by Allan Odgaard. Popular with programmers, some notable features include declarative customizations, tabs for open documents, recordable macros, folding sections and snippets, shell integration, and an extensible bundle...
use (wx)CocoaDialog controls.
Source Release
On March 24, 2009 Alexander Stigsen, the creator of E Text Editor, released the source code of the software under a non-open source license he calls the "Open Company License". The license contains the normal clauses of a BSD-style licenseBSD licenses
BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses. The original license was used for the Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix-like operating system after which it is named....
with an additional clause requiring that any derivatives must also include the licensing code which requires users to pay Stigsen for the software. Stigsen also indicated that while the Windows version would continue to be pay software, the Linux version would be licensed for free.