How to Install Leafpad Text Editor in Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal?

Both Unity and the Gnome classic desktop share the same text editor in Ubuntu Linux 11.04 (oh oh :P) which is called Gedit (the default text editor that comes with Gnome actually). It loads fast and has a lot of options (can even handle some HTML files) thus it's a powerful text editor without a doubt.

But if you're looking for something that's much more simpler than that, that which uses less resources, then Leafpad is the one to call for :). Leafpad actually comes as a part of the LXDE desktop (a light weight desktop for GNU/Linux) and in comparison with Gedit or many others, it has very little options (no preference window at all), one of the fast loading ones + uses very little system resources as well.


Main Features...

*. Running more than one instance is supported (new windows), although tabs are not implemented there, yet which would have been nice otherwise.

*. Search and replace words/text.

*. Change font, word-wrap and display lines.

*. Cut/Copy/Delete and Undo/Redo ability.

*. Auto indent. 

*. Open and save in few different file formats.

*. Print preview (and send to printing from its window).

*. Drag-n-drog support.

That's about it. You can't change the background or any other look-n-feel of the text editor but for its purpose it's quite good, I guess.

You can install leafpad text editor in Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal, 10.10 and 10.04 by using the below command in your Terminal window.

sudo apt-get install leafpad

But as said, remember, this cannot fully replace Gedit or Kate (Qt/KDE's text editor) for instance because of the lack of few minor options but that being said, if you're looking for something that's fast like hell and minimal distractions + low on resources, then Leafpad is something worth giving a shot :). Enjoy!.