Show HN: Notepad.exe – macOS editor for Swift and Python (now Linux runtime) | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: Notepad.exe – macOS editor for Swift and Python (now Linux runtime)

notepadexe.com

41 pointskrzyzanowskim50 comments

I recently released version 1.4 of Notepad.exe, my editor built for macOS. The goal of the app is to let you prototype ideas in Swift or Python with minimal setup - write code, hit Run, skip project scaffolding.

This release adds support for a Linux runtime/subsystem, so you can write on macOS and execute snippets in a Linux environment.

I’d love to hear any feedback or answer any questions: would a tool like this fit your workflow? What friction remains?

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the name is obviously a pun/joke, and the website is also trying to be humorous.

but I don't think it helps your product by now. It looks you built something that is actually useful and the pun/joke is not needed anymore. same for your website, I think the humorous part is distracting.

I think you should pick a unique name, the joke is no longer needed.

The element that provokes the most laughter is the punch hole in the MacBook screen.

I don't disagree necessarily. I also love the name with all my heart

Why do you love the name?

Because computering is missing out on whimsical fun in every way nowadays!

You should keep it if you love it, but understand that the name is limiting the project's reach. Not all projects are aiming for reach, but this appears to be a serious useful tool that you're charging for, not some toy. The name is stopping people from understanding the project and is limiting your income.

Yeah I just found that title confusing

Can somebody explain the joke to me? Isn't notepad.exe just the file name of the notepad executable on Windows?

Hey Marcin :) Really dig this. A much friendlier alternative to Swift development than having to use the monstrosity that is Xcode. Especially for people that want to get something done quickly. The Linux support is also really cool. The Xcode-alternatives market is really starved, so I'm very happy this exists. It's possible to configure VSCode to support Swift, but that's a lot of configuration and messing around.

When Vim bindings? ;)

it works really great with https://kindavim.app/ which adds vim everywhere. problem solved.

I also stumbled upon https://github.com/FelixKratz/SketchyVim but haven't used it yet, though I am using JankyBorders

Thanks for sharing! Not sure why I never looked for something like this as I’ve tried to inject vim everywhere I can.

Is there anything like this for Linux? Or at least for individual UI systems (GTK etc.)?

> but that's a lot of configuration and messing around.

Maybe I’m missing something but the last time I did this I clicked “install” on the official Swift VSCode extension and that was it. Not a lot of messing around needed, for me at least!

Time to get a better name. The name is the friction remaining that stops me from adopting this.

Ya. Bit of a shame. It’s OP’s choice of course and I get that it’s kitschy or whatever but I think he’s leaving money on the table as a commercial product.

If it were actually funny I think I’d feel different, but ironically calling a native mac app ‘exe’ just feels like a bad punchline that’s not going to land with anyone who understands the value proposition of the app in the first place.

there is open contest for different name. mind to chime in?

Personally I think dropping the exe and just calling it notepad is the obvious low-hanging fruit. I like the nostalgic aesthetic—it’s refreshing in this age of cookie-cutter tailwindcss splash pages, but exe is just quite confusing.

Notepad++ is already taken. that's sad

Or ‘notepad.app’ would quite clearly convey that it is an editor in the spirit of notepad but for macOS.

"stop fighting with your IDE" wow it's like reading my mind. All I do is fight with IDEs 24/7

yes. same!

Got an error on installation [1] on my mac . Could be because using last version of Xcode(26.1 beta 2?

[1]Termination Reason: Namespace SIGNAL, Code 5 Trace/BPT trap: 5 Terminating Process: exc handler [949]

Thread 0 Crashed:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread 0 Notepad.exe 0x104681fd4 0x104620000 + 401364 1 Notepad.exe 0x104681e04 0x104620000 + 400900 2 Foundation 0x1872b951c -[NSObject(NSKeyValueCoding) valueForKey:] + 280 3 Foundation 0x1872b93ac -[NSObject(NSKeyValueCoding) valueForKeyPath:] + 220 4 AppKit 0x189c25e58 -[NSBinder valueForBinding:resolveMarkersToPlaceholders:] + 124 5 AppKit 0x189c25c18 -[NSValueBinder

dont see it in crash logs so far. Drop me email with whathever you have, I'll try to trace it down. Make sure you download latest build.

I love it. Even the name.

I like that it starts instantly for me too.

This seems like the celebration of misunderstandings, an .exe app for mac os, called notepad but code editor, and can run and design UI

it is a coding Notepad that also execute the code

Not sure I got the use case as a decade old occasional developer. Tbh the life time one is ok. But it is another tool chain. Just wonder why I want to add to my workflow especially if it is just receipts and we need Xcode as the oven. And the linux part … can the code run in Wsl?

ackckcually, technically Xcode is spare, but for the convenience and due to Mac/iOS SDK distribution licensing, that's the only way to obtain the SDK on the machine. Linux runs in a lightweight VM.

Does it use Apple's on-device models for the AI?

Does Swift have UI capabilities on Linux?

> Apple's on-device models for the AI?

no. Apple on-device models are not suitable for such a task. It uses a different model (I don't stick to one model in particular, as it may change)

> Does Swift have UI capabilities on Linux?

No. there are projects inspired by SwiftUI: https://github.com/stackotter/swift-cross-ui or https://git.aparoksha.dev/aparoksha/adwaita-swift (GNOME)

Looks really good and I'll definitely be trying it out. Is there anywhere laying out what features are paywalled? "Free Ride" says "Core functionality", but I can't find what that means specifically.

Also does this support having a plugged-in device as a Run target like Xcode does? Or is it only simulator?

I should not give you advice against my interest. "run" is paywalled after some time.

the plugged-in device is not supported as of today.

This license does not include updates to future major versions - so another $99 when v2 comes around. This is an interesting Lifetime License model...

Don't name it that

if Microsoft can name a plain text editor Visual Studio, I can name mine Notepad.exe

You can name your band Nervanna, but it's lame AF. Be your own thing.

The contest for a name, that is not lame AF, just started

How about Protopad? It's a notepad for prototypes, right?

I agree with the others - the naming doesn't seem super aligned with the product itself.

How about stop trying to tell others how they should call their projects?

The OP suggested a contest; that was merely my entry :)

I really do not understand what this is from skimming the website on my phone. The app name makes it even more confusing.

Are there capabilities to add other programming languages, for example via plugins/scripting?

It crashes on my Mac when it starts up (Macbook Air M4 running Sequoia).

Same here with MacBook Pro M1 Sequoia 15.6.1

that's not great, mind drop me an email on support? update: hotfix in making

The updated build now works on my system, fyi.

> image-rendering: pixelated;

I suppose this is a bit of humour as well?

yes! but that's leftover from the previous version of the site that was pixelated

Works great for a few mins and then crashes on macOs

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