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arXiv:2008.06030cs.HC

On the design of text editors

Nicolas P. Rougier

Abstract

Text editors are written by and for developers. They come with a large set of default and implicit choices in terms of layout, typography, colorization and interaction that hardly change from one editor to the other. It is not clear if these implicit choices derive from the ignorance of alternatives or if they derive from developers' habits, reproducing what they are used to. The goal of this article is to characterize these implicit choices and to illustrate what are some alternatives without prescribing one or the other.

arXiv comments
5 pages, 5 figures, conference
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
cs.HCHuman-Computer Interaction

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Linked by 4 identifiable commenters in 4 comments across 4 threads, from Mar 2022 to Oct 2025. Found in 7 HN submissions from Dec 2020 to Sep 2024. Open submission discussions.

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Discussed in comments4 threads

  1. Doing my own syntax highlighting (finally) 1 comment

    • A more sensible text related to code presentation is Rougier's On the design of text editors. But I found I don't really need a lot of syntax highlighting. My preference is towards those separations: - Code vs comments - builtins vs other symbols - maybe strings. But I like to…

      skydhashView on HNParent context

  2. Beautifying Org Mode in Emacs (2018) 1 comment
  3. Effect of perceptual load on performance within IDE in people with ADHD symptoms 1 comment

    • It's not adhd specific but https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.06030 After reading this I implemented a code theme based primarily around typographic variation like weight rather than color. It uses only two colors (black and deep purple) in two weights and one italic each. I have pretty…

      giraffe_ladyView on HNParent context

  4. Apple Mac Studio 1 comment

    • >I am trying to imagine what a page of code laid out by a professional designer would look like.... You'll probably love this paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.06030 Nicolas Rougier has also implemented a few of those ideas in a series of packages for Emacs called "NANO Emacs"…

      AlanYxView on HNParent context

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