List of the Top 9 Code Editors for COBOL in 2025

Notepad++ is a cost-free substitute for the standard Notepad, specifically created for modifying source code in multiple programming languages. It runs seamlessly within the Microsoft Windows environment and adheres to the GNU General Public License. Built on the advanced Scintilla editing framework and developed in C++, it utilizes the pure Win32 API and Standard Template Library (STL) to enhance its performance speed and minimize file size. By streamlining various processes while ensuring ease of use, Notepad++ aims to play a part in lowering global carbon dioxide emissions. Its efficiency enables computers to consume less CPU power, leading to operations at reduced energy levels, which contributes to decreased power usage and supports a more sustainable future. This innovative approach highlights the potential of software development to harmonize with environmental sustainability efforts while providing robust editing capabilities.

Apache NetBeans is a robust open-source Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that facilitates application development across various programming languages, including Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML5, and C/C++. Known for its modular architecture, NetBeans offers developers an array of tools and functionalities tailored for crafting desktop, mobile, and web applications. It features sophisticated code editing, debugging, and profiling capabilities, along with an integrated visual GUI builder that streamlines the design of user interfaces specifically for Java applications. Furthermore, the IDE integrates effortlessly with version control systems such as Git, SVN, and Mercurial, thereby fostering collaboration within development teams. As a project under the auspices of the Apache Software Foundation, NetBeans undergoes continuous enhancement by a committed community, ensuring its capabilities remain current and effective. This ongoing development makes NetBeans not only a reliable tool but also a highly flexible option for developers in various sectors. The combination of its comprehensive features and strong community support enables NetBeans to appeal to both beginners and experienced developers, who appreciate its versatility and user-friendly design. Ultimately, the IDE's commitment to innovation ensures it remains a relevant choice in the ever-evolving landscape of software development.

Atom is a contemporary text editor designed for the digital age, built on the Electron framework and influenced by the features we love in our favorite editing applications. It prioritizes extensive customization while keeping its default configuration user-friendly. As an essential part of a developer's toolkit, a text editor works in tandem with other tools rather than operating independently. With the built-in GitHub package, managing your Git and GitHub workflows is effortless within Atom—allowing you to create branches, stage and commit changes, push and pull updates, resolve merge conflicts, and review pull requests, all from inside the editor. This package is pre-installed, so you can dive right in! Atom supports a range of operating systems, such as OS X, Windows, and Linux, promoting broad accessibility. You can quickly search for and install new packages or create your own directly from the editor, enhancing its versatility. Moreover, Atom boosts your coding productivity with an intelligent autocomplete feature and allows you to browse and open individual files, entire projects, or multiple projects in one window, making it a multifaceted choice for developers. With its user-centric design, Atom aims to streamline the coding process, catering to both beginners and seasoned developers, ultimately fostering a more efficient coding environment. This adaptability ensures that no matter your skill level, you can find the tools and features that best suit your workflow.

Setting up LaTeX is an easy task, and you can start working with it right away, no matter your experience level. Overleaf offers a comprehensive LaTeX platform hosted on their servers, providing instant availability. By using Overleaf, you maintain a uniform LaTeX configuration regardless of your location, which is especially advantageous for teamwork with peers and students, removing any chances of version mismatches or package issues. This smooth integration enhances the overall workflow, making it more efficient and productive for all participants. Additionally, Overleaf's collaborative features allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, further streamlining the process.

For nearly thirty years, UltraEdit has been the go-to text editor for more than 2 million users, including numerous Fortune 100, 500, and 1000 companies. Renowned for its efficiency, UltraEdit excels in processing large files and is compatible with a wide array of syntax and programming languages. Commonly dubbed the "Swiss Army knife" of text editors, UltraEdit is an invaluable resource for professionals spanning various industries and roles. Its capabilities extend to tackling numerous challenges in text editing, such as project management and software development, while also adeptly managing large file edits, remote access (FTP/SFTP), data organization, column and block editing, comprehensive file searches, and text reformatting. Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, UltraEdit is backed by a dedicated team of developers and customer support staff based in the USA, ensuring users receive top-notch assistance. This robust support network, combined with its extensive features, solidifies UltraEdit's position as a leading tool in the world of text editing.

Lapce is a groundbreaking, open-source code editor crafted to offer a fast and responsive experience, particularly advantageous for developers engaged in large-scale projects or complex codebases. Built with Rust, Lapce leverages the speed and efficiency of native development to provide a smooth editing experience with minimal lag. The editor features a modern and stylish interface, along with sophisticated capabilities such as multi-caret editing, split views, and an integrated terminal. By integrating the Language Server Protocol (LSP), Lapce enhances developer productivity through precise autocompletion, syntax highlighting, and streamlined code navigation across various programming languages. Its remarkable extensibility, extensive plugin ecosystem, and focus on performance make Lapce an ideal choice for developers in search of a lightweight yet powerful editor that successfully merges simplicity with advanced functionality, appealing to both beginners and seasoned programmers alike. Additionally, Lapce's dedication to community involvement ensures that it remains adaptable, continuously evolving to meet user demands and keeping up with the dynamic nature of software development. This commitment not only fosters a vibrant user community but also enhances the editor's capabilities over time, ensuring that it remains a relevant tool in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

UEStudio builds upon the popular UltraEdit text editor by adding sophisticated features designed specifically for developers and teams, which includes an extensive Git integration. With UEStudio, users can easily manage their Git repositories by performing tasks such as cloning, checking out, updating, committing, and pushing/pulling with remarkable ease. This versatile Git editor combines high-quality text editing capabilities with Git functionalities, all consolidated into a single, user-friendly platform. Developers can modify their source files and quickly commit changes through a simple hotkey or mouse action, thus enhancing the efficiency of their workflow. The Git branch manager within UEStudio simplifies the process of merging branches, while those who prefer command-line interactions can take advantage of the integrated Git shell. Additionally, UltraCompare’s merge tool enables users to swiftly identify and resolve merge conflicts, facilitating a seamless development experience. UEStudio further enhances productivity by intelligently analyzing projects and source files, offering automatic code completion that streamlines coding tasks. Ultimately, this powerful integration of features positions UEStudio as an essential resource for developers aiming to elevate their coding practices. By providing such a comprehensive suite of tools, UEStudio not only simplifies the development process but also fosters a more collaborative environment for programming teams.

Buffer Editor is a powerful tool tailored for programming and text manipulation, enabling users to efficiently develop software, analyze code, or take notes while on the go. Join a vast network of developers who trust Buffer Editor for its effective, advanced, and high-performance coding features available on mobile devices. The application supports the viewing of multiple file formats that work with iOS, including images, PDFs, videos, and documents. You can easily switch between your current files and manage several terminal sessions within tabs to boost your productivity. Furthermore, it offers the ability to preview your projects either locally or directly on your server, facilitating quick modifications and testing. This combination of features makes Buffer Editor an indispensable app for anyone looking to enhance their coding experience while mobile.

jEdit is a prominent text editor tailored for programmers, with a development background that spans numerous person-years, particularly due to the extensive contributions made through its plugins. This powerful editor offers features that outshine many expensive alternatives while remaining completely free and open-source under the GPL 2.0 license. It comes equipped with a built-in macro language and a flexible architecture that allows for easy plugin integration, with countless macros and plugins available for download. Users can conveniently manage their plugins via the "plugin manager" feature, which simplifies the installation process. Furthermore, jEdit accommodates a broad range of character encodings, including UTF-8 and Unicode, enhancing its adaptability. The editor is also highly configurable and customizable, encompassing both fundamental and advanced functionalities one would expect from a contemporary text editor. This versatility ensures that jEdit caters to the varied requirements of its user base. Consequently, jEdit emerges as an enticing option for developers looking for a powerful yet user-friendly tool to assist them in their programming endeavors, making it a staple in the realm of software development.