A shell that follows the tab
Studio starts one real login shell beside each file, with interactive programs and true-colour output.
A native route forward
Looking for
Notepad++ for Mac?
Notepad++ is a Windows editor and its maintainers do not publish a native macOS version. Linelark is a native text editor for Mac that keeps many of the file-first workflows people look for—without pretending to be Notepad++.
Independent product · Not affiliated with Notepad++4.4 MB · macOS 14+
69curated language definitions
11text encodings
4pane layouts
1/tabStudio terminal sessions
Start with the files
Your text files do not need migrating.
Source code, notes, configuration files, logs, and ordinary folders are not locked to Notepad++. Open them directly in Linelark. The part that changes is the application around those files: macOS shortcuts, settings, plugins, macros, and the way panes and tools are arranged.
Workflow comparison
What carries over—and what does not.
This is a workflow comparison, not a claim of feature parity. Notepad++ remains its own Windows project with capabilities Linelark does not reproduce.
| Workflow | Notepad++ | Linelark on Mac | Migration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native platform | Windows | macOS 14+ | Works differently |
| Tabbed text and code editing | Yes | Yes | Carries over |
| Find, replace, and Find in Files | Yes | Yes | Carries over |
| Column selection and column editing | Yes | Yes | Carries over |
| Encoding and line-ending control | Yes | 11 encodings · LF / CRLF / CR | Carries over |
| Multiple views of one file | Two views | Two, three, or four panes | Carries over |
| Session and unsaved-work recovery | Yes | Yes, including crash restore | Carries over |
| Document map and bookmarks | Yes | Yes | Carries over |
| Integrated terminal | Run commands and plugins | One real shell per tab in Studio | Works differently |
| Plugin ecosystem | Established plugin system | Planned, not yet scheduled | In roadmap |
| Recorded macros | Yes | Planned, not yet scheduled | In roadmap |
| Code folding | Yes | Planned, not yet scheduled | In roadmap |
Notepad++ capabilities cross-checked against its official user manual . Linelark capabilities reflect Studio 1.0.
Bring these with you
The familiar editing work.
- Folder-wide searchSearch an open folder with file filters and jump straight to a result.
- Column editingUse rectangular selection or generate text and number sequences with the Column Editor.
- Encoding controlDetect, preserve, reinterpret, and convert encodings and line endings.
- Document map and bookmarksNavigate long files without turning the editor into an IDE.
Expect these to change
The application around the file.
- Shortcuts use ⌘Mac conventions replace Windows Ctrl-based muscle memory.
- Plugins do not transferNotepad++ plugins are built for its Windows application and API.
- Macros do not transferLinelark 1.0 does not record or import Notepad++ macros.
- Panes go furtherChoose two, three, or four panes and open one shared buffer in more than one place.
Built for the Mac you have
Native first. Compatibility layer never.
Linelark is written with SwiftUI and AppKit, follows system appearance, uses standard Mac menus and shortcuts, and opens files and folders directly from Finder.
Text stays byte-correct
Preserve legacy encodings and line endings instead of silently normalising every file to UTF-8.
Sessions come back
Restore layouts, tabs, untitled documents, and unsaved edits after a normal quit or a crash.
Linelark is not a Notepad++ port.
It does not run Notepad++ plugins, import its settings, record macros, or provide code folding in version 1.0. If those are central to your workflow, keep using Notepad++ through Windows, Wine, or a virtual machine. If your priority is native Mac editing, careful file handling, flexible panes, folder search, and a terminal tied to the current file, Linelark is built for that job.
Questions from switchers
Before you open the folder.
Can I install Notepad++ directly on macOS?+
Not as a native Mac application. The official Notepad++ project targets Windows. Its FAQ suggests compatibility tools such as Wine or virtual machines when another operating system is required.
Can Linelark open files created in Notepad++?+
Yes. Ordinary text and code files are not tied to either editor. Linelark supports UTF-8, UTF-16, Windows code pages, Mac Roman, Shift-JIS, EUC-JP, ASCII, and LF, CRLF, or CR line endings.
Will my Notepad++ plugins and macros work?+
No. Notepad++ plugins and recorded macros depend on Notepad++ itself and do not transfer to Linelark.
Is Linelark affiliated with Notepad++?+
No. Linelark is an independent native macOS editor and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or derived from Notepad++.
Does Linelark support Apple silicon and Intel Macs?+
Yes. Linelark Studio 1.0 supports macOS 14 Sonoma or newer on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
A native editor for Mac
Keep the files.
Change the layer around them.
Download the Apple-notarized Studio edition for macOS 14 and newer.
Download Studio 1.0 4.4 MB · SHA-256 published on the product page