Geany Explained

Geany
Author:	Enrico Tröger
Developer:	Geany authors
Programming Language:	C, C++^[1]
Operating System:	Linux macOS Windows
Size:	23 MB (Windows)28 MB (MacOS)32 MB (Linux)
Genre:	IDE
License:	GPL-2.0-or-later^[2]

Geany (^[3]) is a free and open-source lightweight GUI text editor^[4] using Scintilla and GTK, including basic IDE features. It is designed to have short load times, with limited dependency on separate packages or external libraries on Linux. It has been ported to a wide range of operating systems, such as BSD, Linux, macOS,^[5] Solaris and Windows. The Windows port lacks an embedded terminal window; also missing from the Windows version are the external development tools present under Unix, unless installed separately by the user.^[6] Among the supported programming languages and markup languages are C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, LaTeX, CSS, Python, Perl, Ruby, Pascal, Haskell, Erlang, Vala and many others.^[7]

In contrast to traditional Unix-based editors like Emacs or Vim, Geany more closely resembles programming editors common on Microsoft Windows such as Notepad++, which also uses Scintilla.^[8]

It is free software licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL version 2 or later. In 2012, the version number was increased to 1.22 from 0.21 to reflect the maturity of the product, as requested by many users.^[9] Geany version 1.29 is based by GTK+ 3.22.^[10] Version 1.36 is based by GTK+ 3.24.14.^[11] Version 1.37.1 is the last version with GTK+ 2.24 support.^[12]

Features

• Auto-completion
• Bookmarks (called markers)
• Multiple document support
• Simple project management
• Syntax highlighting
• Code folding (partially)
• Symbol lists
• Code navigation
• Embedded terminal emulator^[13]
• Build system to compile and execute code using external tools
• Extensible via plugins
• Column / block / vertical select (via Shift + Ctrl + arrow keys)
• User configurable keyboard action to editor function mapping^[14]
• tree-structure-based collapsible file-paths in sidebar ^[15]

Rankings

In 2018, Geany entered the top 10 integrated development environments for Python in The Indian Wire.^[16] In 2021, Geany was named as one of the 12 best Linux text editors in Fossbytes.^[17]

See also

• • Comparison of integrated development environments

Notes and References

1. Web site: geany/geany: A fast and lightweight IDE . GitHub . 11 July 2016 . 2016-07-11.
2. Web site: geany/README at master · geany/geany · GitHub . github.com/geany/geany . 2021-06-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210622030300/https://github.com/geany/geany/blob/master/README . 2021-06-22 . live.
3. Web site: Geany's FAQ: How do you pronounce Geany?.
4. Web site: Fast, powerful Geany editor offers IDE features . Linux.com . 2014-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090208180750/http://www.linux.com/feature/139882 . 2009-02-08 . dead.
5. Web site: geany.darwinports.com . geany.darwinports.com . 2014-02-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100216182754/http://geany.darwinports.com/ . 2010-02-16.
6. Web site: Running Geany on Windows . Geany . 2020-01-01.
7. Web site: Supported Filetypes . Geany . 2020-01-01.
8. Web site: Notepad++ and Scintilla . 2019-02-18 . 2019-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190219072933/http://docs.notepad-plus-plus.org/index.php/Notepad%2B%2B_And_Scintilla . dead .
9. Web site: Geany news archive. Many users told us our version numbers didn't reflect the maturity of Geany to their eyes, and wished it to be changed to reflect that. So after some discussion we decided to rename this version 1.22 instead of 0.22..
10. Web site: Geany 1.29 is Released with Improved GTK 3.22 Support. 15 November 2016.
11. Web site: Release Notes | Geany.
12. Web site: Geany-gtk2 Download (TXZ). 2021-04-02. 2021-09-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20210910022326/https://pkgs.org/download/geany-gtk2. dead.
13. Web site: Freelancer's Playground! | Using Geany's VTE . bayu.freelancer.web.id . 2008-08-26 . 2014-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110910205909/http://bayu.freelancer.web.id/2008/08/26/using-geany-vte/ . 2011-09-10 . dead.
14. Web site: Geany.
15. Web site: Geany 2.0 Release Makes it a More Versatile Text Editor and IDE. 20 October 2023 . Sourav Rudra. itsfoss.com .
16. Web site: List of top 10 best IDEs for Python Development. 5 July 2018. Prashant Kumar . The Indian Wire . 5 July 2018.
17. Web site: 12 Best Linux Text Editors For Programming In 2021. 11 May 2021 . Adarsh Verma . Fossbytes. 11 May 2021 .