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A plugin manager for Notepad++ users that makes managing notes a breeze and allows users to download useful plugins

A plugin manager for Notepad++ users that makes managing notes a breeze and allows users to download useful plugins

Vote: (4 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Joonas “Regalis” Rikkonen

Version: 1.4.12

Works under: Windows

Vote:

Program license

(4 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Joonas “Regalis” Rikkonen

1.4.12

Works under:

Windows

Pros

  • Validates plugins in XML file against a central list of valid plugins, mitigating risk of automatic plugin updates
  • Allows user to control when and which plugins are updated
  • Provides users the capability to organize existing plugins under customized categories
  • Broad user base and dedicated following from the Notepad++ community
  • Committed developer team with frequent updates and bug fixing

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for inexperienced coders or Notepad++ users
  • Convoluted installation process which requires manually moving .zip file to Notepad++ subdirectory
  • Strange bugs introduced to Notepad++ environment - for instance, earlier versions force local cache usage when downloading plugin list

Notepad++ Plugin manager, dubbed nppPluginManager, is a tool for Notepad++ which allows the user to install, update and remove plugins from Notepad++. Within the tool, a centrally hosted XML file contains the list of plugins, and the manager processes this against a list of currently installed plugins.

The app only configures with the free source code editor, Notepad++, which supports several programming languages running in the MS Windows environment. The plugin manager provides a simple, extensive way to manage extensions to the Notepad++ environment. To install the nppPluginManager, users must simply download the release zip file and place the downloaded file in the same directory as the Notepad++ plugins directory.

With the application, users can be notified when an installed plugin update is available, allowing the user to update directly with no hassle. nppPluginManager automatically calculates dependencies between plugins and download required packages to make Notepad++ extensions fully operational. Additionally, nppPluginManager installs all supplemental files, such a config, doc, and extra libraries. Users can choose to customize the app to ignore certain plugin updates and plugins can be placed into different categories depending on their utility. The app also allows for the validation of DLLs copies against a central list of valid files, mitigating the risk of automatically downloading file updates.

nppPluginManager is supported by a broad community of developers and is a must-have app for any Notepad++ coder. Additional features are regularly added, and a huge forum of supporters continuously contribute to the plugin manager community. Bugs are identified and fixed on nearly a monthly basis. Stackoverflow and Windows MS communities online allow a simple way for new users to begin the process of incorporating Notepad++ plugin manager to their coding rituals.

Notepad++ plugin manager can be easily installed using the command line by using the chocolatey package on the Windows machine. Most issues that users have is not with the application itself, but with the installation process and the steep learning curve required to use the plugin effectively. However, once incorporated, Notepad++ plugin manager simplifies the process of figuring out tricky dependencies, fixing issues with conflicting packages, and managing plugin extensions.

Pros

  • Validates plugins in XML file against a central list of valid plugins, mitigating risk of automatic plugin updates
  • Allows user to control when and which plugins are updated
  • Provides users the capability to organize existing plugins under customized categories
  • Broad user base and dedicated following from the Notepad++ community
  • Committed developer team with frequent updates and bug fixing

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for inexperienced coders or Notepad++ users
  • Convoluted installation process which requires manually moving .zip file to Notepad++ subdirectory
  • Strange bugs introduced to Notepad++ environment - for instance, earlier versions force local cache usage when downloading plugin list