I recently released version 1.4 of Notepad.exe, my editor built for macOS. The goal of the app is to let you prototype ideas in Swift or Python with minimal setup - write code, hit Run, skip project scaffolding.
This release adds support for a Linux runtime/subsystem, so you can write on macOS and execute snippets in a Linux environment.
I’d love to hear any feedback or answer any questions: would a tool like this fit your workflow? What friction remains?
the name is obviously a pun/joke, and the website is also trying to be humorous.
but I don't think it helps your product by now. It looks you built something that is actually useful and the pun/joke is not needed anymore. same for your website, I think the humorous part is distracting.
I think you should pick a unique name, the joke is no longer needed.
You should keep it if you love it, but understand that the name is limiting the project's reach. Not all projects are aiming for reach, but this appears to be a serious useful tool that you're charging for, not some toy. The name is stopping people from understanding the project and is limiting your income.
Hey Marcin :) Really dig this. A much friendlier alternative to Swift development than having to use the monstrosity that is Xcode. Especially for people that want to get something done quickly. The Linux support is also really cool.
The Xcode-alternatives market is really starved, so I'm very happy this exists. It's possible to configure VSCode to support Swift, but that's a lot of configuration and messing around.
> but that's a lot of configuration and messing around.
Maybe I’m missing something but the last time I did this I clicked “install” on the official Swift VSCode extension and that was it. Not a lot of messing around needed, for me at least!
Ya. Bit of a shame. It’s OP’s choice of course and I get that it’s kitschy or whatever but I think he’s leaving money on the table as a commercial product.
If it were actually funny I think I’d feel different, but ironically calling a native mac app ‘exe’ just feels like a bad punchline that’s not going to land with anyone who understands the value proposition of the app in the first place.
Not sure I got the use case as a decade old occasional developer. Tbh the life time one is ok. But it is another tool chain. Just wonder why I want to add to my workflow especially if it is just receipts and we need Xcode as the oven. And the linux part … can the code run in Wsl?
ackckcually, technically Xcode is spare, but for the convenience and due to Mac/iOS SDK distribution licensing, that's the only way to obtain the SDK on the machine.
Linux runs in a lightweight VM.
Looks really good and I'll definitely be trying it out. Is there anywhere laying out what features are paywalled? "Free Ride" says "Core functionality", but I can't find what that means specifically.
Also does this support having a plugged-in device as a Run target like Xcode does? Or is it only simulator?
