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Full-screen writing program

{{original research|date=February 2011}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

In computing, a full-screen writing program[http://www.ilgiornaledipozzallo.net/58360/full-screen-writing-program/ Full Screen Writing Program] ([https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilgiornaledipozzallo.net%2F58360%2Ffull-screen-writing-program%2F&act=url English translation]) or distraction-free editor{{cite web |date=June 23, 2008 |title=Distraction-Free Text Editing |url=http://bweaver.net/distraction-free-text-editing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034000/http://bweaver.net/distraction-free-text-editing |archive-date=23 July 2011 |access-date=5 February 2011 |website=bweaver.net}}{{cite web |last=Choudhury |first=Rahul |date=May 18, 2010 |title=5 innovations in text editing and IDEs |url=http://blog.quplo.com/2010/05/5-innovations-in-text-editing-and-ides/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723012222/http://blog.quplo.com/2010/05/5-innovations-in-text-editing-and-ides/ |archive-date=23 July 2010 |access-date=5 February 2011 |website=quplog}}{{cite web |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Jason |date=November 14, 2010 |title=Five Best Distraction-Free Writing Tools |url=http://lifehacker.com/5689579/five-best-distraction+free-writing-tools |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225223349/https://lifehacker.com/five-best-distraction-free-writing-tools-5689579 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |website=Lifehacker}} is a text editor that occupies the full display with the purpose of isolating the writer from the operating system (OS) and other applications. In this way, one should be able to focus on the writing alone, with no distractions from the OS and a cluttered interface.{{cite web |last=Wax |first=Dustin |title=Tips and Tricks for Distraction-Free Writing |url=http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/tips-and-tricks-for-distraction-free-writing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928215947/https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/tips-and-tricks-for-distraction-free-writing.html |archive-date=28 September 2022 |website=Lifehack}}{{cite web |last=Brinkmann |first=Martin |date=May 24, 2010 |title=Distraction Free Text Editor Zen Edit |url=http://www.ghacks.net/2010/05/24/distraction-free-text-editor-zen-edit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914172329/http://www.ghacks.net/2010/05/24/distraction-free-text-editor-zen-edit/ |archive-date=14 September 2022 |website=Ghacks}}{{cite web |date=June 12, 2008 |title=Text editors for distraction free writing |url=http://linuxandfriends.com/2008/06/12/text-editors-for-distraction-free-writing/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424211235/http://linuxandfriends.com/2008/06/12/text-editors-for-distraction-free-writing/ |archive-date=24 April 2011 |access-date=5 February 2011 |website=Linux And Friends}} Often, distraction-free editors feature a dark background and a text field, with lighter colored text. However, most distraction-free editors include customisable user interfaces.{{cite web |date=February 7, 2009 |title=20 Fantastic Full Screen Text Editor for Distraction Free Writing |url=http://www.techmalaya.com/2009/02/07/full-screen-text-editor-blogger/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127210727/http://www.techmalaya.com/2009/02/07/full-screen-text-editor-blogger/ |archive-date=27 January 2011 |access-date=2 February 2011 |website=TechMalaya}} Some editors support rich text editing.

List of full screen editors

= Free and open-source =

class="wikitable sortable"
NameLicenseLinuxOther supported operating systemsProgramming languageToolkitSpell checkerSyntax highlightingWYSIWYG || Notable aspects, references
AcmeLPL{{yes}}Plan 9, Mac OS, WindowsMouse chording; supports sending selected text through pipelines of programs; extensible & scriptable via any language.
CodeRoomGPLv3{{yes}}Mac OS, WindowsC++Qt{{No}}{{yes|QSyntaxHighlighter}}Supports syntax highlighting.{{cite web |title=coderoom |url=https://code.google.com/p/coderoom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526231947/https://code.google.com/archive/p/coderoom/ |archive-date=May 26, 2022 |website=Google Code Archive}}
GNU EmacsGPLv3{{yes}}Unix, Mac OS, WindowsC, Emacs Lispcurses, GTK+{{yes}}{{yes}}{{yes}}Supports syntax highlighting, programmable, several distraction-free packages available.{{cite web |title=WriteRoom |url=http://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/WriteRoom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419073417/https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/WriteRoom |archive-date=19 April 2021 |website=EmacsWiki}}{{cite web |last=Bastien |date=Jan 23, 2014 |title=Emacs as a distraction free environment |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/gnu.emacs.help/l7wxb11MnZw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129200028/https://groups.google.com/g/gnu.emacs.help/c/l7wxb11MnZw |archive-date=29 January 2023 |website=Google Groups}}{{cite web |title=GNU Emacs |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127162942/https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/ |archive-date=27 January 2023 |website=GNU.org}}{{cite web |last=Magal |first=Ido |title=tabula-rasa-mode |url=https://marmalade-repo.org/packages/tabula-rasa-mode |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426075800/https://marmalade-repo.org/packages/tabula-rasa-mode |archive-date=26 April 2017 |website=Marmalade}}
FocusWriterGPLv3{{yes}}Linux, Mac OS WindowsC++Qt{{yes|Enchant}}Highly customizable, has basic .odt format support.{{cite web |title=FocusWriter |url=http://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129002518/https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/ |archive-date=29 January 2023 |access-date= |website=Gott Code}}
geditGPLv2{{yes}}Cross-platformCGTK+{{yes|Enchant}}{{yes|GtkSourceView}}{{partial|Unicode}}Full-screen with {{key press|F11}}; part of GNOME Core Applications.
KoalaWriterGPLv3{{yes}}Mac OS, WindowsC++Qt{{No}}{{No}}{{No}}Clone of OmmWriter.{{cite web |title=KoalaWriter |url=https://code.google.com/p/koalawriter/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130041237/https://code.google.com/archive/p/koalawriter/ |archive-date=30 November 2021 |website=Google Code Archive}}
MaraveGPLv2{{yes}}{{No}}PythonQt{{yes|Enchant}}{{yes|GNU source-highlight}}Similar to OmmWriter, CreaWriter.{{cite web |title=marave |url=https://code.google.com/p/marave/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525003217/https://code.google.com/archive/p/marave/ |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |website=Google Code Archives}}
PyRoomGPLv3{{yes}}Mac OSPythonGTK+{{no}}{{no}}{{no}}{{cite web |title=PyRoom |url=http://pyroom.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207135158/http://pyroom.org/ |archive-date=7 December 2022}}
QuiEditGPLv3{{yes}}WindowsPythonQt{{yes|Hunspell}}{{yes}}MarkdownBasic text formatting.{{cite web |last=Mathôt |first=Sebastiaan |date=August 13, 2011 |title=QuiEdit |url=http://www.cogsci.nl/software/quiedit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914205203/http://www.cogsci.nl/software/quiedit |archive-date=14 September 2011 |access-date=13 August 2011 |website=Cogsci.nl}}
RubyRoomGPLv2{{yes}}{{No}}Ruby{{cite web |title=RubyRoom |url=http://rubyroom.rubyforge.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901185156/http://rubyroom.rubyforge.org/ |archive-date=1 September 2010 |access-date=2 February 2011}}GTK+{{No}}{{No}}{{No}}Latest version from 2009.
TextRoomGPLv3{{yes}}Mac OS, WindowsC++Qt (+GLib){{yes|Hunspell}}Supports rich text.{{cite web |title=TextRoom |url=https://code.google.com/p/textroom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129002251/https://code.google.com/archive/p/textroom/ |archive-date=29 January 2023 |website=Google Code Archives}}
THE

| GPLv2

| {{yes}}

| Mac OS X, OS/2, Unix, Windows

| Rexx

|

| {{yes}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|

Vim

|[https://vimhelp.appspot.com/uganda.txt.html#uganda.txt Vim License]

{{yes}}

|Cross-platform

|C

| {{yes}}{{yes}}

|

|Distraction-free plugins available.{{Cite web |last=junegunn |title=goyo.vim |url=https://github.com/junegunn/goyo.vim |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709205231/https://github.com/junegunn/goyo.vim |archive-date=9 July 2018 |access-date=2018-02-26 |website=GitHub |language=en}}

= Freeware =

class="wikitable sortable"
NameOperating system supportNotable aspects, references
Calmly WriterChromeOS, Google Chrome browserWYSIWYG, image embedding, OpenDyslexic mode.{{cite web |title=Calmly Writer |url=http://calmlywriter.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128162931/https://www.calmlywriter.com/ |archive-date=28 January 2023}}
FORCEdraftWindowsText editor that won't exit until the user's goal is reached.{{cite web |title=FORCEdraft |url=http://forcedraft.com }}
DarkRoomWindowsClone of WriteRoom for Windows .NET.{{cite web |last=Fuller |first=Jeffrey |date=Nov 30, 2020 |title=DarkRoom |url=http://they.misled.us/dark-room |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122223859/https://codex.jjafuller.com/books/dark-room/page/overview |archive-date=22 January 2023 |website=Codex}}
JDarkRoomLinux, Mac OS, WindowsClone of DarkRoom written in Java.{{cite web |title=JDarkRoom |url=http://www.codealchemists.com/jdarkroom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213172144/http://www.codealchemists.com/jdarkroom/ |archive-date=13 December 2022 |website=CodeAlchemists.com}}
PoeWindows 8 (only)Word count goals, writing timers, auto-correct and resource links.{{cite web |title=Poe |url=http://roryok.com/poe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208092152/http://roryok.com/poe/ |archive-date=8 December 2013 |website=roryok.com}}
Q10WindowsPortable, has word count features.
WritemonkeyWindowsSupports Markdown Extra, Textile, WikiCreole.{{cite web |title=Features |url=http://writemonkey.com/features.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113203011/http://writemonkey.com/features.php |archive-date=13 November 2022 |website=WriteMonkey}} Donors can access plugins including corkboard, timer.

= Proprietary =

class="wikitable sortable"
NameOperating system supportNotable aspects, references
Bloom EditorWindowsUses 3D rendering for special effects and dynamic visual themes. Has a free limited version.{{cite web |title=Bloom Editor |url=https://bloomeditor.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703030458/https://bloomeditor.com/ |archive-date=3 July 2013 |access-date=1 October 2013}}
CreaWriterWindowsClone of OmmWriter for Windows; has limited free version.{{cite web |title=CreaWriter |url=http://www.creawriter.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703042927/http://www.creawriter.com/ |archive-date=3 July 2022}}
Frost

|Mac OS, Windows

|Plays thematic ambient music, free to use, live word counter, downloading option.{{Cite web|title=FROST - Minimalistic Writing App Set to Music|url=https://frostwriter.com/|access-date=2020-07-05|website=FROST|language=en-US}}

iA WriterMac OS, Windows, AndroidLightweight, has iCloud and Dropbox integration, iPad and iPhone version, Focus Mode, and Markdown support, light and dark writing modes, live rendering/preview, syntax highlighting, style check.
ISPF

| MVS through z/OS, VM/SP through z/VM, z/VSE

| Latest version of Structured Programming Facility (SPF).{{cite manual

| title = ISPF Edit and Edit Macros

| id = SC19-3621-5

| date = September 30, 2021

| url = https://www-01.ibm.com/servers/resourcelink/svc00100.nsf/pages/zOSV2R5sc193621/$file/f54em00_v2r5.pdf

| work = z/OS 2.5

| publisher = IBM

}}

MoopatoMac OS and WindowsMarkdown editor and e-book publishing app.{{cite web |title=Moopato eBook Writer |url=https://moopato.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218214754/https://moopato.com/ |archive-date=18 December 2022}}
NaNoScriBeWindowsRich text, on-screen word count, goals and timers. Built-in NaNoWriMo stats page.{{cite web |title=NaNoScriBe |url=http://roryok.com/nanoscribe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111232534/http://roryok.com/nanoscribe/ |archive-date=11 January 2019 |website=roryok.com}}
OmmWriterMac OS, WindowsSupports images as backgrounds, and a player for ambient music.{{cite web |title=Frequently Meditated Questions |url=http://www.ommwriter.com/en/frequently-meditated-questions.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225043154/http://www.ommwriter.com/en/frequently-meditated-questions.html |archive-date=25 December 2010 |access-date=4 February 2011 |website=OmmWriter}}
Prime DraftMac OS, WindowsWriting mode that ensures forward progress and the avoidance of pre-emptive editing. Built-in calendar and writing target tracking.{{cite web |title=Prime Draft |url=https://www.primedraft.app |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207004939/https://www.primedraft.app/ |archive-date=7 December 2022}}
SPF

| OS/VS2, VM/SP

| Early full screen editor for IBM mainframes.{{cite manual

| title = Structured Programming Facility/Conversational Monitor System: Program Reference Manual - Program Number 5748-XT3

| id = SH20-2409-0

| date = September 1979

| url = http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/370/SPF/SH20-2409-0_Structured_Programming_Facility_CMS_Program_Reference_Sep79.pdf

| publisher = IBM

}}

Predecessor to ISPF.

Sublime TextLinux, Mac OS, WindowsCustomisable, for programmers,{{cite web |last=Skinner |first=Jon |date=April 4, 2008 |title=Distraction Free Editing |url=http://www.sublimetext.com/blog/articles/distraction-free-editing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103103401/https://www.sublimetext.com/blog/articles/distraction-free-editing |archive-date=3 January 2023 |website=Sublime HQ}}{{cite web |title=Features |url=http://www.sublimetext.com/features |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216134914/http://www.sublimetext.com/features |archive-date=16 February 2011 |website=Sublime Text}} has free trial version.{{cite web |title=Download |url=http://www.sublimetext.com/download |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128112631/https://www.sublimetext.com/download |archive-date=28 January 2023 |website=Sublime Text}}
WonderPen

|Windows, macOS, Linux

|

Write!WindowsMarkdown, spell-checker, cloud storage, sessions and folders scheme, RTL support.{{cite web |title=write app |url=http://wri.tt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112012626/https://writeapp.co/ |archive-date=12 January 2023}}
Write Onward!WindowsFullscreen writing software disallowing editing, copying or pasting text to let writers focus solely on the writing process.{{cite web |title=Write Onward! |url=http://www.writeonward.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428002635/http://www.writeonward.com/ |archive-date=28 April 2015 |access-date=22 December 2019}}
WriteRoomMac OSSimple.{{cite web |title=WriteRoom |url=http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122223855/https://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/writeroom/ |archive-date=22 January 2023 |website=Hog Bay Software}}{{cite web |url=http://www.148apps.com/reviews/writeroom-review/ |title=Writeroom Review |author=Eisenman, Bonnie |date=8 July 2010 |work=148Apps |publisher=TrouserMac Industries |access-date=23 April 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2011/01/19/beat-writers-block/ |title=How to: Beat Writer's Block Online |author=Elliott, Amy-Mae |date=19 January 2011 |work=Mashable |access-date=23 April 2011}}
XEDIT

| VM/SP through z/VM

| Successor to EDGAR and current z/VM editor.{{cite manual

| title = System Product Editor Command and Macro Reference - Release 3

| id = SC24-5221-2

| date = September 1983

| edition = Third

| work = Virtual Machine/System Product

| url = http://bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/370/VM_SP/Release_3.0_Jul83/SC24-5221-2_VM_SP_Rel_3_Editor_Command_and_Macro_Reference_Sep83.pdf

| publisher = IBM

}}

{{cite manual

| title = XEDIT User's Guide

| id = SC24-6338-01

| date = September 9, 2020

| url = https://www.vm.ibm.com/library/720pdfs/72633801.pdf

| work = z/VM Version 7 Release 2

| publisher = IBM

}}

Xiosis ScribeWindows
ZenWriterWindowsSimple, with background images and ambient music.{{cite web |title=ZenWriter 3 |url=http://beenokle.com/zenwriter.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230130051816/https://beenokle.com/zenwriter/3 |archive-date=January 30, 2023 |website=Beenokle}}

Features

= Rich text support =

Some distraction-free editors support rich text editing. These include CreaWriter, TextRoom, and WriteRoom.{{cite web |last=Pelletier |first=Thomas |date=Feb 22, 2010 |title=Test of distraction-less text editors on OS X |url=http://thomas.pelletier.im/2010/02/test-of-distraction-less-text-editors-on-os-x/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113055707/http://thomas.pelletier.im/2010/02/test-of-distraction-less-text-editors-on-os-x/ |archive-date=13 November 2010 |access-date=4 February 2011}} In some cases, this feature turned off per default and must be set by a user.

= Syntax highlighting =

Currently, only a few distraction-free editors support syntax highlighting. CodeRoom is an open source project with the purpose of creating a distraction-free code editor with customisable highlighting schemes. The latest version of Marave supports syntax highlighting. Sublime Text supports a distraction-free full-screen view. Packages exist for GNU Emacs that turn off various features and reformat the display to a distraction-free layout while retaining syntax highlighting and other features familiar to Emacs users.

= Aids to writing =

Word count is a common feature in these editors. Other aids can include spell checkers, auto-corrections and quick text templates.{{Cite web |last=Wagner |first=Ryan |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Q10 is a Full Screen Writing Program |url=http://cybernetnews.com/full-screen-writing-program/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308105706/http://cybernetnews.com/full-screen-writing-program/ |archive-date=8 March 2021 |website=CyberNet News}}

=Other Features=

Many of the programs include timers to pace writing. FocusWriter and WriteMonkey, among others, include typewriter sound effects.[http://blog.mcasey.me/writing-about-writing-a-review-of-plain-text-writing-software/ Comparison of Fullscreen text editors] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126123818/http://blog.mcasey.me/writing-about-writing-a-review-of-plain-text-writing-software/ |date=26 November 2014 }}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

Category:Text editors