BBEdit 16

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reception

  • Long-time Mac users praise BBEdit as a “gold standard” text editor that “still doesn’t suck,” with some having used it since classic Mac OS / System 7 and even shareware days.
  • Newer users (including those who started around 2020) also find it valuable, especially as a fast, lightweight alternative to IDEs or VS Code.
  • A few commenters now primarily use other tools (e.g., Neovim, Zed, Emacs) but keep BBEdit around as a reliable backup or specialized tool.

Usage patterns & strengths

  • Commonly used for:
    • Quick edits to config files and small projects.
    • Heavy-duty text transformations and regex work.
    • Acting as a “multitool for text” that exposes power without requiring scripting or Lisp.
  • Strong appreciation for its Mac-native feel, AppleScript/Shortcuts automation, and extensibility via arbitrary external tools (shell scripts, Python, Rust, etc.).
  • Free mode (formerly TextWrangler) is noted as very usable for many.

Features in v16 and gaps

  • Vi-style keyboard emulation is welcomed by those with Vim muscle memory; others are indifferent and expected more headline features.
  • New search capabilities (e.g., text in images) are seen as neat but niche; some would prefer PDF search.
  • Lack of multiple cursors continues to disappoint some users.
  • There is debate over indentation behavior of the Tab key; one commenter points out an existing setting that may address the complaint.

Alternatives & comparisons

  • BBEdit is compared to Emacs, Vim/Neovim, VS Code, Zed, CotEditor, TextEdit, and various IDEs.
  • For some, Emacs/Vim remain primary because of portability (e.g., OpenBSD) or deep customization; BBEdit wins on immediate usability and integration on macOS.
  • CotEditor and even plain TextEdit are mentioned as “just a text editor” options for simpler needs.

Pricing, subscriptions & sustainability

  • Historical pricing: BBEdit once cost around $120 in 1998 (≈$245 today), versus $60 now, prompting discussion of how software pricing has changed.
  • Many praise BBEdit’s non-subscription, perpetual license model with paid upgrades and generous upgrade windows.
  • Others argue that modern expectations for ongoing security updates and OS compatibility justify higher or recurring revenue; some wish more apps adopted sustainable paid-upgrade models instead of subscriptions.
  • There is extensive debate over:
    • Whether users truly “expect” continuous updates vs. preferring stable, unchanging software.
    • The merits of subscription models that let you keep the last version vs. pure rental.
    • Apple’s App Store rules (no proper paid upgrades) as a driver of subscriptions, though macOS apps can bypass the store entirely.
  • Some see BBEdit’s long-term survival as evidence that non-subscription, small independent shops can still be sustainable.

Legacy products & platform evolution

  • Yojimbo is discussed as a “finished but dated” Bare Bones app: still functional with minor bugfixes but not updated for recent macOS features (new iCloud capabilities, Apple Intelligence integrations, modern widgets, evolving CloudKit, UI changes).
  • One side sees this as acceptable “stable” software; another views it as feeling old and wants clearer labeling (e.g., “Legacy”) so expectations are set.
  • There’s explanation that many new OS features require explicit app updates; some lower-level UI enhancements do arrive “for free,” but more advanced integrations do not.