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Bluefish
Bluefish · founded 1998
What it is
Bluefish is a free, open-source desktop editor for programmers and web developers creating websites, scripts, and code. It supports more than 30 markup and programming languages and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. The editor can open more than 1,000 documents; its features page reports tests with more than 10,000 open simultaneously. Editing tools include regular-expression search and replace, snippets, unlimited undo and redo, and recovery of modified documents after a crash. Code assistance includes folding, bracket and tag highlighting, autocompletion, and automatic tag closing for many languages. Project support can restore settings for each project. Bluefish can load and save remote files over FTP, SFTP, HTTP, HTTPS, WebDAV, and CIFS through gvfs. Users can also connect external programs or run custom scripts. It is released under the GNU GPL. One packaging limitation applies to the official Flatpak: strict security blocks integration with system tools such as make, pylint, and weblint, while internal functionality works as expected.
For and against
For
- Free and open source under the GNU GPL
- Supports more than 30 languages
- Can open more than 1,000 documents
- Remote file access over several protocols
- Includes regex search and replace
Against
- Official Flatpak blocks integration with some system tools
- No free trial is listed
The verdict
Bluefish combines broad language support with project and remote-file workflows in a free desktop editor. Users of the official Flatpak should account for its system-tool integration limits.
Who it suits
Bluefish suits programmers and web developers who want a desktop editor for code and websites, with support for many languages, projects, and remote files.
Plans and prices
Bluefish
Open-source editor released under the GNU GPL; no paid plans listed
Read 4 Oct 2026 · bluefish.openoffice.nl
On the record
- Code assistance
- Language support includes code folding, matching bracket and tag highlighting, autocompletion, and automatic tag closing for many languages.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- Community model
- The project is run by volunteers and invites help with development, testing and translation.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Customization options
- Bluefish is highly customizable and includes customization tips.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Dark theme support
- Bluefish automatically adjusts text colors for dark desktop themes.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Editing tools
- Features include regular-expression search and replace, snippets, unlimited undo and redo, and crash recovery for modified documents.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- Editor type
- desktopbluefish.openoffice.nl · read 20 Sep 2026
- Emmet support
- Bluefish supports Zencoding/Emmet.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Extension support
- Yesbluefish.openoffice.nl · read 20 Sep 2026
- External tools
- Users can integrate external programs such as make, lint, weblint, xmllint, tidy, and javac, or run custom programs and scripts.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- File capacity
- It easily loads 1000+ files.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- File handling
- Bluefish can open more than 1,000 documents, with the features page reporting tests above 10,000 documents simultaneously.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- Built-in icon themes
- Version 2.4.2 includes built-in Breeze and Breeze-dark icon themes.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes Bluefish as targeted toward programmers and web developers.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- Languages
- It supports more than 30 markup and programming languages.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 4 Oct 2026
- Language support
- Supports 30+ markup and programming languages.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Memory improvements
- Version 2.4.2 includes reduced memory usage when working with 100+ files simultaneously.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Open-source license
- Bluefish is an open source development project released under the GNU GPL licence.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
- Pricing page
- The pricing URL returns a 404 error, and no prices are stated.bluefish.openoffice.nl · read 28 Sep 2026
