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Pulsar
What it is
Pulsar is a free, open-source desktop text editor for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It is a community-led continuation of Atom, focused on keeping the editor open and customizable. Its package manager lets users find and install packages or create their own, while language server support adds autocompletion, smart navigation, and other IDE capabilities. A filesystem browser can open one file, a project, or multiple projects in one window. Editing tools include multiple cursors, snippets, semantic selections, code folding, and syntax highlighting. Configuration files can change keybindings, language-specific settings, styles, and other appearance or behavior. Git tools support branch switching, staging code, merge conflict resolution, and viewing open GitHub pull requests. A bundled updater detects newer versions. The current release supports Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, and Linux systems with glibc 2.31 or later. The project says the editor collects no user information and sends nothing to remote servers; backend troubleshooting logs include IP addresses and user-agent details and are automatically deleted after 30 days. Windows downloads are unsigned and may trigger a SmartScreen warning.
For and against
For
- Package manager supports installing or creating packages.
- Language servers add autocompletion and smart navigation.
- Can open multiple projects in one window.
- Includes Git branch, staging, and merge tools.
- Free and open source.
Against
- Windows downloads are unsigned.
- Windows SmartScreen may show a warning.
- Linux support requires glibc 2.31 or later.
- macOS support requires version 10.15 or later.
The verdict
Pulsar combines configurable text editing, packages, language server capabilities, and Git tools across three desktop platforms. Check the listed operating-system requirements, and expect a possible SmartScreen warning on Windows.
Who it suits
Pulsar suits developers and other text-editing users who want an open-source desktop editor with packages, language server support, and Git tools. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, subject to the listed system requirements.
Plans and prices
Pulsar
Community-led text editor · macOS, Windows, Linux
Read 8 Oct 2026 · pulsar-edit.dev
On the record
- Backend data
- The privacy policy says backend requests log IP address and user-agent details for troubleshooting, with logs automatically deleted after 30 days.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Built-in packages
- Pulsar includes a package manager for searching for and installing packages, or creating your own.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Users can customize keybindings, per-language settings, styles, and other appearance or behavior through configuration files.docs.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Editing features
- Pulsar supports multiple cursors, snippets, semantic selections, code folding, and syntax highlighting.docs.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Editor type
- desktoppulsar-edit.dev · read 20 Sep 2026
- Extension support
- Yespulsar-edit.dev · read 20 Sep 2026
- Git integration
- Pulsar can switch Git branches, stage code, resolve merge conflicts, and show open GitHub pull requests.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- IDE capabilities
- Pulsar integrates with language servers to provide autocompletion, smart navigation, and other IDE features.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Language server support
- Yespulsar-edit.dev · read 20 Sep 2026
- Open project
- The team describes Pulsar as a community-led project to modernize and improve Atom into a contemporary, hackable, fully open editor.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says the Pulsar Editor collects no user information and sends nothing to remote servers; the policy was last changed December 10, 2022.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Project and file browsing
- Its filesystem browser can open a single file, a project, or multiple projects in one window.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support and community
- The project directs users to GitHub Discussions, Discord, Reddit, Mastodon, and Lemmy for community participation and support.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Supported systems
- The current release page lists Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 or later, and Linux systems with glibc 2.31 or later.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Update channel
- The bundled pulsar-updater package detects when a newer Pulsar version is available.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- What it is
- Pulsar is a community-led, hyper-hackable text editor and a fork of the discontinued Atom editor.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
- Windows download limitation
- The download page says Windows binaries are unsigned and may trigger a Windows SmartScreen warning.pulsar-edit.dev · read 8 Oct 2026
