UEX - UltraEdit for Linux Development Update, July 2009

Ian D. Mead,
President

Hello again!

As promised, this blog post is focused on providing more details about UltraEdit for Linux (UEX), its features, supported distributions, and our initial release expectations. Mac users, you have not been forgotten, the Mac version will follow the Linux version.

Thank you all for the countless emails of support and encouragement, we share your excitement.

Topping the list of most frequently asked questions is of course the issue of distributions. Although not all inclusive to our ultimate distribution strategy, the following packages will be available in Beta II:

• Ubuntu 8.04 32/64 bit
• Ubuntu 8.10 32/64 bit
• Ubuntu 9.04 32/64 bit
• OpenSUSE 11.0 32/64 bit
• Fedora 10.0 32/64 bit
• Tar package for other Linux distributions

Many of you have asked about UEX's features and functionality, specifically you have asked what can you expect in our initial release. Our goal is clearly to provide the Linux and Mac community the same power and functionality that our Windows community enjoys today. Here we have exceeded our own expectations as many of the UEX features are more powerful and offer greater functionality than UltraEdit for Windows. The reason is simple, producing UEX was not a standard port to Linux for us, but rather a re-engineering of UltraEdit for specific compatibility and leverage of the Linux OS.

This undertaking has produced many exciting advancements over our existing Windows version in terms of design, performance and functionality.

Some UEX improvements vs. UE are...

• Find/Replace/Find in Files/Replace in Files now uses an all-in-one dialog
• Custom New File
• Backwards compatible with UE for menus, toolbars, macros, templates, and projects
• New menus, toolbars, macros, projects, and templates are saved as XML
• Many internal improvements that reduce complexity, increase reliability and quality, and allow for easier maintenance and future development
• Auto-Column mode
• And the list goes on...

As you can see by the feature list below, UEX is today a powerful text editor that affords users material functionality.

Current Features as of Beta II include:

For purposes of communicating the details of our development roadmap, you can expect the following features in Beta III (Planned for August) :

Our intent is to provide the Linux and Mac community the same (or better in some instances) power and functionality as we do for our Windows community. UEX is a tabbed interfaced text and programmers editor specifically engineered for Linux and Mac. It borrows from its windows counterpart in the 15 plus years of full time development and experience. We are so privileged to offer a new product that - in a sense - has already been proven, highly seasoned, and already has millions of satisfied users.

Past the initial release of UEX (expected in just 60 days), users can expect the same ongoing advancements we offer our Windows community. We will continue to actively develop UEX in parallel with UltraEdit to assure the same computing solutions and technical advancements are offered to all our customers, regardless of their preferred OS.

Thanks for your patience and support of UltraEdit for Linux and Mac... I hope this update is received with excitement and expectation.

We are absolutely focused on providing our users the solutions they need and honored by the trust you place in us.

Best wishes,

-Ian and Team

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UEX Distributions
Reply #1 on : Wed July 15, 2009, 04:55:36

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Thanks Ian, this is awesome news. My 2 cents re distributions: speaking as an IT professional who works with Linux in business data centres, there are only 3 distros which are critical: RedHat (I don't like it, but there's a lot of RedHat about); SuSe (also very common in "serious" environments, especially outside the US) and Ubuntu (because Linux-oriented IT guys run this on their desktops).

Enthusiasts and advocates will doubtless plead for Debian, Slackware, Mandriva and all the rest. Some of these are fine Linux distros! But they have little or no commercial/real-world significance.

Guest post

Excellent
Reply #2 on : Wed July 15, 2009, 11:01:03

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The news of a Mac-version is very, very welcome indeed. I use UltraEdit daily using Parallels on my MacBook Pro. It is the last Windows application I use. The moment this comes out, I'm standing in front of the line to purchase a license!

Guest post

beta testers?
Reply #3 on : Wed July 15, 2009, 17:50:31

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also a now fully-converted ubuntu user who still loves ultraedit. can i become a beta tester?

Guest post

Keep up the good work on UES for Mac!
Reply #4 on : Thu July 16, 2009, 09:27:10

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Great news. Can't wait for UEX on my Mac. Ultraedit is literally the ONE piece of windows software that I haven't found a decent Mac alternative for.

Guest post

Beta II release date?
Reply #5 on : Fri July 17, 2009, 00:06:05

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Any word on when Beta II will be released? I'm anxious to try the tar ball version.

Guest post

FTP
Reply #6 on : Mon July 20, 2009, 06:00:40

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Hi!
I wonder if UEX will provide ftp navigation. I use this feature a lot, since I work in remote servers. I love to edit my files like if I were working directly in this servers.

Guest post

UC on Ubuntu
Reply #7 on : Mon July 20, 2009, 07:49:00

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Ian:
Had a few problems with that round or square earth question. Took a couple of tries before I hit on the correct answer.

Can I put a bug in your ear about UC on Ubuntu? I find UC becoming an indispensible part of the toolkit and hope you have plans to port it over.

I work for one of the top 3 IT firms and want to confirm the prior post re distributions. Redhat, Suse and Ubuntu are the three distros that we formally support on our servers.

Cheers!

Guest post

You said "re-engineering"
Reply #8 on : Mon July 20, 2009, 10:03:55

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Hi Ian !

I actually don't use UEX yet :p !! But I do notice that you did a re-engineering...
Do you think this re-engineering will be ported back into the Windows version ? (or i'll have to switch to Ubuntu ?)

Guest post

Multi platform bundle?
Reply #9 on : Mon July 20, 2009, 11:02:28

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Do you plan some kind of multi platform licensing? I'd like to buy a license for Windows & another for Linux. Will you make a bundle available for platform agnostic users like me?

Guest post

Availability of UEX
Reply #10 on : Tue July 21, 2009, 03:48:49

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Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

when UEX will be available?
I'm waiting sooo long for a good linux programmer's editor.

Is it possible to get the beta version for preview/testing?

Kind Regards
Michael

Guest post

is anyone else tired of waiting?
Reply #11 on : Tue July 21, 2009, 11:08:09

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come on...why put out all this publicity when you won't make the betas available for test runs? I for one am tired of the wait. There are alternatives out there....

idmadmin
Posts: 1

Beta testing
Reply #12 on : Tue July 21, 2009, 15:18:06

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Hello everyone, and thanks for your comments.

Open beta testing has been well underway for several weeks now. If you'd like to join the UEX beta team, please send an email to support@idmcomp.com with your request. We will add you to our beta testing list and provide you with instructions for downloading the beta.

Thanks!

Guest post

UEX. We are Waiting.
Reply #13 on : Wed July 22, 2009, 05:16:28

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Ian,
Mate,
A. Mostly Round, actually it's more an oblate spheroid, if we are being pedantic.
My boss has his credit card out, first time this year.
This means I get both my updated Ultraedit for Vista & UEX for my Centos Workstation.
Also, if I'm lucky, some of my IDM wish list.
So, Ian, mate, We are Waiting!
Not patiently, mind you. Hint! Hint!

Guest post

Licensing UEX
Reply #14 on : Wed July 22, 2009, 09:49:42

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Hi! Thanks for encouraging news regarding UEX. I've switched from Windows to Ubuntu Linux a while ago, but I have a license with unlimited upgrades for the UE Windows version. How about a possibility to swap the licenses? I could give up the Windows version for UEX.

What do you think?

Thanks!

Guest post

UEX Licensing
Reply #15 on : Wed July 22, 2009, 17:43:21

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Does IDM's licensing allow us to buy / get a license key for the Linux version if we're already registered that we've purchased the Windows version or do we need to purchase another license; hopefully at a reduced cost . . .

Please advise.

Thank You !

Mike Carroll

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Linus version, at last!
Reply #16 on : Thu July 23, 2009, 09:44:37

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I have stopped using UE since a complete move to Ubuntu as my desktop OS, after getting completely fed up with the Windows platform vulnerabilities and lack of stability. The one thing I missed most after the transition was UE! It is thus indeed good news to hear about UEX.

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Very excited about UEX for Mac
Reply #17 on : Thu July 23, 2009, 11:46:32

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I'm using Ultraedit by running XP in Parallels but I can't wait for UEX for Mac. I have been looking for a OS X text edit to replace Ultraedit but so far I haven't found one I'm happy with.
Be sure to make UEX for Mac run under Snow Leopard.

Guest post

Beta Tester Wannabe
Reply #18 on : Thu July 23, 2009, 13:48:33

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I have more than 20 years experience as a computer programmer. Wrote my first C-language program in 1980. I've used Ultra-edit off and on again lately whenever I have found myself forced into the Windows world. I have no problem with Ultra-edit. I just don't care for windows. Can I become a beta tester for UEX? I would like very much to try it on my Debian site.

Guest post

Great news!
Reply #19 on : Fri July 24, 2009, 04:37:43

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Wow, after 15 years, I didn't think this was ever going to happen!
Sign me up for the mac version!

Will you also be working on Ultracompare for Linux/Mac ?

Guest post

Hope so
Reply #20 on : Sat July 25, 2009, 06:44:23

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i hope the Linux version comes fast. i love UltraEdit on ms windows but he su..s. i go to linux!

Guest post

32bit?
Reply #21 on : Thu July 30, 2009, 11:32:49

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Hi Ian. Great news indeed.
I've managed to get by with VIM so far, but considering I've spent 10 years etching ultraedit into my central nervous system, there was and still is a significant dip in performance (the time it takes me to complete an arbitrary text edit).

Now, would it be to much to ask that you consider also providing a 32-bit version initially? I and a number of colleagues are still stuck with 32-bit laptops at work (non-core2 or amd64) and we will likely be stuck on the ia32-platform for the next 12 months until the company has written off the expense.

In about a year, most people in general should have 64-bit hardware for their primary workstation/laptop I reckon, so you could drop the 32-bit support then if you feel a need to without it hurting your revenue.

Hopefully there won't be much of a problem providing a 32-bit version, simply cross-compiling when you build the package binaries. That is, one additional binary compile with a flag for a different target architecture.

Robin
Guest post

Mac Release
Reply #22 on : Sat August 01, 2009, 11:58:37

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I can not wait for the MAC release I am still using my old PC just for the Ultaedit. The minute you release for the MAC I will be giving microsoft the final kick to the curb.

nacho
Guest post

what about solaris?
Reply #23 on : Tue August 04, 2009, 21:24:01

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i'd love to see this editor working in solaris and opensolaris too. The opensolaris project has a software porters community that might help you guys get the job done if you're willing to make one more little effort

Ken
Guest post

Re: UEX - UltraEdit for Linux Development Update, July 2009
Reply #24 on : Sun August 09, 2009, 12:27:54

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Was there a download link for the Beta, sent to registered customers?

Either way, what's the latest? I, too, am looking to leave Windows behind.

K

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