CudaText is almost there — it just needs Sublime-level UI polish
Posted: 02.12.2025 19:48
Hey everyone,
I really think CudaText (CT) is an excellent editor that doesn't get nearly enough love. I know Sublime Text (ST) is still huge, especially on Linux, but honestly, CT isn't as far behind as people might assume.
For me, the main thing holding CT back is UI polish. The current interface works perfectly fine — nothing's actually broken — but it doesn't quite have that refined, premium feel that ST nails so well. I'm talking about things like consistent spacing, more cohesive icons, proper scaling, and everything just lining up nicely. These little details really add up when it comes to how polished something feels.
I think once CT gets closer to ST's level of visual polish, way more people will give it a real shot. Right now, I suspect a lot of folks try it out, compare it to ST's look and feel, and bounce without realizing how solid it actually is under the hood.
I'm not sure if the UI limitations come from Free Pascal/Lazarus itself or if there's still room to push things further within that framework. If it's the latter, it might be worth Alexey bringing in a UI/UX or product designer. That kind of expertise could really move the needle on adoption.
Just my thoughts, but I genuinely believe a more polished look would get CT onto a lot more desktops.
What do you all think?
I really think CudaText (CT) is an excellent editor that doesn't get nearly enough love. I know Sublime Text (ST) is still huge, especially on Linux, but honestly, CT isn't as far behind as people might assume.
For me, the main thing holding CT back is UI polish. The current interface works perfectly fine — nothing's actually broken — but it doesn't quite have that refined, premium feel that ST nails so well. I'm talking about things like consistent spacing, more cohesive icons, proper scaling, and everything just lining up nicely. These little details really add up when it comes to how polished something feels.
I think once CT gets closer to ST's level of visual polish, way more people will give it a real shot. Right now, I suspect a lot of folks try it out, compare it to ST's look and feel, and bounce without realizing how solid it actually is under the hood.
I'm not sure if the UI limitations come from Free Pascal/Lazarus itself or if there's still room to push things further within that framework. If it's the latter, it might be worth Alexey bringing in a UI/UX or product designer. That kind of expertise could really move the needle on adoption.
Just my thoughts, but I genuinely believe a more polished look would get CT onto a lot more desktops.
What do you all think?