Atom is a free, open-source text and source code editor featuring support for plugins written in JavaScript, and embedded Git Control. It’s a “hackable” text editor, meaning that it is highly customizable. Among several other options, this feature stands Atom out.

As an open-source software, Atom enables you to install third-party packages and themes so that you can customize the features and looks of the editor. The software is pretty fast, small, compact, and an innovative developer tool for both beginners and professionals. Most of the extending packages available for Atom have free licenses and are community-built and maintained.

Follow the instructions below and I’ll show you how to download and install Atom on your PC for free.

How to Download and Install Atom on Your PC for Free

  1. Click on the Download button on the sidebar to go directly to the official Atoms download page.
  2. Click on the Download button to get the setup file.
    Atom download page screenshot
  3. Go to your download folder and double-click on the .exe file you download to start the installation.
  4. Wait for the installation to complete. Configure the tool to suit your preferences before you start using it or customize the settings as you use it.
    Atom install screenshot
Getting started with Atom

How to Uninstall Atom from your PC

If Atom isn’t the right developer tool for you, you can easily remove it from your PC by following these simple steps:

  1. Type Add or Remove Programs in the Windows search bar and click the Enter key.
    Atom add or remove programs screenshot
  2. Scroll and locate Atom on the list of installed programs, then click the Uninstall button.
    Atom uninstall screenshot
  3. Once the uninstallation wizard opens, confirm that you want to remove the software, and it will be removed completely from your computer.

In case you want to try out other solutions, feel free to check out other free alternatives below.

Overview of Atom

Atom is popularly known as a “hackable” text editor because it is built to allow each user to customize it to their preferences — to suit their specific developer and needs. From the looks of the software to its functionalities, you can completely make it your own, using a wide array of customization tools at your disposal. There is an initialization script that you can customize using CoffeeScript. This is a style sheet for customizing the aesthetics of Atom, which also serves as a keymap for mapping or re-mapping key combinations to commands.

The software is generally maintained by a community of developers, making it an extensive repertoire of knowledge and, of course, a platform where you can learn from professional developers.

Since GitHub develops it, you can use the Atom text editor with GitHu, since its package is bundled with Atom. From within the editor, you can create new branches, stage and commit, push and pull, view pull requests, and so on. As shown below, you can create a new project directory with a Git repository.

Atom create repository screenshot

Features of Atom

Currently, you can use Atom on Windows, Linux, and macOS operating systems. Atom is built with HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and Node.js integration.

Built-in package manager: You can easily find and install any new package you need or create your own right from Atom.

Smart autocompletion: With Atom, you can actually write codes faster, with a smart and flexible autocomplete.

File system browser: Atom file browser allows you to easily browse and open a single file, specific projects, or multiple projects in a single window.

Multiple panes: If you need flexibility when comparing and editing codes across files, you can split your Atom interface into multiple panes.

Make Atom your editor: Once you start using Atom, you’ll see that it has multiple packages (9 thousands of open source packages) for adding new features and functionalities, 4 pre-installed UI and 8 syntax themes, and several customization effects to help you customize and style Atom. You can make the tool your own by tweaking the look and feel of your UI with CSS/Less, and by adding more features with HTML and JavaScript.

Free Alternatives to Atom

Visual Studio Code: Visual Studio Code is not just a code editor; it provides you with the tools and extensions to compile, debug, compare, refactor, and manage code repositories within a highly-customized development environment. Visual Studio Code is free and available for popular platforms like Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows.

Jenkins: Jenkins is an open-source, Java-based code automation software, designed to automate the non-human aspect of software development processes. It helps to make coding and development faster and more seamless. Jenkins allows you to create a pipeline for continuous code integration, continuous delivery, continuous testing, continuous deployment, and so on.

Notepad++: Notepad++ is a free source code editor with support for several languages, over 140 different plugins, and tabbed editing, which allows you to work with multiple open files in a single window. The source code editor, which is coded in C++ and utilizes the Scintilla editing component, boasts additional functionalities. Notepad++ offers capabilities such as automatic saving, marking lines for reference, allowing concurrent editing, and a host of other features.

FAQ

Is Atom free?

Atom is an open-source software and free for life. You can use the simple instructions I provided above to download the Atom Desktop App for free on your computer.

Is Atom secure?

Yes, you can safely download and install Atom on your computer but make sure to download only from the official Atom website, to prevent viruses, malware, or spyware from attacking your system.

Can I contribute to Atom?

Yes, as a user and part of the community, you can contribute by creating an amazing package that adds to Atom’s usability, especially if you think that your addition will improve Atom’s value to most users.
Download Atom now!