Notepad++ Creator Halts Unofficial Mac Port

Context Notepad++ is a text editor that adds features like line numbering and syntax highlighting to the basic Windows Notepad. It was created in 2003 by Don Ho, who remains its primary author and maintainer. Throughout its history the program has been Windows‑exclusive, with the current version supporting Windows 7 and later.

Key Facts Ho states that the unofficial Mac port is misleading, inappropriate, and disrespectful to the project and its users. He says Notepad++ has never released a macOS version and that any claim otherwise is unauthorized. The editor originated in 2003 and has stayed Windows‑only, maintaining compatibility back to Windows 7.

What It Means The dispute centers on trademark use: Ho argues that using the Notepad++ name and logo on a Mac build suggests official endorsement, which could confuse users. He has contacted the port’s author, Andrey Letov, through a GitHub thread, asking him to stop distributing the app under the Notepad++ brand. If the claim stands, the Mac version may need to be renamed or removed from distribution channels.

Watch for how the dispute over the Mac port evolves and whether any official macOS release emerges from the Notepad++ team.