Bluefish
Bluefish is a free desktop code editor for programmers and web developers creating websites, scripts, and other programming code.
What Bluefish is
Bluefish is a free desktop code editor for programmers and web developers creating websites, scripts, and other programming code. It is an open-source project under the GNU GPL and supports more than 30 markup and programming languages. Its editing tools include regular-expression search and replace, code folding, auto-completion, and automatic tag closing. The multi-document interface handles 1,000 or more documents, with more than 10,000 tested simultaneously. Project support restores settings automatically, and gvfs enables work with remote files over FTP, SFTP, HTTP, HTTPS, WebDAV, CIFS, and other protocols. Bluefish can also connect with external programs such as make, lint, weblint, xmllint, tidy, and javac, or run custom scripts. It is available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. The Flatpak build has a specific constraint: its strict security blocks integration with system tools and the web browser, although its internal functions continue to work. Community support is volunteer-run through a mailing list and bug tracker.
Good
- Free GNU GPL desktop editor.
- Supports more than 30 languages.
- Can open 1,000 or more documents.
- Supports remote files over multiple protocols.
- Project settings restore automatically.
Watch out
- Flatpak blocks integration with some system tools.
- Flatpak also blocks web browser integration.
- Community support is volunteer-run.
Who it suits
Bluefish suits programmers and web developers who want a free desktop editor with support for many languages, project settings, and remote files. Its Flatpak build may not suit workflows that depend on integrating with system tools or a web browser.
Verdict
Bluefish offers a broad set of editing tools and language support in a free desktop editor. Check the Flatpak integration limitation if external tools or browser access are part of your workflow.
Plans and prices
From Bluefish's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Bluefish | Free | GNU GPL software · desktop editor |
The facts
Each one read from Bluefish's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Documents
- Its multiple document interface can open 1,000 or more documents; the features page says more than 10,000 were tested simultaneously.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Editing tools
- Features include regular expression search and replace, code folding, auto-completion, and auto-tag-closing.checked 4 Oct 2026
- External tools
- Users can integrate external programs such as make, lint, weblint, xmllint, tidy, and javac, or run custom programs and scripts.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Flatpak limitation
- The Flatpak build's strict security blocks integration with system tools such as make, pylint, weblint, and the web browser, while internal functionality works as expected.checked 4 Oct 2026
- History
- The project history says Bluefish was started by Olivier Sessink, Chris Mazuc, and Neil Millar in 1998.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Languages
- Bluefish supports more than 30 markup and programming languages.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- Bluefish is an open source project released under the GNU GPL license.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Projects
- Project support restores settings for each project automatically.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Bluefish is a lightweight editor for programmers and web developers to write websites, scripts, and programming code.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Remote files
- Using gvfs, Bluefish supports remote files over FTP, SFTP, HTTP, HTTPS, WebDAV, CIFS, and other protocols.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The project page describes the Flatpak build's strict security restrictions but does not state a security certification or compliance standard.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Community and support are volunteer-run through a mailing list and bug tracker; the project says commercial support can be requested by contacting its project manager.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1998checked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- The project says Bluefish runs on Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD; installers are listed for Linux distributions, macOS, and 64-bit Windows.checked 4 Oct 2026
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