KateLinux
vs
Sublime TextWindows
Kate as a Linux alternative to Sublime Text
Updated
Our verdict
Kate is a solid replacement for Sublime Text, especially for users who want a free, open‑source editor with built‑in terminal, Git integration, and LSP support. It covers most of the core features you expect from Sublime: syntax highlighting, regex search/replace, multiple cursors, and a customizable interface. It is ideal for developers who prefer KDE’s ecosystem or need advanced project management. If you rely heavily on Sublime’s proprietary package ecosystem or prefer a minimal footprint, you may need to adjust expectations.
- License
- LGPL-2.1+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 26.04.2 (June 4, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Syntax highlighting for a wide range of languages
- Regex‑based search and replace
- Multiple cursors and selections
- Customizable themes and keybindings
- Extensible plugin architecture
What is different
- Kate uses a JavaScript API for plugins, not Python
- Built‑in terminal replaces the need for an external console
- LSP/DAP integration provides code intelligence, while Sublime relies on third‑party plugins
- Kate offers a file‑system browser and Git integration out of the box
- Sublime’s lightweight, cross‑platform packaging is more streamlined than Kate’s KDE‑centric distribution
Opening your Sublime Text files
Kate can open Sublime Text project files (.sublime‑project) and build files (.sublime‑build) as plain text. It does not natively import Sublime’s settings or keybindings; you would need to manually copy the relevant snippets from the .sublime‑* files into Kate’s configuration files.
Switching from Sublime Text to Kate, step by step
- Export your Sublime settings, keybindings, and snippets to a backup folder.
- Install Kate from your distribution or Flathub.
- Open the backup folder in Kate’s built‑in file browser to keep your files organized.
- Copy any custom snippets into Kate’s snippet manager (Tools → Settings → Editor → Snippets).
- Install desired LSP servers via your package manager or via Kate’s plugin system.
- Configure keybindings in Kate’s Settings → Shortcuts to match your Sublime shortcuts.
Key features of Kate
- Syntax highlighting for 300+ languages
- Multiple cursors and selections
- LSP and DAP support for code intelligence and debugging
- Built-in terminal and filesystem browser
- Git integration and folder-wide search
- Vi mode and customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Project support with folder opening
- Extensible via plugins and JavaScript scripting
How to install Kate on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.kde.katesudo apt install katesudo apt install katesudo dnf install katesudo pacman -S katesudo zypper install kate4 other alternatives to Sublime Text
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