Ultra-lightweight editor (like Python's IDLE) for C

Question

One thing I don't like about C is how so many IDEs put things between me and my code. They force me to make solutions when all I want is a simple .c file, and they have cluttered displays when all I want is a text editor with some basic context coloring.

Python's IDLE, while far from a perfect system, offers simplicity, letting me see exactly how my code works without any clutter.

I'm then looking for an equivalent program for C that has the following features:

• Can run the code easily (like how IDLE runs code with F5)
• Basic context coloring
• Ability to collapse {} blocks

Notepad++ can do the context coloring and the collapsible blocks, but does not seem to have an easy way to run the .c file.

It must run on Windows 8 and it must be gratis.

Answer 1

Sublime Text should be able to do all three of your tasks:

Basic context coloring

This generally happens automatically.

Ability to collapse {} blocks

You can do this by using the "gutter" (the area where the line numbers are displayed). To fold a {} block, click on the triangle in the gutter that's on the same row as the { character.

You can also fold any arbitrary code block by first selecting it and then either:

• click the menu item Edit → Code Folding → Fold, or
• open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+p by default on Windows), type in "Code Folding: Fold", and pressing Enter.

Can run the code easily (like how IDLE runs code with F5)

Save your file and press F7 or Ctrl+b to "build" it. One of these might just compile your code and the other one might compile and run it; I'm not sure. (Sublime is very configurable so I'm not sure that the behavior I'm seeing on my machine will match your experience running a fresh copy of Sublime.)

You can also build through the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+p → "Build") or the build menu (Ctrl+Shift+b).