PW4 Textadept - advanced text editor for Kindle HF

[kbarni]

Thanks to clint32 we can now use Bluetooth keyboards with the Kindle. So I decided to port a more advanced text editor to our loved device.

Textadept 11.4 (HF)
a modern, fast, minimalist, and remarkably extensible cross-platform text editor.
- Latest update: 19 sept 2025 -

It has multi buffer, split view, lexer support, command palette for quick access to commands and it is completely scriptable in LUA.

Even if it's not very popular, it is a very complete and capable text editor, one of my favorites even for desktop computer. And this is a feature complete port to the Kindle!

It has a graphical interface (GTK) and a terminal interface. Both are fully functional.

Usage: extract the attached file on the kindle. Start it either from KUAL or run ./textadept.sh in the textadept11 folder with kterm.

BUG: The software keyboard is not optimal for the GTK interface. It lacks the modifier keys (Ctrl, Alt) and disappears when opening a dialog box. Use it either with a bluetooth keyboard (highly recommended for typing anyway) or use the terminal version.

Textadept has a small learning curve, so be sure to read the attached docs. The default keyboard shortcuts are in the API document.

Important note: Currently it supports HF architecture only (firmware 5.16.3+)

Source code is available here: https://github.com/kbarni/textadept-kindle
Original repo: https://github.com/orbitalquark/textadept

Changelog:

• Sept 8. - First version, terminal only
• Sept. 10 - GTK version added
• Sept. 19 - small update
  • Light theme for terminal version
  • new keyboard shortcuts from TA12
  • some utilities added to the KUAL menu (enable bluetooth, set orientation...)

[mergen3107]

> Currently it supports HF architecture only (firmware 5.16.2+)


This should be 5.16.3+

[kbarni]

New version with graphical interface!

Recommended to use with an external keyboard because the soft keyboard disappears -- or use the terminal version...

[Frogm4n]

The dev that ported Gargoyle to kindlehf added a tap gesture to pop the keyboard back up. Might look into something similar.

[kbarni]

Originally Posted by Frogm4n

The dev that ported Gargoyle to kindlehf added a tap gesture to pop the keyboard back up. Might look into something similar.

That dev is me (hence my profile pic)

Yep, that's what I'll try to do tomorrow.

My problems are:
- the soft keyboard really likes to disappear in GTK apps That's a system bug, not from me...
- Need to check if I can override the taps as in Gargoyle; otherwise...
- I need to add a command to reload it every time some dialog opens
- Don't really know how to add a keyboard with modifier keys (ctrl and alt)


...Anyway, I would like to have a maximum screen surface when editing text. And a good typing experience. So, for serious writing I would prefer an external keyboard.

[Frogm4n]

D'oh! I'd remembered the thread but not who'd made it. Glad to see you're still working on interesting projects!

[kbarni]

@Frogm4n could you test Textadept with an external keyboard?

I would like to have your feedback!

[PigDan]

I'm pretty excited about this. It seems like an interesting use case for an e-ink device. Thanks for releasing another program (more useful ports!). Greatly appreciated & awesome work again. I'll see if I can test things for you. I'll let you know if anything arises. Unfortunately, due to my limited skill level I'm not confident in trying to follow the BT Keyboard instructions (at least in its current state, it looks like it's for developers), but maybe I can still enjoy using it.

One suggestion currently, if you're open to them: I'm loving the Shortcuts seen here https://kindlemodshelf.me/shortcuts.html (not sure who runs it but a Kindle Jailbreaking community was sharing it and it's great, I didn't even know about some of the recent projects until now! It needs more recognition). I think it can quickly open up stuff that is normally launched within KUAL. Not sure if you can create a Shortcut "booklet" or whatever the term would be in this case, for this app. As a user, I love putting all these shortcuts all in one Collection in my library, it's useful..

Edit: I know this thread lists the PW4 model as the tag, but I'm not sure how much that applies to software that's usable on multiple models. It would be helpful for you to clarify a compatibility list you think this would have! On my KOA3 model, I cannot access any of the interface which is shown in your included pics on the first post.. so I'll have to reboot my entire device just to leave the app! I guess one size does not fit all, there's gonna be some variations on the screen size and other issues. So that's troubling! Currently that means it's entirely unusable for me...

[kbarni]

Hi Dan,
Thanks for your review!
I'm still ironing the bugs (esp. with the soft keyboard), when it's ready I'll create a "booklet" too.

Some general recommendations for Textadept
This is an "advanced" text editor, with complex features. It is best for those who need to write a lot - and be productive. So it's a joy to use with an external keyboard, but quite painful to use with a screen keyboard. And, as it depends a lot on modifier keys like Ctrl and Alt, currently it's mostly unusable with the Kindle soft keyboard, that lacks these keys.
And, unfortunately, connecting external bluetooth keyboard is a very advanced procedure, not recommended for non-developers (and even that is not guaranteed to work)
.
If you still wish to try it without external keyboard, I recommend using the terminal version! It has all the features of the GTK version (kudos to the original dev!) and the software keyboard is complete and reliable.
The terminal version is recommended even with BT keyboard. The GTK interface is much slower and struggles to keep updating if you type even at a medium speed.
One shortcut to keep in mind: Alt-Shift-C (Ctrl-Shift-E in graphical mode) brings up the command palette where you can quickly access any command, just type a few letters.

If you want to go deeper, read the included documentation (especially the Editing chapter from manual.html and the keyboard shortcuts in api.html). It will unleash the full power of this little editor!

P.S. To close Textadept from command line, type Ctrl-Q. To close the graphical version, click the File menu, then select Quit. No need to restart the Kindle.

[kbarni]

[Personal rant: The Kindle is such a great device, it can handle almost anything, great battery life and the screen is a pleasure to use...Such a pity that Amazon does everything it can to limit it to reading the books it sells!
With an external keyboard it becomes a great writing device. SOX allows me to listen to music while reading. Playing simple games is much fun, and won't make me less of a reader either. There's also a demand for these uses, that's why the developer community is so active. But those features are just locked away from normal - or even advanced users. And development becomes so complicated, as only bare minimum of the utilities are left in the firmware. Such a shame!]

[kbarni]

Small update:
- New options in the KUAL menu (with or without external keyboard)
- some small utilities in KUAL menu
- usability improvements (set screen orientation and keyboard layout for external keyboard versions)
- light theme for terminal version (much more responsive and readible