Sublime Text 4 launches with many improvements and license changes

The team behind Sublime Text have announced the release of the fourth major version of the popular text editor. It comes with lots of features that improve workflow and it also sees a change to the way license keys work. This update includes native support for Apple Silicon processors and comes with Linux ARM64 builds for compatibility with devices like the Raspberry Pi, however, it no longer works on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X 10.7 and Mac OS X 10.8.

From now on, when a customer buys a license, it will be valid across the next three years of upgrades rather than being tied to a single version of the editor. After the three years are over, you can still use your key with versions of the software released in that time frame but to activate newer versions you’ll need to buy a license upgrade.

The first thing you’ll notice with Sublime Text 4 is the refreshed UI. The Default and Adaptive themes have been improved with new tab styles and inactive pane dimming. Themes and Color Schemes also support auto dark-mode switching. If you are on Windows or Linux, you’ll also be able to use custom title bars.

Some of the other improvements include:

• Tab Multi-Select - File tabs have been enhanced to make split views effortless, with support throughout the interface and built-in commands. The side bar, tab bar, Goto Anything, Goto Definition, auto complete and more have all been tweaked to make code navigation easier and more intuitive than ever.
• Context-Aware Auto Complete - The auto complete engine has been rewritten to provide smart completions based on existing code in a project. Suggestions are also augmented with info about their kind, and provide links to definitions.
• TypeScript, JSX and TSX Support - Support for one of the most popular new programming languages is now shipped by default. Utilize all of the smart syntax-based features of Sublime Text within the modern JavaScript ecosystem.
• Superpowered Syntax Definitions - The syntax highlighting engine has been significantly improved, with new features like handling non-deterministic grammars, multi-line constructs, lazy embeds and syntax inheritance. Memory usage has been reduced, and load times are faster than ever.
• Updated Python API - The Sublime Text API has been updated to Python 3.8, while keeping backwards compatibility with packages built for Sublime Text 3. The API has been significantly expanded, adding features that allow plugins like LSP to work better than ever.

The last feature worth mentioning is the GPU Rendering support in Sublime Text 4. If your computer has a GPU, it can help render the text editor’s interface making it feel more fluid on resolutions as high as 8K, while using less power. GPU Rendering is available across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

If you’d like to download the latest Sublime Text, head over to the project’s download page. The editor can be used for free but for continued use you should buy a license. They're currently being sold at a discounted price.