‘No bloat, no telemetry, no nonsense.’ Former Microsoft coding wizard makes an OG Notepad clone that’s just 2,686 bytes in size
Former Microsoft developer Dave Plummer has created a minimalist Notepad clone that weighs in at just 2,686 bytes, positioning it as an alternative to modern Windows Notepad’s expanded feature set. Plummer, known for his technical deep-dives on his YouTube channel Dave’s Garage, designed the application with the philosophy of “no bloat, no telemetry, no nonsense,” recreating the functionality of the original Notepad without the additions Microsoft has introduced in recent years.
The project reflects growing frustration among some users with Windows Notepad’s evolution from a simple text editor into a more feature-rich application. Plummer’s ultra-lightweight clone demonstrates that the core functionality can be delivered in an extremely small file size while maintaining the minimalist approach that made the original tool popular. The tiny footprint and lack of telemetry align with a broader trend of developers creating stripped-down alternatives to feature-bloated software.