Atom

atom/atomReviewed by AI

What it does

Atom is a desktop text and code editor made by GitHub, known for themes and add-on packages that change how it looks and works. It was meant for programmers and anyone who edits text files. GitHub stopped the project and archived it in December 2022, so there are no more fixes or security updates. The last Windows installers (AtomSetup-x64.exe for 64-bit) are still in the releases, along with a Mac zip and Linux packages, and the README lists Git as a prerequisite.

How easy it is to install

B · installer plus one simple step · Windows

Windows B
macOS B
Linux C

Windows is the easiest: a ready installer (AtomSetup-x64.exe, 198 MB) in the last release, with Git listed as a prerequisite to install first; on Mac you unzip atom-mac.zip and run the app. Linux is harder: the README asks you to set up your package manager or install a list of system libraries with apt and then extract an archive by hand.

Numbers on GitHub

Stars: 60,708on Oct 31, 2026
Downloads: 94,740,46515,773 this week
Growth: —no gain in the last reading

Stars over time

Facts

Runs on: Windows, macOS, Linux
You need to install: Other tools
To build from source: Node.js, Docker
Disk space: 198 MB–593 MB · from the installer
Accounts or keys: None
Cost: Free · Free (MIT).
License: MIT (Permissive)
Can replace: Sublime Text
Last update: Nov 22, 2022

Risk signals (7)

Attentionstale releases
Last release on 2022-03-08 (1696 days ago)
automatic check
AttentionDependencies with known vulnerabilities
Pinned dependencies with known vulnerabilities (OSV): async: GHSA-fwr7-v2mv-hh25; postcss: GHSA-566m-qj78-rww5, GHSA-6g55-p6wh-862q, GHSA-7fh5-64p2-3v2j; postcss-selector-parser: GHSA-rj75-hqrm-r3gf; semver: GHSA-c2qf-rxjj-qqgw
automatic check
AttentionLow OpenSSF Scorecard
OpenSSF Scorecard 2.5/10
automatic check
Attentionoutdated browser engine
package.json: "electronVersion": "11.5.0". Atom runs on this old Electron (Chromium-based) version and will not get a newer one, since the project is archived.
AI review
InfoRepository archived
The repository is archived (read-only, no longer maintained)
automatic check
Infodiscontinued by owner
README.md: "Atom and all repositories under Atom will be archived on December 15, 2022." The README still says "Atom will automatically update", which no longer applies.
AI review
Infousage metrics package
package.json bundles "metrics": "git+https://github.com/atom/metrics.git#d35d034" and "exception-reporting", built-in packages for usage and error reporting.
AI review

Evidence is shown in its original language.

What Radar could not check

Whether installing add-on packages from inside Atom still works now that the project's online services were retired.
Whether the old installers still run correctly on current Windows 11 versions.
Whether the built-in usage and error reporting still tries to send data anywhere.
Exposure to security problems fixed in newer Electron versions when opening files or packages from others.