Text-Based File Editors
Regular Linux users are advised to learn at least one text-based editor, in case a graphical interface is not available or is too slow.
vi (vim)
The oldest and most widely available text-based editor on Unix is vi for “visual.” Modern versions are nearly all based on
vim (“vi improved). On Rivanna we generally alias the vi command to vim.
Vim/vi is used entirely through keyboard commands which must be memorized. The mouse is not utilized. Only a few commands are needed to be able to do basic editing and they are not difficult to learn. A beginner tutorial is here. One stumbling block for new users is that vim has command mode and insert mode and it must be toggled between the two.
Basics:
- To enter the insert mode press
i - To enter the command mode press
ESC - To save the file enter
:w - To save under a new name
:w filename - To exit
:q
MATE also provides a graphical interface called gvim. It can be accessed through the Applications->Accessories menu as Vi IMproved. GVim combines the keyboard-oriented commands of vim with some mouse-based capabilities.
nano
Nano is simple text editor that is fairly self-explanatory and simple to learn. It is always in insert mode. A tutorial similar to that for vim above is here.
Basics:
- Immediately start typing
- To exit: control+X
- Type the filename and press Enter
Emacs
The Emacs editor is another long-time editor on Unix. Similar to gvim, it combines a graphical interface, when available, with a keyboard-based command system. If the graphical interface is not available, such as from an Open OnDemand terminal, it will fall back to a text-only interface. Emacs is powerful and complex. The documentation is here.