Vi
VI (for "visual editor") is a text editor for "plain text". It is the standard-editor on most Unix-systems.
The current versions have almost everything you can expect from an editor: scripting, macro-recording, syntax-coloring, UTF-8, Unicode, GUI etc.
However, the basic concept is quite old, e.g. it also has an ex-mode that was designed to work with old teletype-devices.
There are several variants:
- BusyBox - includes a tiny vi clone
- Elvis
- nvi - "new vi"
- vile - "VI Like Emacs"
- vim - "vi-improved" VIM current version: Vim 7.4.507
Command-Summary
Usage: vi file.txt
There is a "normal" mode that acts as command-mode, and an insert-mode:
i - insert text at cursor-position a - append text at end-of-line ESC - abort command, i.e. end insert-mode, and return to normal/commandmode. hjkl - move cursor: left/down/up/right (use with count: "5k" move 5 lines up ) Cursor-keys should work as well /abc/ - find text "abc" . - repeat last command (e.g. the last find) x - delete char ( use with count: "5x" deletes 5 char ) dd - delete line ( dito: "2dd" deletes 2 lines ) u - undo : is the prefix for commands: :33 - move to line 33 :r file2.txt - read: insert contents of file2 at current position :w - write current file ( :w! to force it ) :q - quit ( :q! to force it )