TEXT EDITORS For LINUX

TEXT EDITORS

On Linux, you have a choice of text editors. Some are easy to use but have limited functionality, others require training to use and a long time to master but offer incredible functionality.

DESKTOP GRAPHICAL EDITORS

LEAFPAD

On Raspbian, you'll find an editor called Leafpad. This is a simple editor which opens in a window like a normal application. It allows use of the mouse and keyboard, and has tabs and syntax highlighting.

You can use keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl + S to save a file andCtrl + X to exit.

IDLE

IDLE is a Python REPL and IDE, so you can write and edit Python code in a window and run it from there.

IDLE has independent windows and syntax highlighting. It's somewhat buggy but generally ok for basic use.

You can use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + S to save a file, or Alt + P(previous command) and Alt + N (next command) in the REPL.

Note that IDLE uses Python2 and IDLE 3 uses Python3.

GVIM

See Vim below

COMMAND LINE EDITORS

NANO

GNU Nano is at the easy-to-use end of command line editors. It's installed by default, so use nano somefile.txt to edit a file and keyboard shortcuts likeCtrl + O to save and Ctrl + X to exit.

VI

Vi is a very old (c. 1976) command line editor, which is available on most UNIX systems and is preinstalled on Raspbian. It is succeeded by Vim (Vi Improved), which requires installation.

Unlike most editors, Vi and Vim have a number of different modes. When you open Vi with vi somefile.txt, you start in command mode which does not (directly) permit entry of text. Press i to switch to insert mode in order to edit the file, and type away. To save the file you must return to command mode, so hit the Escapekey and enter :w (followed by Enter) which is the command to write the file to disk.

To search for the word 'raspberry' in a file, make sure you're in command mode (press Escape), then type /raspberry followed by n and N to flick forward/backward through the results.

To save and exit, enter the command :wq. To exit without saving, enter the command :q!.

Depending on your keyboard configuration you may find your cursor keys don't work. In this case, you can use the H-J-K-L keys to navigate the file (which move left, down, up, and right respectively) in command mode.

VIM

Vim is an extension of Vi and works in much the same way, with a number of improvements. Only Vi is installed by default so to get the full features of Vim, install it with APT:

sudo apt-get install vim

You can edit a file in vim with vim somefile.txt. Vim also has a graphical version which opens in a window and allows interaction with the mouse. This version is installable separately:

sudo apt-get install vim-gnome

To use the graphical version of vim, use gvim somefile.txt. You can save configuration in a .vimrc file in your user's home directory. To learn more about editing in Vi and Vim, you can run vimtutor and follow the tutorial.

EMACS

GNU Emacs is the GNU flavour of command line text editors; it is powerful, extensible, and customisable. You can install it with APT:

sudo apt-get install emacs

Use keyboard combination commands such as Ctrl + X Ctrl + S to save andCtrl + X Ctrl + C to close.