IT 1100 : Introduction to Operating Systems

Chapter 12

Text Editors

There are two types of text editors: GUI based and Text based.

GUI based editors only work on GUI based systems.

Text based editors work on both GUI and CLI systems.

Text Editors

Learning a text based editor is useful. You will always be able to edit files whether you are at a text based Terminal or a GUI based Desktop. Sometimes you will be logged into a system that doesn’t offer the GUI and you will need to know a text-based editor.

Anytime you learn a new text editor there are a few basic things you should know how to do.

• Open a file
• Edit a file
• Save a file
• Exit the program

Text Editors - Nano

• Nano
  • Nano comes pre-installed with Linux.
  • It is a basic text editor.
  • This is probably the easiest editor to learn.
  • The most common shortcuts are listed at the bottom of the editor screen.
  • Open a file: nano sauce.txt
  • Edit a file: There is nothing special. Just start typing.
  • Save a file(aka Write Out): ctrl-o
  • Exit the program: ctrl-x

Text Editors - VIM

• VI / VIM
  • VI comes pre-installed with most Linux distributions.
  • VI and the enhanced version VIM are a text based editor.
  • VIM is also available in a GUI version as an add on program.
  • It is mode based. It has 3 main modes - normal mode , insert mode and visual mode.
  • It uses commands to navigate and simplify the text editing experience instead of a mouse and buttons to click.
  • This is the editor you will learn in this class.

Text Editors - VIM commands

* Open a file: `vi sauce.txt`
* Edit a file: type `i` to enter insert mode. Start typing.
* Use commands: type `esc` to return to normal mode.
* Save a file: `:w`
* Exit the program: `:q`

Text Editors - Emacs

• Emacs
  • Emacs does not come pre-installed with Linux.
  • It is a very popular and very powerful editor.
  • It uses shortcuts to navigate and simplify the text editing experience.
  • It comes in both Text based and GUI based versions.

Text Editors - Emacs commands

* Open a file: `emacs sauce.txt`
* Edit a file: Again, nothing special. Just start typing.
* Save a file: `Ctrl-x, Ctrl-s`
* Exit the program: `Ctrl-x, Ctrl-c`
* Cancel a half completed Shortcut: `Ctrl-g`
* Undo: `Ctrl-x, u`

Text Editors - Gedit

• Gedit
  • Gedit is a GUI based editor that comes pre-installed with your GUI installation.
  • It can only run on a GUI based version of Linux.

Editor notes

Editing a file is the same command format no matter which editor you choose. And any text editor can open and edit any text document created by another editor.

editor-name filename

• vi testing.txt
• vim testing.txt
• gvim testing.txt
• nano testing.txt
• emacs testing.txt
• gedit testing.txt

Editor notes

Opening a file with a text editor will automatically create the file if it doesn’t already exist. This is very helpful when you want to create a new file, but can be troublesome if you are trying to edit an existing file and have a typo in the name or an incorrect path. Linux can’t tell the difference.

If you open a file for editing and expect to find text inside of it but see a blank file instead - first thing to do is close the file and check the spelling and path of the file you are trying to edit. If you don’t know the correct path - try using the find command.

Optional Reading

The following resources are optional if you want to learn more

• vimtutor (It’s the built in Linux tutorial. Type the command to begin)
• vim-adventures.com
• Vi/Vim Reference Card Front
• Vi/Vim Reference Card Back

Optional Reading (More)

• Emacs Tutorial
• Emacs Manual
• Emacs Reference Card
• Gedit Homepage
• Nano Basics

Textbook Time

• There will be no textbook reading for this section.
• Go to the openvim.com website and complete the tutorial.

Last Updated 09/14/2023