Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible, 3rd Edition

Working with Editors

IN THIS CHAPTER

Working with the vim editor

Exploring nano

Understanding emacs

Getting comfortable with kwrite

Looking at Kate

Using the GNOME editor

Before you can start your shell scripting career, you need to know how to use at least one text editor in Linux. The more you know about how to use features such as searching, cutting, and pasting, the quicker you can develop your shell scripts.

You can choose from several editors. Many individuals find a particular editor whose features they love and exclusively use that text editor. This chapter discusses just a few of the text editors you'll see in the Linux world.

Visiting the vim Editor

The vi editor was the original editor used on Unix systems. It used the console graphics mode to emulate a text-editing window, allowing you to see the lines of your file, move around within the file, and insert, edit, and replace text.

Although it was quite possibly the most complicated editor in the world (at least in the opinion of those who hate it), it provides many features that have made it a staple for Unix administrators for decades.

When the GNU Project ported the vi editor to the open source world, they chose to make some improvements to it. Because it no longer resembled the original vi editor found in the Unix world, the developers also renamed it, to vi improved, or vim.

This section walks you through the basics ...