In the world of Ubuntu’s Bash, vi and vim are often the go-to text editors for system administrators and developers. However, their complex command structures can be daunting for beginners. This article will introduce some simple alternatives to vi/vim that are user-friendly and easy to use.
Nano, Micro, Slap, Gedit, and Sublime Text are all simple alternatives to vi/vim for Ubuntu’s Bash. These text editors provide user-friendly interfaces and intuitive features that make editing text files easier for beginners.
Nano: The Beginner-Friendly Text Editor
Nano is a command-line text editor that is designed to be simple and easy to use. Its interface is similar to Notepad, making it a great choice for beginners.
To install nano, use the following command:
sudo apt install nanoThe sudo command is used to execute the command as a superuser, apt is the package handling utility in Ubuntu, and install is the command to install a new package. nano is the package we want to install.
To open a file with nano, use the following command:
nano filenameHere, filename is the name of the file you want to open.
Micro: The Intuitive Terminal-Based Editor
Micro is another terminal-based text editor that is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. It has sensible keybindings, such as Ctrl+C for copy, Ctrl+V for paste, Ctrl+S for save, and Ctrl+Q to quit. Micro also supports syntax highlighting and mouse support, making it a great alternative to vi/vim.
Slap: A Sublime-Like Terminal-Based Editor
For those who prefer a Sublime-like experience, slap is a terminal-based text editor that provides a user-friendly interface. It has first-class mouse support and aims to make editing from the terminal easier.
To install slap, use the following command:
curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/slap-editor/slap/master/install.sh | shThe curl command is used to download the installation script from the URL, -sL are options that tell curl to show error messages and follow redirects, and the | sh part pipes the downloaded script to sh, which executes the script.
Gedit and Sublime Text: GUI-Based Text Editors
If you prefer a text editor with a graphical user interface (GUI), consider using gedit or Sublime Text. These editors provide a more familiar interface for Windows users and offer a range of features for editing text files.
In conclusion, while vi/vim are powerful text editors, they can be complex and intimidating for beginners. Alternatives like nano, micro, slap, gedit, and Sublime Text offer simpler and more user-friendly interfaces that can make editing text files in Ubuntu’s Bash easier and more efficient. Choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences.
To save and exit in nano, press Ctrl+O to save the file, then Ctrl+X to exit.
To search for text in nano, press Ctrl+W and enter the search term. Use Ctrl+W again to find the next occurrence.
To copy and paste text in micro, use Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, and Ctrl+X to cut the selected text.
Yes, you can customize the keybindings in micro. Open the configuration file with Ctrl+E and add or modify keybindings as desired.
To install plugins in micro, you need to clone the plugin repository into the ~/.config/micro/plug directory. Then, open micro and use Ctrl+E to open the configuration file and add the plugin to the plugin section.
To open multiple files in slap, simply list the file names as arguments when launching slap. For example, slap file1.txt file2.txt.
Yes, you can set slap as your default text editor by modifying the EDITOR environment variable in your shell configuration file (e.g., .bashrc). Set it to the path of the slap executable.
Syntax highlighting is enabled by default in gedit. If it’s not working, go to Preferences > Font & Colors and ensure that the syntax highlighting option is enabled.
Sublime Text is not free, but it offers an unlimited free trial. You can continue using it without purchasing a license, but you will occasionally see a reminder to purchase a license.
To install packages in Sublime Text, you need to use the Package Control package manager. Follow the installation instructions on the Package Control website to install it, and then you can search for and install packages directly from within Sublime Text.
