If we compare the capabilities of Windows and Linux text editors and text processing tools, then we must say that there are huge numbers of features in both operating systems. You need to work with text files regularly and you need to know how the text processing tools usually work. In this blog, we will mainly focus on the text editors of Linux and Windows. In Windows, the working process in a text editor is quite easy compared to Linux. However, you need the practice to be familiar with different text editors in Linux. Vi and Vim editors are some of the most popular text editors in Linux that we are going to discuss in this blog. We will try to explore how they work, and how you will execute commands and access different functionalities using these different types of text editors.
Text Editors in Linux and Windows
Windows text Editors
- Notepad: We all are familiar with this text editor because of its simplicity and user-friendly interface. This is the default test editor in Windows.
- Notepad++: To perform complex text editing tasks we often use this text editor. Using this task, we will be able to highlight syntaxes which is an ideal platform for the programmers or the developers.
Linux Text Editors
There are different types of text editors in Linux with different types of capabilities and they have gained popularity due to the user preferences and requirements.
- Vi/Vim: The most powerful text editor in Linux. Though Vi is the default editor in Linux for some versions it is required to install the Vi packages individually. Vim (Vi IMroved) is an advanced text editor with more advanced features including a colored interface.
- Nano: This is mostly for beginners, which is user-friendly and easy to use features.
- Emacs: Emacs has a wide range of features and plugins with a lot of options for customization.
- Pico: A simple text editor which often used in conjunction with the Pine email client.
- Gedit: For the GNOME desktop environment, this is a default text editor that allows it to work in a graphical platform.
Vi/Vim: The Most Popular and Advanced Text Editors
Vi/Vim Operation Modes:
For beginners, this is a bit confusing to use properly but once you become a master of using this editor you will get an enhanced range of flexibility.
- Insert Mode: After opening the Vi/Vim editor you need to enter any input there, so to enter text you need to press “i” or the “Insert” button from the keyboard.
- Normal Mode: If you press the “Esc” button then you will be in the normal or the default mode which is mostly used for navigation and command execution.
- Visual Mode: By pressing “v”, you will be able to select text.
- Command Mode: By pressing “:” in normal mode, you will be able to execute the command.
Basic Commands in Vim
Here’s a brief guide to some basic and useful commands in Vim:
- Editing Files:
$ vim file1 # Open file1 for editing
- Insert Mode:
i # Enter insert mode to write text
- Saving and Exiting:
:x # Save and exit
:w # Save without exiting
:q! # Quit without saving
- Deleting Text:
dd # Delete one line
ndd # Delete n lines
dw # Delete one word
dl # Delete one letter
- Copying and Pasting:
yy # Copy one line
nyy # Copy n lines
yw # Copy one word
yl # Copy one letter
p # Paste below
P # Paste above
- Navigation:
shift+g # Move cursor to last line
:1 # Move cursor to first line
:25 # Move cursor to line 25
- Undo and Redo:
u # Undo
ctrl+r # Redo
- Search and Replace:
/search_pattern # Search for a pattern
n # Next occurrence
N # Previous occurrence
:%s/old/new/g # Replace old with new
:%s/old/new/gc # Replace old with new with confirmation
Example Workflow in Vim
[student@desktopX lesson04]$ vim file1
i # Enter insert mode
Hello world !! # Write text
Esc # Exit insert mode
:x # Save and exit
[student@desktopX lesson04]$ vim file1
i # Enter insert mode
welcome to linux training # Write more text
Esc # Exit insert mode
:w # Save without exiting
i # Enter insert mode
goodbye # Write more text
Esc # Exit insert mode
:q! # Quit without saving
Conclusion:
Depending on the needs of the Linux and Windows users, both operating systems have their features for text processing and editing. In Windows, you will get user-friendly text editors which are popular for their simplicity, on the other hand, in Linux you will get editors like; Vi/Vim, Nano, and Emacs with powerful and flexible editing capabilities. By understanding these different types of editors one can significantly improve their technical abilities in both Linux and Windows platforms. To enhance the productivity of your work you need to achieve text editing experience and know how to use these text processing tools.