The vi Editor

Linux Text Editor

The vi editor, also known as "vi improved," is a powerful text editor that is included with most Linux distributions. It is a command-line based editor, which means that it is operated through commands and keyboard shortcuts rather than a graphical user interface.

Open a File

To open a file in vi, simply type "vi" followed by the file name in the terminal. For example, "vi file.txt" would open a file named "file.txt" in vi. If the file does not exist, it will be created when you save your changes.

Command Mode and Insert Mode

One of the most important things to understand about vi is that it has two modes: command mode and insert mode. When you first open a file in vi, you are in command mode. In this mode, you can move the cursor around the document, delete text, and perform other editing commands. To enter insert mode, press the "i" key on your keyboard. In insert mode, you can add text to the document. To return to command mode, press the "Esc" key.

Basic vi Commands

Here are some basic commands to help you navigate and edit in vi:

"h" moves the cursor left

"j" moves the cursor down

"k" moves the cursor up

"l" moves the cursor right

"i" enters insert mode at the cursor's current position

"a" enters insert mode after the cursor's current position

"x" deletes the character under the cursor

"dd" deletes the current line

"u" undoes the last action

":w" saves the file

":q" quits the editor (without saving changes)

":wq" saves and quits the editor

Advanced Features

Also, vi includes many advanced features, such as regular expression search and replace, multiple buffers, and syntax highlighting. These can be accessed through a variety of commands and plugins.

A Modal Editor

One of the most important things to keep in mind when using vi is that it is a modal editor, meaning that the way you interact with the editor changes depending on the mode you are in. This can take some getting used to, but once you become proficient with vi, you will find that it is a powerful and efficient tool for editing text files.

Help Command

It is always recommended to read the manual to get more command and feature that vi provides. To open the manual, type ":help" in the command mode.

A Command Line Editor

In conclusion, vi editor is a powerful text editor that is included with most Linux distributions. It is a command-line based editor that is operated through commands and keyboard shortcuts. It has two modes: command mode and insert mode which you can switch between by pressing the "i" key or the "Esc" key. Also, vi includes many advanced features, such as regular expression search and replace, multiple buffers, and syntax highlighting. With some time and practice, vi can become an efficient tool for editing text files.

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