[lotuseclat79]

Speaking UNIX: The new and improved Vim editor.

If you've worked on IBM® AIX®, another flavor of UNIX®, or Linux®, you've more than likely used the vi editor. Since its conception in 1976, vi has become a staple for anyone wanting to edit files. How could someone make a more powerful editing tool than vi, you may ask? The answer is Vim, and this article provides details on the many enhancements that have made Vim a highly used and acceptable editor in the world of UNIX and Linux.

-- Tom

[briealeida]

I made the switch to vim a while ago and have not looked back. :-).


[I always use 'emacs' on my FreeBSD machine (not to start a war, just so I'm not lopsided skill-wise).]

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by briealeida

I made the switch to vim a while ago and have not looked back. :-).

[I always use 'emacs' on my FreeBSD machine (not to start a war, just so I'm not lopsided skill-wise).]

Hi Brie,

I once used the Gosling version of Emacs (for those who are Lisp challenged as opposed to the Gnu version of Emacs - did you ever hear of the Gosling version of Emacs before?)! Yes, he is the one and same Gosling at Sun who authored Java.

At the same company, I had to use the ed editor to use any one of the OS crash machines for overnight runs of my project - i.e. OS crash machines had to be scheduled for use overnight, and the environmental tools were not guaranteed to be fully installed, so you had to go with the tried and true minimal environment which did not have vi/vim. Those ed skills came in handy later when I worked on some remote network booting scripts.

There are many editing skills needed when you work in a wide variety of environments!

-- Tom

[avisitor]

According to a Linux Journal poll, the most popular editor is still vi, with vim and emacs right behind it.

[briealeida]

Tom,

I have been dying to learn 'ed' after a lot of sed and regex work this summer! Classes have just begun but I'll find the time!

I have been previously unaware of the Gosling version of Emacs. That sounds awesome. :-)!