vim
is a modal editor (improving on vi). It can run without graphics, is ubiquitous, powerful, and efficient but is an acquired skill.
vimtutor
is a program included with vim that will guide you through usage – run it from the command line.Victoria's review: a minimal vim session experience:
vim $filename
→ opens a file in vim. If that file doesn't exist or you opened it in the wrong filepath, you will see an empty blank vim that says [NEW]
at the bottomi
→ puts you in insert mode so you can freely type and move your cursor around. Says – INSERT –
in bottom left.esc
→ gets you out of insert modemove around
0
puts your cursor to the beginning of the line (in command mode)$
puts your cursor to the end of the line (in command mode)Shift + i
puts your cursor to the beginning of the line and opens insert modeShift + a
puts your cursor to the end of the line and opens insert modeg
then up or down arrow:q
→ quits vim:wq
→ saves what you wrote and quits vim :q!
→ does not save what you wrote and quits vim