3 Powerful Linux Terminal Text Editors Best for Beginners
Latest update time：2023-12-10
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Reprinted from: linuxmi
Enter the world of Linux and master the best tools. Here are three handpicked terminal text editors that are best for beginners to succeed.
For many budding tech enthusiasts and developers, exploring the vast Linux ecosystem is a rite of passage. However, the first steps can sometimes feel daunting.
As you may have heard, many tasks in Linux - from system configuration to programming - are handled through text files. Therefore, an essential skill to master early on is text editing directly in the terminal.
However, if you are new to the exciting world of Linux, deciding to rely directly on a terminal editor such as Vi, Vim, Emacs, etc. may make your experience challenging.
Yes, these are very powerful and proven text editors, but mastering them requires a lot of effort and practice. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right editor.
But don't worry! To help you on this journey, we’ve handpicked three of the best terminal text editors for beginners that have been tested over many years and recommended to you based on our experience.
1. Micro text editor: modern and intuitive
Adapting to a new environment, especially one as different as a Linux terminal, can be a challenge for those who spend most of their computer life in the Windows world. However, a friendly bridge between these two worlds can be found in the Micro text editor.
Because of this, it's our most recommended Linux terminal text editor for beginners. Micro is written in the Go language and provides an intuitive, modern interface for the command line environment, focusing on ease of use and user-friendliness. We love it very much!
Its main highlight is that it is designed to feel familiar to users transitioning from a GUI text editor to a terminal. Open the file - "Ctrl + O". Save – “Ctrl + S”. Search – “Ctrl + F”. Does any of this sound familiar? I believe so.
Key Features of Micro Text Editor
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Intuitive keyboard shortcuts: Micro uses common keyboard shortcuts similar to GUI text editors, making the transition smoother for users unfamiliar with terminal editor keybindings.
User-friendly interface: The editor has a clean interface and displays commonly used commands at the bottom of the screen, making it easier for novice users to get started without constantly consulting the manual. -
Mouse functionality: One of Micro's standout features is that it supports mouse interaction, which is uncommon among terminal text editors. This means users can click to place the cursor, select text, etc., which may be particularly intuitive for users accustomed to GUI editors. Additionally, it provides multi-cursor functionality, which is useful when you need to edit multiple lines at the same time.
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Split screen and tab functionality: You can open code on one side and bash on the other. Additionally, built-in tag support makes working with multiple files easier.
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Customization and plug-ins: Micro supports a plug-in system, allowing users to extend its functionality. It also allows users to customize key bindings, colors, and other settings to suit their preferences.
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Syntax Highlighting: Like many advanced text editors, Micro provides syntax highlighting for many programming languages, making it easier to read and edit code.
How to install Micro text editor on Linux
Depending on the distribution you are using, follow the instructions below.
Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint
sudo apt install micro
Fedora
sudo dnf install micro
RHEL/Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux
curl https://getmic.ro | bash
sudo mv micro /usr/bin/
openSUSE
sudo zypper in micro-editor
Arch Linux/Manjaro
sudo pacman -S micro
Summarize
For people coming into the Linux world from a Windows background, a tool like Micro Text Editor that provides familiar keyboard shortcuts will significantly ease the transition.
Additionally, despite its focus on user-friendliness, the editor excels with features like split-screen windows, tag support, and syntax highlighting, which are our top recommendations.
To learn more about Micro, visit its
official website
.
2. Nano: Pursuit of simplicity
Our second choice is Nano, an editor you can get pre-installed on most Linux distributions. Like Micro, simplicity and intuitiveness are crucial for beginners. This is where Nano comes in - an editor designed specifically for beginners.
While it may not have as rich a feature set as its heavyweight rivals, its value lies in its ease of use and simplicity. In other words, Nano's intuitive design is much easier for people unfamiliar with the command line than Vim's modal nature or Emacs' multifaceted functionality.
For example, when you launch Nano, you're greeted by a clear interface that's almost self-explanatory. Key commands appear at the bottom of the screen, preceded by a caret (^), which represents the Ctrl key.
This makes it stand out immediately because users don't have to remember a ton of keyboard shortcuts or navigate modes like Vim. Therefore, for basic file editing, there is almost no learning curve.
Nano key features
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User-friendly interface: Commands and their corresponding key combinations are displayed at the bottom of the screen, allowing users to intuitively understand and perform operations.
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Search and replace: Using "Ctrl + W" for search and "Ctrl + \" for search and replace, users can quickly find or replace text in documents.
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Soft Wraps: For people working with large blocks of text or code, soft wraps on long lines can help make it easier to view the entire content.
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Syntax Highlighting: While not as powerful as some other editors, Nano provides basic syntax highlighting for a variety of programming languages, making writing and debugging code easier.
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Multiple buffers: Nano supports editing multiple files at the same time, allowing users to switch between different buffers.
How to install Nano text editor on Linux
As mentioned before, the Nano terminal text editor is most likely preinstalled on your Linux distribution. But if it is not installed, please follow the instructions below according to the distribution you are using.
Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint
sudo apt install nano
RHEL/Fedora/Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux
sudo dnf install nano
openSUSE
sudo zypper in nano
Arch Linux/Manjaro
sudo pacman -S nano
Summarize
The beauty of the Nano text editor lies in its commitment to maintaining a user-friendly experience. It won't be intimidating to newbies, while also steadily providing more features for those looking for advanced features.
Although Nano is great for simple text editing and quick configuration file changes, there is a misconception that Nano lacks powerful features. Over the years, the editor has incorporated features that make it great at more advanced text manipulation, without sacrificing its core value of simplicity.
To learn more about Nano, visit its
documentation
.
3. Ne (Nice Editor): a powerful terminal text editor in Linux
Although Ne is not as well-known as editors such as Vi or Nano, it aims to provide a combination of both: a user-friendly interface with the power and flexibility of a classic Unix text editor.
Born in the 1990s, it was developed to create an intuitive, feature-rich terminal editor suitable for both Linux novices and seasoned experts.
Born in the 1990s, it was developed to create an intuitive, feature-rich terminal editor suitable for both Linux novices and seasoned experts.
Ne was designed to provide a more intuitive, user-friendly interface. The result of its development over time is a solid editor that takes up minimal space in terms of feature set.
Main features of Ne:
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LIGHTWEIGHT: Ne is extremely lightweight and suitable for both vintage and modern machines.
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Familiar shortcuts: For users migrating to Ne from other text editing platforms, the learning curve is significantly smoother. Most of the keyboard shortcuts you're familiar with on other platforms will work here as well.
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Intuitive Interface: Unlike other terminal editors, which can have a steep learning curve, Ne prides itself on its simple and intuitive user interface.
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Syntax Highlighting: Despite its minimalist approach, the editor supports syntax highlighting for multiple programming languages, making writing and debugging code easier.
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Customizability: Users can tailor the Ne experience to their liking by modifying key bindings and settings.
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No external dependencies: Ne is self-contained, which means it does not depend on external libraries (other than the standard system libraries). This ensures consistency across different systems.
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Unlimited Undo/Redo: One of its distinguishing features is its ability to track changes, allowing users to undo or redo operations without limit.
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Powerful search and replace: supports regular expressions and multi-line search/replace operations.
How to install Ne text editor on Linux
Depending on the distribution you are using, follow the instructions below.
Debian/Ubuntu/Linux Mint
sudo apt install ne
Fedora
sudo dnf install ne
RHEL/Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux
For Red Hat-based distributions, you may need to use the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository. Once enabled, you can install Ne using the DNF package manager:
sudo yum install epel-release
sudo yum install ne
openSUSE
sudo zypper in ne
Arch Linux/Manjaro
The Ne terminal text editor is located in the AUR repository. Therefore, to install it you need to use the AUR helper program like yay:
yay -S ne
Summarize
Ne (Nice Editor) is a hidden gem in the Linux terminal text editor lineup, bridging the gap between powerful but hard-to-learn editors like Vi and Emacs and the easy-to-use but less feature-rich Nano and Micro .
In other words, its simplicity and rich functionality combine to make it ideal for both those new to the Linux world and more experienced users looking for advanced features.
To learn more about Ne, visit its
official website
.
in conclusion
For beginners, getting into the Linux terminal can be daunting, but editors like Micro, Nano, and Ne are excellent places to start. They strike the perfect balance between functionality and simplicity, ensuring newbies don’t feel overwhelmed.
Remember, the best terminal text editor is the one that feels best to you, and it's worth taking the time to experiment with the options to find the one that works best for you.
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