Learning the vi and Vim Editors, 8th Edition

Chapter 1. Introducing vi and Vim

One of the most important day-to-day uses of a computer is working with text: composing new text, editing and rearranging existing text, deleting or rewriting incorrect and obsolete text. If you work with a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, that’s what you’re doing! If you are a programmer, you’re also working with text: the source code files of your program, and auxiliary files needed for development. Text editors process the contents of any text files, whether those files contain data, source code, or sentences.

This book is about text editing with two related text editors: vi and Vim. vi has a long tradition as the standard Unix¹ text editor. Vim builds on vi’s command mode and command language, providing at least an order of magnitude more power and capability than the original.

Text Editors and Text Editing

Let’s get started.

Text Editors

Unix text editors have evolved over time. Initially, there were line editors, such as ed and ex, for use on serial terminals that printed on continuous feed paper. (Yes, people really programmed on such things! Including at least one of your authors.) Line editors were called such because you worked on your program one or a few lines at a time.

With the introduction of cathode-ray tube (CRT) terminals with cursor addressing, line editors evolved into screen editors, such as vi and Emacs. Screen editors let you work with your files a full screen at a time and let you easily move around the ...