Ubuntu Unleashed 2013 Edition: Covering 12.10 and 13.04, Eighth Edition

Working with vi

The one editor found on nearly every UNIX and Linux system is the vi editor, originally written by Bill Joy. This simple-to-use but incredibly capable editor features a somewhat cryptic command set, but you can put it to use with only a few commands. Although many experienced UNIX and Linux users use vi extensively during computing sessions, many users who do only quick and simple editing might not need all its power and might prefer an easier-to-use text editor such as nano. Diehard GNU fans and programmers often use emacs for pretty much everything.

However, learning how to use vi is a good idea. You might need to edit files on a Linux system with a minimal install or on a remote server without a more extensive offering of installed ...