Then, famously, Steve Jobs led the development of a graphic-based interface for computers in which the interaction and contents of the computer were visualized in a metaphorical space. There was a time typing out commands and writing instructions out in text was the only way to interact with a computer. So, here is the introduction to text editors and the command line that I wish I had when I got started.įirst, it's important to understand that programming, at its heart, is a text based interface for using or controlling a computer. But without an introduction to these tools, it's extremely difficult to get started, just like it would be hard to start writing without being taught what a pen is first.Īlso, just like a pen or pencil, despite their simplicity, text editors and the command line are powerful keys to creativity, unlocking the ability to create anything. The tools are so essential and basic to a developer that saying "open up your text editor" is like saying "pick up a pen"-it's easy to assume everyone not only has a pen, but has used one so often that they don't need any guidance for finding one or using it. Text editors and the command line are like pens.
#TERMINAL TEXT EDITOR HOW TO#
When I started learning how to code, I would see tutorials that had instructions like "open up your text editor" or "run X on the command line." These instructions were written as though it was obvious what I was supposed to do, but as a complete beginner I had no idea exactly what the tutorial meant by "text editor" and "command line." I needed the same fundamental introduction to these tools that I had for design in order to truly be able to get started. And the key to opening that door is often simply being given a quick introduction to basic tools and how they work. Often, the only thing holding someone back from entire worlds of learning and creating is one door that needs to be opened. it was like the whole world of visual design went into edit mode simply by installing the right software. I could make anything! Posters, logos, books, digital illustration. Once I got my hands on some, it felt like the whole world had been opened up to me. When I started learning graphic design, I realized that the only thing holding me back from not learning design earlier was not having access to design software.
#TERMINAL TEXT EDITOR CODE#
The only prerequisites for understanding this resource are a curiosity about the tools used to write code and past experience interacting with a computer. THE SO-CALLED "VISUAL" EDITORS HAVE BEEN PLACED HERE BY ED TO TEMPT THE FAITHLESS.This resource is designed for beginner developers-people who are just beginning their journey in learning how to code (but of course more experienced developers might find something useful in it too).
If you use ED, you are on THE PATH TO REDEMPTION. If you are an Emacs, you should not be vi. If you are an idiot, you should use Emacs. The standard.Įd is for those who can remember what they are working on. They chose the most karmic editor of all. When IBM, in its ever-present omnipotence, needed to base their "edlin" on a UNIX standard, did they mimic vi? No. Those aren't even WORDS!!!! ED! ED! ED IS THE STANDARD!!! When I use an editor, I don't want eight extra KILOBYTES of worthless help screens and cursor positioning code! I just want an EDitor!! Not a "viitor". Ed is generous enough to flag errors, yet prudent enough not to overwhelm the novice with verbosity.ĮD IS THE TRUE PATH TO NIRVANA! ED HAS BEEN THE CHOICE OF EDUCATED AND IGNORANT ALIKE FOR CENTURIES! ED WILL NOT CORRUPT YOUR PRECIOUS BODILY FLUIDS!! ED IS THE STANDARD TEXT EDITOR! ED MAKES THE SUN SHINE AND THE BIRDS SING AND THE GRASS GREEN!! Note the consistent user interface and error reportage. Let's look at a typical novice's session with the mighty ed: Reduces the user's disk quota by 100K and Generates a syslog message at level LOG_EMERG Emacs has been replaced by a shell script which Of course, on the system I administrate, vi is symlinked to ed. Everyone else loves ed because it's ED!Īnd ed doesn't waste space on my Timex Sinclair. So I use the editor that doesn't waste my VALUABLE time.Ĭomputer Scientists love ed, not just because it comes first alphabetically, but because it's the standard. They print useless messages like, 'C-h for help' and '"foo" File is read only'. When I log into my Xenix system with my 110 baud teletype, both vi and Emacs are just too damn slow.