Linux Vim Editor
Linux Vim Editor
Vim is popular among developers, system administrators, and Linux enthusiasts because it is lightweight, fast, and available on almost every Linux system.
The Vim editor is one of the most powerful and widely used text editors in the Linux environment. It is an improved version of the older vi editor and provides advanced features such as syntax highlighting, multiple modes, search and replace, macros, and plugin support.
Steps to Access Vim Editor on Ubuntu
- Open the terminal in Ubuntu.
- Check if Vim is already installed by typing:
vim --version - If it is not installed, install it using:
$
sudo apt update $ sudo apt install vim
- To open a file in Vim, type:
$ vim filenameIf the file does not exist, Vim will create a new file with that name.
Differences between vi and vim
Some of the main differences between vi and vim are as follows:
| Vi | Vim |
|---|---|
| Basic text editor available on all Unix systems. | Extended version of vi with additional features. |
| No syntax highlighting. | Supports syntax highlighting for programming languages. |
| Limited undo functionality (single level). | Multiple levels of undo and redo. |
| No plugin support. | Supports plugins and customization. |
| Lightweight but with fewer features. | More feature-rich while still lightweight. |
Vim Commands
The most important vim commands are as follows:
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
i |
Switch to Insert mode to start editing. |
Esc |
Return to Normal mode. |
:w |
Save the file. |
:q |
Quit Vim. |
:wq |
Save and quit Vim. |
dd |
Delete the current line. |
yy |
Copy (yank) the current line. |
p |
Paste the copied or deleted text. |
/word |
Search for the word in the file. |
u |
Undo the last action. |
Ctrl + r |
Redo the undone action. |
