Linux - SoftwareThis forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
Less is very much a clone of more, with a few subtle differences. 'less' will allow you to scroll backwards through a file, in case you overshoot. Also, according to the 'man' page on less,
"Also, less does not have to read the entire input file before starting, so with large input files it starts up faster than text editors like vi."
I'd have to go with 'less', even though the differences are subtle.
I like to pipe output of such commands as "ps aux" through less, so that I can scroll back and forth through ALL the output, while I try to figure things out. I also use less instead of cat so that I can scroll around to my heart's content. That's why I prefer less to more, and also to cat. I would feel more lost than I already do, without less...
The advantage less offers is that it is more newbie friendly, and also it has the option of moving back one line at a time. So, I use less more than more.
Once, long ago, I accidentally hit the "v" key while viewing a file in less. It opened the file in vim! Then when you exit vim, you're back in the less view of the edited file.
Originally posted by camelrider Once, long ago, I accidentally hit the "v" key while viewing a file in less. It opened the file in vim! Then when you exit vim, you're back in the less view of the edited file.
Thanks for the warning! The times I've ended up in vim, either by accident or out of an insane desire to experiment, I've ended up cancelling my X session and starting a new one to get out of it. I know I'm a wimp and everybody's supposed to learn how to use vim, but I never learned to swim, either.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.