What is easiest text editor (shell-based) ?

drokmed · 11-15-2006, 01:00 PM

Hi all,

I need to give one of my users ssh access to my linux box, so he can edit a text file. What is a super easy shell editor he can use?

vi is definitely beyond him, and pico would probably be too hard to grasp as well.

I need something simple. He's used to the DOS/win world, so something like the DOS EDIT program would do nicely.

btw He also has webmin access, and I'd like to use the built-in webmin editor, if I could figure out how to add a button in others that would use it.

Thanks for reading!

Daryl

pljvaldez · 11-15-2006, 01:11 PM

Probably mcedit (ships with midnight commander), pico, or nano.

rshaw · 11-15-2006, 01:13 PM

you want to give someone who can't drive pico ssh access? anyway, maybe nano, or mc .

good luck

drokmed · 11-15-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rshaw

you want to give someone who can't drive pico ssh access? anyway, maybe nano, or mc .

good luck

I knew somebody would smack me

Yeah, well, the boss man wants access, I give a little...

nano looks the same as pico (to me). I guess that one wins.

btw I figured out how to add a webmin button to edit a file using it's built-in editor. I think I'll go that route instead of pico...

Thanks!

reddazz · 11-15-2006, 01:26 PM

Nano is just the GNU version of PICO. Its one of those that I would recommend to someone getting started with Linux.

PTrenholme · 11-15-2006, 01:30 PM

Did you look at mc? In addition to the editor, it has a nice terminal-based interface that can get your user (um, boss?) up and running quite fast.

It's really quite handy when you have to boot into level 3 for some reason, so you might want to have it installed for yourself, too.

<edit>
Of course, being an old Multics user, I mostly use emacs, but that's not what I'd call an easy editor. Quite powerful, though, once you learn how to use it.
</edit>

daihard · 11-15-2006, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddazz

Nano is just the GNU version of PICO. Its one of those that I would recommend to someone getting started with Linux.

I agree with reddazz and others who recommend pico. I used it on Ultrix while in college. It was fairly intuitive and easy to use.

drokmed · 11-15-2006, 01:49 PM

Just tried mcedit, it does seem even simpler than nano/pico... that'll work.

I'm used to using vi myself... it's always there.