Vi is a screen-oriented text editor originally created for the Unix operating system. It remains one of the most widely used text editors on Unix-like systems, including Linux. Vi is known for its efficiency and powerful command set, making it a favorite among system administrators and developers.
To start Vi, simply type vi followed by the name of the file you want to edit:
vi filename
Vi operates in several modes, the most important being:
i: Switch to insert mode.Esc: Return to normal mode.:w: Save the file.:q: Quit Vi.:wq: Save and quit.:q!: Quit without saving.dd: Delete a line.yy: Yank (copy) a line.p: Paste the yanked or deleted text./pattern: Search for a pattern.n: Repeat the last search in the same direction.N: Repeat the last search in the opposite direction.u: Undo the last change.Ctrl-r: Redo the undone change.Vi can be customized through the .vimrc file (for Vim, a more advanced version of Vi). Here are some common customizations:
set number
syntax on
set tabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4
set expandtab
Vi provides powerful search and replace functionality:
/pattern
:%s/old/new/g
You can record and play back macros to automate repetitive tasks:
q<register>
q
@<register>
vimtutor in the terminal..vimrc file to set preferences and shortcuts.Vi is an essential tool for any Linux server administrator, offering powerful features and efficiency for text editing tasks.