Re: [Devil-Linux-discuss] New DL 1.3 testing build available.

[Dom <dl...@ed...>]

Bruce Smith wrote:
> >> BTW, "vi" is well worth learning for many reasons.  :-)
> > Thanks. As for vi - don't tempt me! I already spend too much time
> > learning about Devil-Linux... I have used vi a bit of course, but for
> > occasional editing of conf files it seems way too unintuitive. The
> > author of the 'Vi Lovers Home Page' says: 'I use Vim because I simply
> > don't know of a better editor, but, admittedly, I haven't seriously
> > tried anything else.' Er, well... :-)
>
>  Notice I said it's worth learning for "many reasons"?
>
>  It's worth learning for reasons other than being able to use the best
>  editor available, and the fact that vi is available on just about
>  every Unix based system out there (where nano/pico is NOT).
>
>  But the main reason is to improve your general Unix/Linux command line
>  usage.  A long time ago, when I _forced_ myself to learn vi (by using
>  a text based email program and forcing myself to only use VI for
>  composing email), I was amazed after the fact how many other programs
>  use the basic vi keys.
>
>  For example, 'less' and 'more' use the vi keys for scrolling through
>  and searching text files.  There are SO many programs that use the vi
>  keyset!  Bash and many other shells have a "vi mode" for
>  browsing/editing command history, which is much faster and more
>  powerful than using the arrow keys to edit command history.  Hell,
>  many of the gmail web based interface shortcut keys are based on vi!!!
>  (ever wonder why 'j' and 'k' take you to the next/previous message?
>  :)
>
>  And when I say learn vi, I mean learn to use it properly!  Keep your
>  fingers on the home keys of the keyboard.  Do NOT use the special
>  keys, i.e. do NOT use the arrow-keys/PgUP/PgDN/etc. for moving around!
>  Instead, move your cursor properly with the h/j/k/l keys instead of
>  the arrows.  Not only is it much faster and more efficient to leave
>  your fingers on the home keys while typing, but those are the keys
>  that are used by so many other programs, like less/more, gmail,
>  google-reader, etc.
>
>  Learning vi will save time in the long run for anyone who spends time
>  at the *nix shell prompt.

OK you convinced me. So I downloaded gvim (for Windows) and added the
External Editor extension for Thunderbird and am now writing this
with VIM. And trying to keep my hands off the extended keys :-)

Dom