Audience

Developers in need of a solution to optimize their text editing, undo/redo, syntax coloring, and interactive search processes

About nano

GNU nano was designed to be a free replacement for the Pico text editor, part of the Pine email suite from The University of Washington. It aimed to "emulate Pico as closely as is reasonable and then include extra functionality". The Debian GNU/Linux distribution, known for its strict standards in distributing truly "free" software (i.e. software with no restrictions on redistribution), would not include a binary package for Pine or Pico. Many people had a serious dilemma: they loved these programs, but the versions available at the time were not truly free software in the GNU sense of the word. GNU nano is a small and friendly text editor. Besides basic text editing, nano offers features like undo/redo, syntax coloring, interactive search-and-replace, auto-indentation, line numbers, word completion, file locking, backup files, and internationalization support. Starting with version 4.0, nano no longer hard-wraps an overlong line by default.

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Integrations

See Integrations

Ratings/Reviews - 1 User Review

Overall 5.0 / 5
ease 5.0 / 5
features 5.0 / 5
design 5.0 / 5
support 5.0 / 5
More Reviews Write a Review

Company Information

nano
Founded: 1999
www.nano-editor.org

Videos and Screen Captures

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Product Details

Platforms Supported
Linux
Training
Documentation
Support
Online

nano Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What kinds of users and organization types does nano work with?
Q: What languages does nano support in their product?
Q: What kind of support options does nano offer?
Q: What other applications or services does nano integrate with?
Q: What type of training does nano provide?

nano Product Features

Code Editors

Keyboard Shortcuts Not Supported
Customizable Themes Not Supported
Multi-Monitor Editing Not Supported
Syntax Highlighting Not Supported
API Not Supported
Code Folding Not Supported
Column Editing Not Supported
Formatting / Table Editing Not Supported
Auto-Complete Not Supported
Debugging Not Supported
WYSIWYG Not Supported

Text Editors

Syntax Highlighting Not Supported
Formatting / Table Editing Not Supported
Code Folding Not Supported
WYSIWYG Not Supported
Column Editing Not Supported
Multi-Monitor Editing Not Supported
Auto-Complete Not Supported
Keyboard Shortcuts Not Supported
Debugging Not Supported
API Not Supported
Customizable Themes Not Supported

nano Verified User Reviews

Write a Review
  • A nano User
    Student
    Used the software for: Less than 6 months
    Frequency of Use: Daily
    User Role: User
    Company Size: 1,000 - 4,999
    Design
    Ease
    Features
    Pricing
    Support
    Probability You Would Recommend?
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

    "GNU nano is cool"

    Posted 2026-05-22

    Pros: It's a very simplistic product, and absolutely amazing for editing text or markdown files. It works well for writing.

    Cons: GNU nano refuses to automatically enable line wrapping.

    Overall: nano is a great tool in my opinion, being great for all kinds of editing for text and code files.

    Read More...
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