knowledge/technology/applications/cli/nano.md

obj	website	repo	wiki	rev
application	https://www.nano-editor.org	https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/nano.git	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_nano	2024-01-17

nano

GNU Nano is a versatile and user-friendly text editor that comes pre-installed on many Unix-like operating systems. It is designed to be an easy-to-use, lightweight, and efficient text editor, making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced users. Nano provides essential features for editing text files within the terminal, offering a simple and straightforward interface. A spiritual successor is micro.

Usage

To open a file using Nano, simply type:

nano filename

This will open the specified file in the Nano editor. If the file does not exist, Nano will create a new file with that name.

Key Commands

• Ctrl + O: Write changes to the file (save).
• Ctrl + X: Exit Nano.
• Ctrl + G: Get help for key commands.
• Ctrl + K: Cut the current line.
• Ctrl + U: Paste the cut text.
• Ctrl + W: Search for a specific string in the text.
• Ctrl + C: Display the current cursor position.

Navigation

• Use arrow keys to navigate.
• Ctrl + Arrow Key: Move one word at a time.
• Ctrl + A: Move to the beginning of the line.
• Ctrl + E: Move to the end of the line.

Features

1. Syntax Highlighting: Nano supports syntax highlighting for various programming and markup languages, making it easier to read and edit code.
2. Auto-indentation: Nano can automatically indent code based on the syntax of the file, improving code readability.
3. Search and Replace: Nano provides a simple way to search for specific strings in the text and replace them with another.
4. Multiple Buffers: You can open multiple files in separate buffers and switch between them easily.
5. Mouse Support: In some terminal emulators, Nano supports basic mouse interactions for scrolling and text selection.
6. Configuration File: Users can customize Nano's behavior by creating a .nanorc configuration file in their home directory.