Product DescriptionA complete guide to text editing with vi, the editor available on nearly every UNIX system. Early chapters cover the basics; later chapters explain more advanced editing tools, such as ex commands and global search and replacement.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Still reads like a first edition
Although this is the 6th edition of this book, while I was reading it, I still felt like I was reading the first edition, due to the clunky prose and the treatment of the material.
I know the authors feel compelled to write a book that describes the features of vi that are common on all platforms, but they end up producing a manual that appeals to the lowest common denominator. If you are still editing files on an old Unix machine using minicom and a dial-up link, this book is just ... Read More
Rating: - A must buy if you want to master vi
I have been using vi/vim for about six years, but had never gotten to the next level. This was mainly because I had kept my usage limited to a small subset of vi (which is even smaller for vim). And it's not just me - I have seen many people who use vi this way. The other reason is the fact that vi has a steep learning curve. And even when you learn something new, you have to use it often, as otherwise there is a good chance that you will forget it. I knew how powerful vi can be as a text editor, ... Read More
Rating: - A great book about a great text editor
This book is a fine exposition of the vi editor with a perfect balance between density of information and friendliness of explanation.
The material is divided in two parts:
* Presentation of the vi proper.
* Presentation of the vi clones.
The value of the book resides in the first part (7 chapters). It explains vi so well that it is hard not to understand and like this well-designed editor.
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Rating: - The best book for properly learning the vi editor
If your operating system is down, you don't have access to the "fancier" editors available that actually have interfaces that make sense to normal people. At this moment, particularly if you are in a system administrator position, you must know vi in order to access and modify files. It is so easy to pick up vi the wrong way - usually by word of mouth from someone who has learned vi the wrong way too. This book is the best I've found that is dedicated to properly teaching you the features of the vi editor ... Read More
Rating: - Beginner to Advanced, Comprehensive Guide to Reference
This book is well written and laid out. Whether or not you are a beginner or advanced user coming to vi, this is a valuable tool for getting the most out of vi.
vi is by no means an easy or intuitive editor, but with a little practice, it can greatly improve your efficiency. The book does a great job of taking you through a logical progression of how to start using the product.
Also, the support for the derivatives of vi is a huge plus. The vim chapter is excellent and I learned ... Read More
- Still reads like a first edition
- A must buy if you want to master vi
