What is the difference between Linux text editors

Reminders about some confrontations concerning Linux, cause in the memory many years of competition of different types of software. Of course, classic KDE is still opposed to each other against GNOME, Firefox and the newest Chrome, but these fights are paler compared to the rivalry between VI and Emacs. Who of them can be the winner?

Disputes about which Linux text editor is better, have been foreheaded by more than one thousand users. Both representatives are powerful, modern and strong competitors. In the end, no one won in this dispute. In fact, this counteraction, for the most part, subsided in favor of more advanced and advanced solutions for Linux. But this does not mean that disagreements have disappeared. In fact, each opponent can still be found on the battlefield - along with new offers. And the winners were users who installed much improved text editors Linux.

If you do not follow reckless fashion trends, it is fairly easy to find an editor that will fit your needs as best as possible. But before moving on to discussing the tools themselves, you first need to understand what text editors are and why they are needed.

In the configuration of many Linux applications, text files are processed. Some examples of such files look like this: samba.conf, apache2.conf, resolve.conf, and so on.

These components are often referred to as "text files". This means that they do not have any formatting, but they are a simple text and not more. Someone may assume that a standard word processor (for example, OpenOffice.org) can also be used to edit these files, but this should be avoided, which is understandable.

Generally speaking, word processors are designed to add additional formatting to the text. The configuration file for reading is located in the application. If it is not read by the application, it will not work. Even more difficult to understand is that additional formatting can occur unnoticed by the user. That way, you will not even know that you have changed anything in the file. To avoid this, text editors are always used for files of this configuration.

Console text editor Linux vs GUI

What is the difference between console and image editors? Console (for example, Nano and VI) do not have a graphical component. These text editors can be used even from the console, which makes them irreplaceable for some versions of Linux. Without the additional downloads required by the GUI, console editors are extremely easy to use, making them ideal candidates for users who require speed and almost instantaneous response.

Text editors of the GUI, on the other hand (for example, Gedit), have one component that adds functions that make desktop oriented users visually attractive. However, for their use, a graphical desktop should be installed. The advantages of GUI-editors are the ease of use. These tools work very much like standard word processors, so any user will be comfortable working with these tools. However, the additional "weight" of the GUI makes remote use more complex than the use of console editors. Of course, it's up to you to decide which Linux text editor will be better for you.