What is this?
Vis is a modern, vi(m)-like modal text editor that combines vi's editing style with sam's structural regular expression command language, adding native multiple cursors/selections and Unicode support.
Vis is a modern, vi(m)-like modal text editor that combines vi's editing style with sam's structural regular expression command language, adding native multiple cursors/selections and Unicode support.Is this a terminal editor like vim, or something else?It is a terminal-based (curses) modal text editor, similar in spirit to vim and sam, not a GUI application.
It is a terminal-based (curses) modal text editor, similar in spirit to vim and sam, not a GUI application.How do I build and install it?Make sure the build dependencies are met, then run `./configure && make && sudo make install`, or use a distribution-provided package.
Make sure the build dependencies are met, then run `./configure && make && sudo make install`, or use a distribution-provided package.What do I need installed to build it?You need a C99 compiler and a POSIX.1-2008 environment; curses is recommended, and Lua 5.2+/LPeg 0.12+ are optional for syntax highlighting, with TRE optional for more memory-efficient regex search.
You need a C99 compiler and a POSIX.1-2008 environment; curses is recommended, and Lua 5.2+/LPeg 0.12+ are optional for syntax highlighting, with TRE optional for more memory-efficient regex search.What features will it deliberately never have?The project explicitly rules out tabs/multiple windows, a file browser, archive/network/encryption/compression support, GUIs, VimL, right-to-left text, ex mode, vimgrep, an internal spell checker, and compile-time feature flags.
The project explicitly rules out tabs/multiple windows, a file browser, archive/network/encryption/compression support, GUIs, VimL, right-to-left text, ex mode, vimgrep, an internal spell checker, and compile-time feature flags.Who is this editor for?It's aimed at vi(m)/sam users who want a lightweight, hackable, legacy-free editor core written in clean C, suited for resource-constrained environments.
It's aimed at vi(m)/sam users who want a lightweight, hackable, legacy-free editor core written in clean C, suited for resource-constrained environments.What is a structural regular expression and why does it matter here?It is sam's command language concept, borrowed from Plan 9, for selecting and acting on text via regex-based structure rather than line-based ex commands; Vis uses it instead of vim's ex mode.
It is sam's command language concept, borrowed from Plan 9, for selecting and acting on text via regex-based structure rather than line-based ex commands; Vis uses it instead of vim's ex mode.How does syntax highlighting work?Syntax highlighting is implemented using Parsing Expression Grammars, which are written in Lua via the LPeg library, rather than being hardcoded in C.
Syntax highlighting is implemented using Parsing Expression Grammars, which are written in Lua via the LPeg library, rather than being hardcoded in C.Can I extend Vis with plugins or scripts?Yes, there is a Lua API for in-process extensions, allowing plugin development and customization without modifying the C core.
Yes, there is a Lua API for in-process extensions, allowing plugin development and customization without modifying the C core.Does Vis handle clipboard and fuzzy file opening itself?No, clipboard handling, digraph support, and the fuzzy file open dialog are all delegated to independent external utilities rather than built into the editor.
No, clipboard handling, digraph support, and the fuzzy file open dialog are all delegated to independent external utilities rather than built into the editor.Which topics is it in?modal-editing, openbsd, terminal-based, regex, text-editor, syntax-highlighting, freebsd, lua, vim, unix, editor, bsd
modal-editing, openbsd, terminal-based, regex, text-editor, syntax-highlighting, freebsd, lua, vim, unix, editor, bsd