FOSSPicks
Modal text editor
Helix
Keeping with text editors, but moving away from the Java GUI of KeenWrite (above) to the command line, Helix is a self-described "post-modern text editor" for programmers. Post-modern in this sense seems to mean doing something different from the long-accepted ways of editing, and that difference is working on multiple selections at once – a process also known as modal text editing. We've seen this before in an editor called Kakoune. Helix is similar, but its implementation of the same idea feels more endemic to the application. Multiple selections are made by first selecting everything using the % key, then using the s key to enter a regular expression and pressing Enter to fix the results. You can then perform an action on that multiple/modal selection, such as pressing d to delete whatever is selected or even move the now multiple result cursors with h, j, k, and l.
This sounds intimidating, but the editor isn't hard to use. Being on the command line, it does assume you're familiar with other command-line editors, such as Vim, and even mimics some of Vim's keyboard shortcuts. Unlike Vim (and like Kakoune), however, many of the commands are reversed to reflect the selection bias. Instead of dw
to delete a word, for example, you press w to highlight the word and d to delete it. This feels more intuitive than Vim, especially when you start to understand the multiple selection potential. Helix lists all the commands available within a lower panel, complete with help text; you can select these commands using the cursor keys, so you don't need to remember the shortcuts manually. Similarly, the documentation lists all the possible commands on a single page, so it's worth keeping this open as you learn the basics. Editing in this way quickly becomes intuitive, and you can always undo a mistake. On top of this, syntax highlighting looks fantastic, and there's context-aware code completion. It's also very light on system resources, performant, and runs perfectly in a remote shell. Give it a try!
Project Website
Music distro
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 41 Released with New Features
If you're a Fedora fan or just looking for a Linux distribution to help you migrate from Windows, Fedora 41 might be just the ticket.
-
AlmaLinux OS Kitten 10 Gives Power Users a Sneak Preview
If you're looking to kick the tires of AlmaLinux's upstream version, the developers have a purrfect solution.
-
Gnome 47.1 Released with a Few Fixes
The latest release of the Gnome desktop is all about fixing a few nagging issues and not about bringing new features into the mix.
-
System76 Unveils an Ampere-Powered Thelio Desktop
If you're looking for a new desktop system for developing autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle solutions. System76 has you covered.
-
VirtualBox 7.1.4 Includes Initial Support for Linux kernel 6.12
The latest version of VirtualBox has arrived and it not only adds initial support for kernel 6.12 but another feature that will make using the virtual machine tool much easier.
-
New Slimbook EVO with Raw AMD Ryzen Power
If you're looking for serious power in a 14" ultrabook that is powered by Linux, Slimbook has just the thing for you.
-
The Gnome Foundation Struggling to Stay Afloat
The foundation behind the Gnome desktop environment is having to go through some serious belt-tightening due to continued financial problems.
-
Thousands of Linux Servers Infected with Stealth Malware Since 2021
Perfctl is capable of remaining undetected, which makes it dangerous and hard to mitigate.
-
Halcyon Creates Anti-Ransomware Protection for Linux
As more Linux systems are targeted by ransomware, Halcyon is stepping up its protection.
-
Valve and Arch Linux Announce Collaboration
Valve and Arch have come together for two projects that will have a serious impact on the Linux distribution.