From: danny@cs.su.oz.au (Danny Yee)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.reviews,rec.arts.books,misc.books.technical,alt.books.technical,biz.books.technical,comp.editors
Subject: Book Review - Learning the vi Editor
Followup-To: misc.books.technical
Date: 22 Nov 1994 19:20:50 MET
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Sciece, Uni of Sydney,
Distribution: inet
Originator: brock@ucsub.Colorado.EDU
title: Learning the vi Editor
by: Linda Lamb
publisher: O'Reilly & Associates 1990
subjects: computing
other: 173 pages, index, quick reference guide, fifth edition
summary: :%s/^/> /
I wish I had had a copy of _Learning the vi Editor_ seven years ago
when I first encountered vi. Unfortunately for me I learned how to
use it by trial and error and by osmosis from other users, and as a
result have been using it in seriously non-optimal fashion ever since!
So _Learning the vi Editor_ may well be useful for experienced
users of vi who haven't ever read much about it. It is aimed at
beginners, however, and will be even more useful if read before
bad habits set in. It's clearly and sensibly laid out, with the
essentials at the beginning and the advanced stuff at the end, and,
while providing plentiful examples, manages to explain everything
reasonably succinctly.
While I personally wouldn't wish learning how to use vi on anyone,
there are still many occasions where one is faced with a text-only
interface, and vi (or a clone) is the editor available on the widest
range of systems. I really can't argue the merits of alternative
editors, but if you do decide on learning vi then I strongly suggest
arming yourself with a copy of _Learning the vi Editor_ before
tackling the task.
--
Disclaimer: I requested and received a review copy of _Learning the
vi Editor_ from O'Reily & Associates but I have no stake, financial
or otherwise, in its success.
--
%T Learrning the vi Editor
%A Linda Lamb
%I O'Reilly & Associates
%C Sebastapol, California
%D 1990
%O paperback, index, quick reference guide, fifth edition
%G ISBN 0-937175-67-6
%P xvi,173pp
%K computing
Danny Yee (danny@cs.su.oz.au)
19 November 1994
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