On Tue, 9 Jun 1998, Jim wrote: > What is it people see in vi in terms of _using_ it? My opinion FWIW is that > vi's presentation rivals that of dselect in general, with vi inching dselect > out for not forcing one to follow a set path without saying what that set > path should be. So, why do the vi users like _using_ vi? (Someone already > said "it's standard"... can I get real reasons now? :) > > -Jim
We all agree that this isn't release critical, and we all agree that elvis-tiny is not going anywhere right now. I will now, however, try to justify vi's continued existence: Vi is a standard. Everyone who considers themselves a 'systems administrator' should learn how to use vi. This is because even on very old systems, you will find vi on the base system. At a client's place with a broken SunOS 4 box? Need to fix the /usr partition and password file. Chances are are you'll have to use vi. Similarly, BSD, SCO, etc, etc... Then, by the same token, every debian system should have a vi-compatible editor so that you know if you go around to a client's place with a broken machine, down to the root partition and you have to save the database, that vi is around. Now, I don't actually like 'vi'. Personally, I almost invariably use emacs for my unix-side editing. But I do know how to use vi, well enough to fix broken hosts and passwd files.. So on any future base system there should exist a '/bin/vi' (possibly a symlink) which invokes some binary (I don't mind which) in some kind of mode which emulates vi. Jules /----------------+-------------------------------+---------------------\ | Jelibean aka | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | 6 Evelyn Rd | | Jules aka | | Richmond, Surrey | | Julian Bean | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | TW9 2TF *UK* | +----------------+-------------------------------+---------------------+ | War doesn't demonstrate who's right... just who's left. | | When privacy is outlawed... only the outlaws have privacy. | \----------------------------------------------------------------------/ -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
