Linux Fundamentals - Part 3: Editing Files using Vim

This part of my Linux journey focuses on editing files using Vim, one of the most widely used terminal editors in Linux. As a beginner, learning Vim is essential because many configuration files and scripts are edited directly in the terminal, especially when working as a SysAdmin or aspiring Site Reliability Engineer.

Vim (Vi Improved) is a terminal-based text editor available on almost all Linux systems.
It is commonly used by system administrators to edit configuration files, scripts, and system settings.

Opening a File with Vim

vim filename.txt
Example:

vim mynotes.text

Vim has 3 main modes;

Normal Mode

• The default mode when vim opens.
• Used for navigation and commands.
• You cannot type text in this mode.

Insert Mode

• Used to write and edit text.
• Press i to enter insert mode.

Command Mode

• Used to save, quit and run commands.
• Press Esc then type : to enter command mode.

Writing text in Vim

vim filename.txt - To create a file or open if there's an existing file.
Press i to insert mode or to edit your file.

Saving and Exiting Vim

After editing, Press Esc to enter to Normal Mode.
Then;
:wq or Shift + ZZ - to Save and exit.
:w - to Save without exiting.
:q! - to Exit without saving.
:q - to Exit (only if no changes happen, or else vim will show an error.

Basic Navigation in Vim

h - left
j - down
k - up
l - right

Deleting Text

In Normal Mode

x - Used delete one character.
dd - Used delete one line.
d$ - Used delete to the end of the line.
dw - Used delete word.
u - Used to undo last action.

Vim Apprentice user Level

p - Paste Command
After deleting with dd, you can paste it wiht p to the line that you lke to paste it.

r - To replace a letter.
Press r followed by the letter or you want to replace.

ce - To replace a single word.

c$ - To replace the entire line.

In this part of my Linux journey, I learned:

• What Vim is and why it’s important
• The three Vim modes (Normal, Insert, Command)
• How to write, save, and exit files
• Basic navigation and text deletion

To Be Continued…

Tomorrow, I will continue my Vim learning journey to cover:

• Vim Experienced User Level
• Vim Veteran User Level
• Vim Expert User Level

This will include more advanced editing, searching, and productivity features that every Linux power user should know.