Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!uwvax!umn-d-ub!rhealey From: rhealey@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU (Rob Healey) Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions Subject: Re: vi vs emacs in a student environment Summary: think STUDENTS Message-ID: <370@umn-d-ub.D.UMN.EDU> Date: 5 Jul 88 02:29:04 GMT References: <399@cantuar.UUCP> <11418@steinmetz.ge.com> <6056@megaron.arizona.edu> <1832@stpstn.UUCP> <449@jonlab.UUCP> Reply-To: rhealey@ub.d.umn.edu.UUCP (Rob Healey) Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth Lines: 26 If you take a close look at the original poster's message it seems to me that their asking for an editor that STUDENTS can use; not programmers, not system admins, STUDENTS. I've worked with STUDENTS in computer labs for 4 years. We use vi exclusively, why?, arrow keys, i, a, x, dd, O, o, :wq The keystrokes listed above are ALL that 90% of the STUDENTS need. Most humans with a reasonable IQ can handle the above with 30 minutes or less practice. I'd hate to have to explain the concept of a meta key to an incomming freshman. STUDENTS don't need multiple windows or fancy features, just a fast way of creating text. Except for :wq and O all the above commands require the student to hit ONE key; no control, no shift, no meta, no multikey combination. When the students gain experience they can research new editors if they wish. For the non majors who have to take CS as a junk credit or to kill off lib eds the vi commands above serve just fine. Just thought I'd put things in a slightly different perspective. -Rob -- -Rob