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Mino is a GNU software, part of the GnuDOS package.
Mino is a text file editor for use with the GNU/Linux console/xterm. The idea
was to provide a text editor that is user friendly and easy to use for those
who came from DOS land. Having accustomed to SHIFT selecting text, using
CTRL-shortcut keys and so on makes it hard for a regular Joe to dive in head
first into GNU syntax. Mino provides multi-level experience, the level of
complexity can be adjusted by the user: you want to use DOS-keys with a few
basic GNU ones? you want to go with the full power of the GNU system? All are
options that are provided by the six levels of experience of mino:
You start with level 1 by default.
To set your level of experience, call mino with '--level X' or
'-l X' options, Where X is the level desired, for example:
$ mino --level 2
Below is a table showing the DOS-like key combinations along with their respective GNU key bindings. To the right is the level at which a certain GNU key is defined. Each key defined is recognized in higher levels (e.g. level 2 keys are recognized in levels 3-4-5-6). Note that in level 6 only GNU keys are defined, no DOS keys will work at this level!.
Keybindings:
In the table below, C-something means pressing down CTRL and then pressing the
other key. Note that ’^’ is the same as ’C’, meaning CTRL-key, it is just
typed like this so DOS users can feel familiar with the text.
The same as M-something, which means META or ALT.
| Function | DOS-like key | GNU key | GnuDOS Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| All DOS bindings and no GNU bindings | Newbie | ||
| Next Line | Down | C-n | Novice |
| Prev. Line | Up | C-p | Novice |
| Backward | Left | C-b | Novice |
| Forward | Right | C-f | Novice |
| Back One Word | ^Left | M-b | Novice |
| Fwd One Word | ^Right | M-f | Novice |
| Cancel | ESC | C-g | Intermediate |
| Next Screen | PgDn | C-v | Intermediate |
| Prev. Screen | PgUp | M-v | Intermediate |
| Start of Line | Home | C-a | Intermediate |
| End of Line | End | C-e | Intermediate |
| Start of text | ^Home | C-< | Intermediate |
| End of text | ^End | C-> | Intermediate |
| Del prev char | BkSpc | DEL (is BkSpc) | Advanced |
| Del next char | Delete | C-d | Advanced |
| Del prev word | ^BkSpc | M-DEL (is M-BkSpc) | Advanced |
| Del next word | ^Delete | M-d | Advanced |
| Select text | SHIFT+Arrow | C-Space | Advanced |
| Cut (kill) | BkSpc/Del | C-w | Advanced |
| Quit | ^Q | C-x C-c | Expert |
| Paste (yanking) | ^V | C-y | Expert |
| Del Line | ^D | C-k | Expert |
| Undo | ^Z | C-/, C-_, C-x u | Expert |
| Open File | ^O | C-x C-f | Expert |
| Save File | ^S | C-x C-s | Expert |
| Find (Search) | ^F | C-s (forward search) | Expert |
| C-r (reverse search) | Expert | ||
| Help | F1 | C-h ? | Expert |
| All GNU bindings and no DOS bindings | Veteran |
If you are new to GNU system and find it hard to dive in head-first into the GNU keys and shortcuts for GNU programs (like emacs), this is the place to start. Use your well-known DOS-like shortcuts, in the same time learn how to use the GNU shortcuts.
After installing the package, simply type:
$ mino
on your console (or xterm) and it will run. If you want to load a file into mino on startup:
$ mino file-name
To reset the configuration file:
$ mino --reset-config
To show command line help:
$ mino [--help|-h]
Mino stores its configuration in a file called ’.mino.conf’ under your home directory. You can edit it by hand (or using mino!), but this is not advisable. Use the Options menu under mino to change your preferences and mino will save them into the config file in the proper way.
Currently mino recognizes the following file types (by their extension):
Whenever you open a file of one of these types, mino will automatically adjust the colors of the view so that the language keywords, library functions, and operators (like +-*/ and so on) are highlighted, each in a different color, on a black background, to ease writing your programs.
There is one catch: when running under the X system, the program will not be
able to capture all input from the keyboard, as X interferes with the keyboard
input. Don’t panic, this is not much of a deal. Plus, there is a workaround.
The only thing you will be missing is the SHIFT-select. That means you will not
be able to hold down shift and use arrow keys to select text. The solution is
using CTRL+E under X, which activates the select mode. Enter select mode, use
arrow keys to size your selection, do whatever you want with it, and exit the
select mode. You want a permanent solution? Run mino under the Linux console!.
And that’s it for intro!
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