Building my own Vi text editor in BASIC
a day ago
- #text-editor
- #BASIC-programming
- #DIY-software
- The author developed a new text editor called yvi as a personal learning project to create a tool that fits their mindset, reflecting their background in art and informal computer science training.
- yvi was inspired by minimal TUI clients like Offpunk and built using Yabasic, an older but maintained BASIC dialect, chosen for its simplicity and good documentation.
- Initial features included basic Vi-like navigation (h/j/k/l), insert/normal mode switching, file opening/saving, and a status bar showing line and character positions.
- The editor evolved to include word navigation, line manipulation (dd, S, c), search functionality, undo capability, and numeric command combinations, growing to around 500 lines.
- Although yvi has bugs and is not recommended for critical tasks, it serves the author's needs for coding and writing, representing what they believe is the only Vi clone in BASIC.