A new major release of open source text editor GNU nano is here. GNU nano 3.0 reads files 70% faster and brings several other features.
GNU nano is one of the most popular terminal based text editors. Those who keep forgetting how to exit Vim, seek refuge with GNU nano. It’s a godsend for beginners who have to deal with editing in the command line while the experienced nano fans just swear by it.
GNU nano 3.0 has just been released. Let’s see what new features it brings.
New features in GNU nano 3.0
Some of the main new features in GNU nano 3.0 are:
- Reads files 70% faster
Speed of handling ASCII text has been almost doubled- New shortcuts: Ctrl+Delete erases the next word and Ctrl+Shift+Delete erases the preceding word
- Many other keybinding changes
- Shows the correct number of lines on the status bar when opening multiple files
- Ignores any presses of before a valid command keystroke
- Recognizes more escape sequences
- Avoids a possible hang during a Full-Justify
You can read the release note for GNU nano 3.0 here.
Getting GNU nano 3.0
Nano is the default text editor on Ubuntu. It comes preinstalled with many other distributions. You can find it in the main repository of almost all Linux distributions.
But when it comes to installing nano 3.0, you should wait for your distribution to provide this update. It will take some time before you’ll see this in your system updates. Arch users should be getting it before everyone else, as always.
If you are one of the few who likes installing software from its source code, you can get it from its download page.
Excited about GNU nano 3.0?
If you are new to it, I highly recommend reading our beginner’s guide to Nano editor.
Are you one of the Nano fans? Are you excited for this new release? Why do you use Nano over the likes of Vim? Share your views with us in the comment section below.
“Arch users should be getting it before everyone else, as always.”
As a Gentoo user, I don’t agree. For instance, *right now* nano is at v3.0-2 in Arch (https://www.archlinux.org/packages/core/x86_64/nano/) whilst it is at v3.1 in Gentoo (https://packages.gentoo.org/packages/app-editors/nano).
Is this one of the “BTW, I use Arch because I couldn’t use Gentoo” stuff? :P :P
Of course, you can install nano 3 in Ubuntu 18.04 right now, although this is not recommended. Download nano_3.0-2_amd64.deb from Debian and install it. To satisfy the dependencies you must install first libtinfo6_6.1+20180714-1_amd64.deb and libncurses6_6.1+20180714-1_amd64.deb (in this order). Alternatively, use the Ubuntu cosmic (forthcoming version) repository (see https://packages.ubuntu.com/cosmic/arm64/libtinfo6/download).
I wouldn’t recommend going to that hassle :)
I stopped using VIM when I realized that Nano is already preinstalled.
Another reason for me not using VIM is that I was not sure whether it’s license is copyleft (GPL licensed Nano is).
After trying out Nano I realized that it is probable the most user friendly
terminal-based editor available, and for that reason I will stay with Nano.