Post by @netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org

2026-10-28 10:53 UTC

To ease the transition for new users, #NetBSD -current now includes an alternative editor to vi(1) and xedit(1) in its base system, atto(1). https://man.netbsd.org/atto.1 It is a modeless screen-based editor similar to nano, pico, xedit, or emacs. It is only 48 kilobytes, making it suitable for inclusion in the rescue system. (This is real, but I'm honestly missing an opportunity by not posting it on 1 April. Let the editor wars commence!)

Replies (13)

@ParadeGrotesque@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-10-28 10:59

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org From the man page: STANDARDS atto is not the standard editor. Well played, #NetBSD well played... 😂

Open ##5286286
@drj@typo.social 2026-10-28 11:11

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org *angry goose meme* what is the _standard_ editor? What's the standard editor, NetBSD?

Open ##5286485
@chadmccullough@mastodon.bsd.cafe 2026-10-28 11:23

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org 💯

Open ##5286839
@raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie 2026-10-28 12:32

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org nano & emacs are nothing like each other. Still, sounds like a good idea.

Open ##5288089
@echopapa@social.tchncs.de 2026-10-28 12:49

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org waiting for femto...

Open ##5288376
@numodular@c.im 2026-10-28 14:13

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org My sincerest apologies for bringing in BSD to our one in one hundred, mass extinction events.

Open ##5289815
@argv_minus_one@mastodon.sdf.org 2026-10-28 14:18

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org The existence of an extremely minimal #editor named atto implies the existence of an extremely maximal editor named micro that has absolutely every feature ever. #shitpost

Open ##5289961
@jadedarko@hachyderm.io 2026-10-28 13:12

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org alternative to vi? the editor that everyone knows and loves? for what purpose :D

Open ##5290161
@jaypatelani@bsd.network 2026-10-28 12:32

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org you guys should have renamed to atto-san 😅 I read it as attosan

Open ##5290381
@passthejoe@ruby.social 2026-10-28 15:54

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org This is great for people who have some familiarity with Emacs keybindings, or who want to gain that knowledge. It reminds me of mg in #OpenBSD in that regard. For new users, I think the micro editor is the way to go. It uses the keybindings that most GUI programs use, so there's very little learning curve.

Open ##5291269
@megatog615@mastodon.social 2026-10-28 20:43

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org Will it come included on the install media?

Open ##5294613
@raster@retro-gaiden.com 2026-10-28 21:54

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org The extra donations are begin to give some benefits? ;)

Open ##5296025
@anthk@neopaquita.es 2026-10-28 23:45

@netbsd@mastodon.sdf.org on xedit itself, it supports a small subset of Common Lisp. If anyone updated it with XFT and UTF8 support it would be one of the fastest editors out there for quick edits.

Open ##5298110