Microsoft Announces Pre-Installed Simple Text Editor “Edit” in Windows 11

In a significant move for developers and system administrators, Microsoft has officially integrated a new command-line text editor named Edit into its upcoming operating system releases. Recent findings by Windows Latest confirm that this feature is included by default in Windows 11 Build 27965, available through the Canary channel, eliminating the need for manual installation.

Historically, despite being a leading operating system for IT professionals, Windows was missing a native command-line text editor. Competitors such as Linux and macOS offered options like Vim and Nano right out of the box. In contrast, Windows users had primarily relied on third-party applications or the increasingly cumbersome Notepad.

With the introduction of Edit, Microsoft aims to fill this long-standing gap by delivering a streamlined, open-source command-line interface (CLI) editor that enhances the terminal experience.

Understanding Edit

Edit is designed as a lightweight Text User Interface (TUI) editor that operates directly within the command line. It is available as an open-source project on GitHub.

While early versions of Windows, such as Windows 95 and XP, had a method for text editing through the MS-DOS Editor, the transition to 64-bit architecture rendered this functionality obsolete, leaving a noticeable void in Windows command-line capabilities.

This absence has been particularly puzzling given Windows’ prevalence in IT and software development environments. Consequently, many developers resorted to third-party tools like Nano or Vim, commonly included in UNIX-based systems. While Notepad remained available, it’s become a less optimal choice for quick edits, and VS Code is often too complex for straightforward terminal modifications.

Edit text editor in command line on Windows 11

Acknowledging this gap, Microsoft’s engineering team announced Edit earlier this year, highlighting its open-source status and commitment to enhancing developer tools.

How to Use Edit

Using Edit is straightforward: simply type ” edit” in Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell, followed by pressing Enter. To edit a specific file, input ” edit filename.txt” and hit Enter.

Edit can also be found via the Windows Search function for easy access.

Weighing in at less than 250 KB, Edit supports mouse interaction, features visible menus, and includes keyboard shortcuts tailored for developers who may not frequently engage in terminal text editing.

Searching within Edit is user-friendly as well; press Ctrl + F or navigate to Edit > Find to access a search bar complete with options for case sensitivity, whole word searches, and regular expression matching.

For long lines of code, Edit allows for horizontal scrolling, and by pressing Alt + Z or selecting View > Word Wrap, users can enable word wrapping for easier readability.

Additionally, switching between multiple files is facilitated via Ctrl + P.

Does Edit Replace Notepad as a CLI Editor?

No, Edit does not serve as a replacement for Notepad, Notepad++, or any graphic-based editors, as it currently lacks essential features like syntax highlighting. There are workarounds for those requiring such functionality.

GUI-based editors typically offer a wealth of features including syntax highlighting, plugin support, and tabbed interfaces. Microsoft does not position Edit as a competitor to these utilities; rather, it fills the void for a basic CLI editing tool.

For terminal-based editors, options like Nano, Vim, or other editors available in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) are typically not pre-installed on 64-bit Windows, necessitating manual installation or use of Linux environments.

At present, Edit stands out as the simplest and most lightweight command-line text editor universally available across all Windows machines.

While Microsoft has yet to announce a specific release schedule for Edit, earlier documentation confirms its inclusion in future builds of Windows 11.

How to Access Microsoft Edit Today

Currently, Edit is accessible for users within the Windows Insider’s Canary channel via Build 27965. For those outside the Insider program wanting to try it, manual installation is available through GitHub or the Windows package manager, Winget. It’s anticipated that Edit will be integrated into stable releases after successful compatibility testing.

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