Beyond Linux® From Scratch (System V Edition) - Version 12.1

Chapter 6. Text Editors

Nano-7.2

Introduction to Nano

The Nano package contains a small, simple text editor which aims to replace Pico, the default editor in the Pine package.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS 12.1 platform.

Package Information

Installation of Nano

Install Nano by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr     \
            --sysconfdir=/etc \
            --enable-utf8     \
            --docdir=/usr/share/doc/nano-7.2 &&
make

This package does not come with a test suite.

Now, as the root user: 

make install &&
install -v -m644 doc/{nano.html,sample.nanorc} /usr/share/doc/nano-7.2

Command Explanations

--enable-utf8: This switch enables unicode support in Nano.

Configuring nano

Config Files

/etc/nanorc and ~/.nanorc

Configuration Information

Example configuration (create as a system-wide /etc/nanorc or a personal ~/.nanorc file) 

set autoindent
set constantshow
set fill 72
set historylog
set multibuffer
set nohelp
set positionlog
set quickblank
set regexp

Check the sample.nanorc file in the installed documentation directory. It includes color configurations and has some documentation included in the comments.

Syntax highlighting is provided for several file types, in /usr/share/nano/ directory. E.g., for shell scripts, you can insert include /usr/share/nano/sh.nanorc in the personal or global configuration file. If you wish highlighting for all supported files, use include /usr/share/nano/*.nanorc. This include does not descend into the extra directory. Move required files one level up.

Contents

Installed Programs: nano and rnano (symlink)
Installed Libraries: None
Installed Directories: /usr/share/nano and /usr/share/doc/nano-7.2

Short Descriptions

nano

is a small, simple text editor which aims to replace Pico, the default editor in the Pine package

rnano

is a restricted mode for nano