Re: [orca-list] Vim, is it usable for us?

[Rich Morin <rdm cfcl com>]

> On Sep 3, 2020, at 22:06, David via orca-list <orca-list gnome org> wrote:
>
> Also, in the old days, vi is installed by default on any and all *IX
> distributions, even on the most minimal installation.

The version of Unix that was initially shipped to universities (including UC Berkeley)
didn't have a screen-based editor.  Instead, it had "ed(1)", a line-oriented editor.
This is still available as a command, in case you want to play with it...

Anyway, Bill Joy created vi(1) (pronounced "V I"), which used cursor control features
on various terminals to update the screen.  To support this, he created the "termcap"
file, which encoded the "terminal capabilities" of each display UCB had on hand.

Bill also created csh (the C Shell), which had command history and assorted other
innovations.  Finally, he collected software from assorted laboratories and universities
and redistributed it as the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD).  After that, he became
a founder of Sun Microsystems (and a bazillionaire).  Smart guy...

If you're interested in discussions of Unix history, I recommend subscribing to TUHS
("The Unix Heritage Society" mailing list).  Visit https://www.tuhs.org for details.

-r