Introduction to vi/vim Editor for Linux Users

Master the basics of Linux server work, starting with the Vim editor.

When using Linux, you will encounter various situations where you need to use the vi/vim editor, such as modifying configuration files, checking logs, writing scripts, and editing source code. Especially in Linux server environments where GUI editors are often unavailable, the ability to use Vim directly within the terminal environment is extremely important.

This course is an introductory lecture where you learn how to use the Vim editor in a Rocky Linux 9 environment through hands-on practice.

What kind of course is this?

This course is an introductory course where you will learn how to use the vi/vim editor in a Rocky Linux 9 environment through hands-on practice.

The practice sessions are based on Rocky Linux 9, but the basic usage of the vi/vim editor can be applied identically to most Linux distributions, including Ubuntu Linux. This course does not cover the Linux installation process. It focuses on how to use the Vim editor in an environment where Linux is already installed.

We will learn step-by-step, starting from basic functions such as opening, saving, and closing files, switching input modes, cursor movement, deleting, and copying and pasting, to advanced topics like screen splitting, registers, string substitution, swap file recovery, and utilizing Vim for programming language editing.

The practice sessions are structured not just to memorize commands, but based on situations frequently encountered in actual Linux server tasks.

You will learn the following.

In this course, you will learn the following.

• Types of Linux editors and how to use nano

• The basic structure and operation of the vi/vim editor

• Setting basic vi/vim options

• Commands for opening, saving, and exiting files

• How to switch to input mode

• Cursor movement commands

• Delete commands

• Copy and paste commands

• Multi-window and Screen Splitting

• How to use vi/vim registers

• Search, other commands, and string replacement

• Understanding and recovering swap files

• Utilizing shell scripts, configuration files, and programming language editing

• It also covers how to write and edit Shell Script, Python, and C language files using Vim.

Additional Elastic Stack Lectures

Problems you can solve by taking this course

## You can solve these problems
Many people experience the following issues when using vi/vim for the first time.

• You get flustered because you don't know how to save and exit in vi/vim.

• The input mode and command mode are confusing.

• They cannot move quickly to a desired location within a file.

• I don't know how to delete by single line, multiple lines, or word units.

• I cannot properly utilize copy and paste.

• You cannot open multiple files at once or work with a split screen.

• They are unable to utilize string search and replace commands in practical work.

• You don't know how to handle swap files created after an abnormal termination.

This course is designed to help you solve these problems one by one and become naturally proficient in using the vi/vim editor.

We recommend this to the following people.

This course is suitable for the following people:

• Those who are learning Linux for the first time

• Linux server beginners

• Developers or those new to development

• Those studying in the fields of cloud, security, and infrastructure

• Those who need to modify configuration files on a server

• Those who are not familiar with the vi/vim editor

• Those who want to learn systematically, starting from saving, exiting, and switching input modes

• Those who are looking for a vi/vim practical course that is more organized than free lectures

Lecture Environment

This course is conducted in a Rocky Linux 9 environment. However, the basic usage of Vim and vi/vim is similar across most Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu Linux, CentOS, and the RHEL family.

The Linux installation process is not covered. This course focuses on learning how to use the vi/vim editor in an environment where Linux is already installed.

Course Curriculum

Section Lesson Content Section 1. Getting Started with vi/vim Editor Linux editors and how to use nano, vi/vim overview, basic option settings Section 2. Basic vi/vim Editing Commands Opening, saving, and closing files, switching input modes, navigation, deletion, copy and paste Section 3. Advanced vi/vim Features Multi-windows and screen splitting, registers, other commands, and string substitution Section 4. vi/vim Troubleshooting and Practical Application Understanding and recovering swap files, practical use for editing programming languages

It consists of a total of 13 lectures, with a total runtime of approximately 4 hours.

PDF educational materials provided

Students will be provided with approximately 40 pages of PDF educational materials.

The course is structured so that you can follow along with the hands-on exercises while watching the lectures, and review the vi/vim commands and key concepts even after completing the course.

This is not just a lecture where you finish by watching the video; we also provide learning materials so you can look up the necessary information again whenever needed.

What makes this course different

This course is not just a simple collection of vi/vim commands.

It is structured based on editing tasks that are actually used frequently in Linux server environments. It covers not only basic functions such as saving, exiting, inputting, moving, and deleting, but also features that are helpful to know in practice, such as screen splitting, registers, string substitution, and swap file recovery.

Additionally, based on over 30 years of experience using Linux, the course is structured by considering where beginners get stuck, what parts they find confusing, and which commands they should master first when using vi/vim.

This course is helpful for those who want to systematically organize the vi/vim basics required for Linux server tasks, going beyond the simple level covered in free lectures.

Conclusion

Vi/Vim may feel difficult at first.
However, once you learn the basic structure and frequently used commands, working in Linux becomes much easier.

If you are studying Linux servers, development, cloud, security, or infrastructure, vi/vim is an essential basic tool you must learn.

Through this course, reduce your vague fears about the vi/vim editor and build the fundamental skills to perform necessary file editing tasks in a Linux environment on your own.

Key Highlight!

To understand Linux deeply, you must be able to go beyond simple command usage and access the source level.

To do that, it is important to become familiar with the vi editor.

Thank you.