Ctrl-X in Nano is arguably more nonsensical, considering that vi was made in an era long (decades) before many of the conventions we know today came about. They were figuring it out in real time. And the criterium here is much simpler: it must be available on all keyboards so no fancy keys. That’s all.
On the other hand, when nano decided to use Ctrl+X for eXit, Apples Ctrl+X/C/V had already been brought over to Windows and Apple, and was also the de facto way for most Linux apps to handle these inputs although I do think it came before any “official” efforts to standardize these shortcuts in desktop environments.
It doesn’t have to be X, just the fact that it uses modifier keys is enough. It could be Q or anything else, just please, for the love of god, we live in the 21st century now, all keyboards have modifier keys, please, add modifier keys shortcuts as well.
That’s normal for people that didn’t grow up in the 70s and 80s and GUI wasn’t the first thing they knew. I was a teen in the late 90s and early 00s, so yeah, we had GUIs for almost everything.
We’re basically trying to do catchup with the cool kids, but let’s face it, they live somewhat in the past regarding modifier keys and vi/vim.
Actually, you are right. I will stand by my point that Nano tells you what to press, but I wonder where I got the stuff about Ctrl+X… I am very positive that I have used it at some point (outside of Nano), but maybe my brain is playing tricks on me 🤔
Why is Ctrl-X intuitive? Shouldn’t it be Ctrl-Q (for “quit”)?
CTRL+eXit
In most apps, Ctrl-X means “cut”, not “quit”. Especially when it’s a freakin’ text editor!
I will grant you that it’s more intuitive than vi, but that is a very, very low bar.
Ctrl-X in Nano is arguably more nonsensical, considering that vi was made in an era long (decades) before many of the conventions we know today came about. They were figuring it out in real time. And the criterium here is much simpler: it must be available on all keyboards so no fancy keys. That’s all.
On the other hand, when nano decided to use Ctrl+X for eXit, Apples Ctrl+X/C/V had already been brought over to Windows and Apple, and was also the de facto way for most Linux apps to handle these inputs although I do think it came before any “official” efforts to standardize these shortcuts in desktop environments.
It doesn’t have to be X, just the fact that it uses modifier keys is enough. It could be Q or anything else, just please, for the love of god, we live in the 21st century now, all keyboards have modifier keys, please, add modifier keys shortcuts as well.
And it’s also an X, like any GUI app in any OS.
I know I always try GUI methods in console
That’s normal for people that didn’t grow up in the 70s and 80s and GUI wasn’t the first thing they knew. I was a teen in the late 90s and early 00s, so yeah, we had GUIs for almost everything.
We’re basically trying to do catchup with the cool kids, but let’s face it, they live somewhat in the past regarding modifier keys and vi/vim.
Because it also sends the kill signal in every terminal I’ve witnessed yet… And you have it right on screen the second you start Nano.
I’m over here using Ctrl c all over the place to kill stuff…
Yeah, you could use that as well.
Can you please elaborate on the first part? It is not standard Linux terminal behavior to send the KILL signal on Ctrl+X.
Actually, you are right. I will stand by my point that Nano tells you what to press, but I wonder where I got the stuff about Ctrl+X… I am very positive that I have used it at some point (outside of Nano), but maybe my brain is playing tricks on me 🤔
Because nano just shows how to exit, as well as some other basic functions at bottom