From 3a7a92de1424bd266e860cd7e5d8465d64fa8f34 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Malin Freeborn <malinfreeborn@posteo.net>
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:21:14 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] edit editors

---
 system/editors.md | 24 ++++++++++++------------
 writing/ed.md     | 11 +++++------
 2 files changed, 17 insertions(+), 18 deletions(-)

diff --git a/system/editors.md b/system/editors.md
index ed3a519..f105541 100644
--- a/system/editors.md
+++ b/system/editors.md
@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 ---
-title: $EDITOR
+title: Setting an EDITOR
 tags: 
 - system
+- defaults
 ---
-The System's default text editor can be defined within /etc/profile.  It's given the variable `EDITOR`.
 
-Add these lines to `/etc/profile.d/custom.sh`:
+Programs expect a default 'line EDITOR' and 'VISUAL editor' so they know how you want to edit text.
+
+Add these lines to automatically set the variables in `bash`:
 
 ```sh
-echo 'export EDITOR=vim' >> /etc/profile.d/custom.sh
-echo 'export VISUAL=$EDITOR' >> /etc/profile.d/custom.sh
+echo 'export EDITOR=vim' >> ~/.bashrc
+echo 'export VISUAL=$EDITOR' >> ~/.bashrc
 ```
 
-Then reload that profile with:
+Make the change system-wide by adding them to `/etc/profile.d/custom.sh` instead, which is loaded at startup.
+
+You can add a GUI editor as the `$VISUAL` editor:
 
 ```sh
-source /etc/profile
+VISUAL=gedit
 ```
 
-If you want to ensure `nano` never appears again:
-
-```sh
-sudo ln -sf $(which vim) $(which nano)
-```
+To use a true line editor, as `$EDITOR`, see [ed][writing/ed.md].
diff --git a/writing/ed.md b/writing/ed.md
index eab1cc8..4307ac9 100644
--- a/writing/ed.md
+++ b/writing/ed.md
@@ -3,8 +3,13 @@ title: Ed: The Standard Editor
 tags: 
 - writing
 - guide
+- sed
+- vim
 ---
 
+Understanding `ed` will let you understand all that feels strange about the system.
+It set the standards for `sed` and `vi`.
+
 `ed` was designed for real terminals, i.e. a typewriter.
 You would type a command to the computer, and it would type out any errors.
 It would not waste paper, ink, and time by typing out `COMMAND RUN SUCCESSFULLY` after each command.
@@ -12,7 +17,6 @@ A silent machine meant a happy machine.
 
 To fully appreciate `ed`, you can slow down your terminal with the following command:
 
-
 ```sh
 ff=/tmp/bashpipe
 mkfifo $ff
@@ -24,7 +28,6 @@ Try running `dir` and `dir -F`!
 
 Okay, now onto `ed`...
 
-
 # Basic Usage
 
 Open a file:
@@ -67,11 +70,8 @@ Delete the current line:
 d
 ```
 
-
-
 Write the 'buffer' to disk:
 
-
 ```ed
 w
 ```
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ q
 
 Open that file:
 
-
 ```ed
 ed file.md
 ```