diff --git a/README b/README index d665cda1..8216ca66 100644 --- a/README +++ b/README @@ -1,26 +1,18 @@ The nano editor (Nano's ANOther editor) by Chris Allegretta -Manifesto +Overview + + The nano project was started because of a few "problems" with the + wonderfully easy-to-use and friendly Pico text editor. + + First and foremost is its license: the Pine suite does not use the + GPL or a GPL-friendly license, and has unclear restrictions on + redistribution. Because of this, Pine and Pico are not included with + many GNU/Linux distributions. Also, other features (like goto line + number or search and replace) were unavailable until recently or + require a command-line flag. Yuck. - Nano is the editor formerly known as TIP (TIP Isn't Pico). - The nano project was started because of three main problems with the - wonderfully easy-to-use and friendly Pico text editor: - - - It's license is not the GNU GPL, and hence some Linux - distributions, including Debian (my favorite) don't always - include it/don't include binaries. This is not necessarily a - problem, but an issue nonetheless. - - - Until recently, it had no ability to go to a line # from within - the editor. There was the +number command line option, but who wants - to exit a file to go to a specific line number? When I want to go to - a line, since I have to exit anyway, I just call up vi temporarily. - - - No search and replace feature. Well, apparently there is a flag - that lets you do a search and replace (-b in newer versions) but, - well, I still dont like it. - nano aims to solve these problems by emulating the functionality of Pico as closely as possible while adressing the problems above and perhaps providing other extra functionality.