LINUX HOWTO
Configure vi to be the Command Line Editor for bash

Luis F. Guzmán
luis.guzman@att.net
Central Indiana Linux Users Group
www.cinlug.org

ABSTRACT

This document contains a procedure on how to configure vi to be the default command line editor for the bash shell. The procedure in this document was tested with GNU bash, version 1.14.7(1), but it will probably work with other versions as well.

INTRODUCTION

Running "set -o vi" from the .bash_profile file used to be enough to configure vi as the default command line editor for the bash shell. However, this does not work with GNU bash, version 1.14.7(1). The procedure in this document explains another configuration method, which works.

CONFIGURING VI AS THE COMMAND LINE EDITOR FOR BASH

Step 1:

Using a text editor, edit your .bash_profile file, the one in your home directory, so that it includes the following two lines:

    INPUTRC=$HOME/.inputrc
    export INPUTRC

Step 2:

Using a text editor, create a file called .inputrc in your home directory. The file should contain the following line:

    set editing-mode vi

Step 3:

That is it! From now on, bash will start with vi as its command line editor. Type "bash" to start a new shell and test it.

SEE ALSO

bash(1)

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