+1

I'm all for making the user experience better, and I think this change contributes to that.

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ben Cotton" <bcotton@redhat.com>
> To: devel-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org, "Development discussions related to Fedora"
> <devel@lists.fedoraproject.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2020 7:18:59 PM
> Subject: Fedora 33 System-Wide Change proposal: Make nano the default editor
>
> https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/UseNanoByDefault
>
> == Summary ==
>
> Let's make Fedora more approachable, by having a default editor that
> doesn't require specialist knowledge to use.
>
> == Owner ==
> * Name: [[User:chrismurphy| Chris Murphy]]
> * Email:  chrismurphy@fedoraproject.org
>
>
> == Detailed Description ==
>
> Users are exposed to the default editor when they use commands that
> call it. The main example here is something like <code>git
> commit</code>.
>
> Fedora does not currently have a default terminal text editor, because
> the $EDITOR environment variable is unset by default. But a common
> scenario where users wind up in a terminal text editor is when using
> 'git commit'. By default, git picks vi. You need to spend time
> learning how to use it, for even basic editing tasks. This increases
> the barrier to entry for those who are switching to Fedora and don't
> know how to use vi. It also makes things hard for those who don't
> particularly want to learn how to use vi. (These arguments would apply
> just as well if git picked Vim. vi is like hard mode for Vim, with
> fewer features, missing syntax highlighting, and no indication of what
> mode you are in. Even Vim users may feel lost and bewildered when
> using vi.)
>
> In contrast, Nano offers the kind of graphical text editing experience
> that people are used to, and therefore doesn't require specialist
> knowledge to use. It is already installed across most Fedora Editions
> and Spins. This proposal will make Nano the default editor, while
> continuing to install <code>vim-minimal</code> (which provides vi, but
> not Vim). People will still be able to call <code>vi</code> if they
> want to edit a file. It will also obviously be possible to change the
> default editor to vi or Vim, for those who want it.
>
> Why make Nano default and vi optional, rather than the other way
> round? Because Nano is the option that everyone can use.
>
> == Feedback ==
>
> Pending ...
>
> == Benefit to Fedora ==
>
> * Makes the default editor across all of Fedora more approachable.
> * Nano is also mostly self-documenting, by displaying common keyboard
> shortcuts on-screen.
> * More in line with the default editor of other distributions.
>
> == Scope ==
> * Proposal owners:
> ** Modify comps to include nano Fedora wide.
> ** Create a new subpackage of <code>nano</code>, called
> <code>nano-editor</code>.
> ** <code>nano-editor</code> to include
> <code>/usr/lib/environment.d/10-nano.conf</code>, which sets
> <code>$EDITOR</code> to <code>nano</code>.
>
> With this approach, if <code>nano</code> is uninstalled, the
> configuration will be removed with it. At the same time, installing
> nano on its own won't install the conf.
>
> * Other developers: N/A
>
> * Release engineering: [https://pagure.io/releng/issue/9522 #9522]
>
> * Policies and guidelines: N/A
>
> * Trademark approval: N/A
>
> == Upgrade/compatibility impact ==
>
> Will not apply to upgrades.
>
> == How To Test ==
>
> Run <code>export EDITOR="/usr/bin/nano"</code>.
>
> == User Experience ==
>
> Users running <code>git commit</code> will be able to just type their
> commit message, rather than having to learn about insert mode, and
> they'll be able to cut and paste without having to learn special
> shortcuts.
>
> == Dependencies ==
>
> No additional dependencies are required.
>
> == Contingency Plan ==
> The contingency plan is to revert the change by removing the
> <code>nano-editor</code> package.
>
> * Contingency deadline: probably the beta? It's an easy change to revert.
> * Blocks release? If the change breaks the redirection to an editor,
> it should block the release. However, this is unlikely.
> * Blocks product? Potentially all.
>
> == Documentation ==
> As part of this change, it would be good to add instructions for
> changing the default editor to the
> [https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/quick-docs/ quick docs].
>
>
> --
> Ben Cotton
> He / Him / His
> Senior Program Manager, Fedora & CentOS Stream
> Red Hat
> TZ=America/Indiana/Indianapolis
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--
Regards,

Charalampos Stratakis
Software Engineer
Python Maintenance Team, Red Hat
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