Using Nano Instead of Vi on Your Arduino Yun

Call me a n00b, but I prefer using nano over vi as my default text editor. This, too, when I use ssh to access my (incredible) Arduino Yun. However, on the very basic setup of Linino on the Yun, there is no nano to be found. Just vi. Here's how to fix that!

Step 1: Update the Package Manager

Type opkg update at the command prompt:

root@TheYun:~# opkg update

Step 2: Install Nano

Type opkg install nano at the command prompt:

root@TheYun:~# opkg install nano

Step 3: Use Nano

If you would now run nano as is in your OSX Terminal, it will most probably result in an error:

root@TheYun:~# nano

Error opening terminal: xterm-256color.

So enter this command first:

root@TheYun:~# TERM=xterm-color

Now nano can be your friendly neighbourhood default editor again! Yay! For instance, to edit the crontab using nano, you would type:

root@TheYun:~# EDITOR=nano crontab -e

Happy nano'ing!

Comments

[panatale1]

Maybe because I upgraded the Yun shortly after I got it, but playing around with it tonight (5/28/15), I noticed that it already had nano installed

[s3cur17y]

you could also do ..

echo "EDITOR=nano" >> .bashrc

echo "TERM=xterm-color" >> .bashrc

That will make it so you have to enter the commands every time you want to edit crontab, or have color in terminal.

[hzimmerman]

Thanks for the addendum! Awesome tip!