Changing The Default Editor In Ubuntu Linux

By default Ubuntu provides nano as it’s command line editor. Personally I prefer VIM. Ubuntu provides a simple utility for changing the default editor. Run the following from the command line:

sudo update-alternatives --config editor

Ubuntu will return a dialog similar to the following, simply pick a number. Given these options, I would pick 3.

There are 4 choices for the alternative editor (providing /usr/bin/editor).

Selection    Path                Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0            /bin/nano            40        auto mode
  1            /bin/ed             -100       manual mode
  2            /bin/nano            40        manual mode
  3            /usr/bin/vim.basic   30        manual mode
  4            /usr/bin/vim.tiny    10        manual mode

Press enter to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: