ex

ex

The "ex" command is a text editor available in Unix-like systems, including Linux. It is the predecessor to the "vi" editor and provides a command-line interface for editing files.

help

VIM - Vi IMproved 9.0 (2022 Jun 28, compiled May 24 2023 14:27:18)

Usage: vim [arguments] [file ..]       edit specified file(s)
   or: vim [arguments] -               read text from stdin
   or: vim [arguments] -t tag          edit file where tag is defined
   or: vim [arguments] -q [errorfile]  edit file with first error

Arguments:
   --                   Only file names after this
   -v                   Vi mode (like "vi")
   -e                   Ex mode (like "ex")
   -E                   Improved Ex mode
   -s                   Silent (batch) mode (only for "ex")
   -d                   Diff mode (like "vimdiff")
   -y                   Easy mode (like "evim", modeless)
   -R                   Readonly mode (like "view")
   -Z                   Restricted mode (like "rvim")
   -m                   Modifications (writing files) not allowed
   -M                   Modifications in text not allowed
   -b                   Binary mode
   -l                   Lisp mode
   -C                   Compatible with Vi: 'compatible'
   -N                   Not fully Vi compatible: 'nocompatible'
   -V[N][fname]         Be verbose [level N] [log messages to fname]
   -D                   Debugging mode
   -n                   No swap file, use memory only
   -r                   List swap files and exit
   -r (with file name)  Recover crashed session
   -L                   Same as -r
   -A                   Start in Arabic mode
   -H                   Start in Hebrew mode
   -T <terminal>        Set terminal type to <terminal>
   --not-a-term         Skip warning for input/output not being a terminal
   --ttyfail            Exit if input or output is not a terminal
   -u <vimrc>           Use <vimrc> instead of any .vimrc
   --noplugin           Don't load plugin scripts
   -p[N]                Open N tab pages (default: one for each file)
   -o[N]                Open N windows (default: one for each file)
   -O[N]                Like -o but split vertically
   +                    Start at end of file
   +<lnum>              Start at line <lnum>
   --cmd <command>      Execute <command> before loading any vimrc file
   -c <command>         Execute <command> after loading the first file
   -S <session>         Source file <session> after loading the first file
   -s <scriptin>        Read Normal mode commands from file <scriptin>
   -w <scriptout>       Append all typed commands to file <scriptout>
   -W <scriptout>       Write all typed commands to file <scriptout>
   -x                   Edit encrypted files
   --startuptime <file> Write startup timing messages to <file>
   --log <file> Start logging to <file> early
   -i <viminfo>         Use <viminfo> instead of .viminfo
   --clean              'nocompatible', Vim defaults, no plugins, no viminfo
   -h  or  --help       Print Help (this message) and exit
   --version            Print version information and exit

breakdown

-h, --help: This option shows this help message.
-v, --version: This option prints the version number and exits.
-s, --secure: This option starts vi in secure mode. Secure mode prevents vi from accessing the environment variables.
-t, --tty: This option starts vi in tty mode. TTY mode prevents vi from accessing the terminal.
-n, --new: This option starts a new file.
-r, --read: This option appends to an existing file.
-w, --write: This option overwrites an existing file.