How can I make terminal VIM my default editor application in Mac OS X?

I am aware of MacVim, and while it's very nice I am constantly in the terminal. Why have two programs running when I could stay in one?

So the question is, how can I make VIM (run in iTerm2) the default text editor?

Matt Ryan

Posted 2011-05-14T13:35:26.207

Reputation: 203

For which apps? – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams – 2011-05-14T13:37:21.477

Answers

See my answer here, but use a Run AppleScript action in Automator instead and use the following AppleScript code:

on run {input, parameters}
    if (count of input) > 0 then
        tell application "System Events"
            set runs to false
            try
                set p to application process "iTerm"
                set runs to true
            end try
        end tell
        tell application "iTerm"
            activate
            if (count of terminals) = 0 then
                set t to (make new terminal)
            else    
                set t to current terminal
            end if
            tell t
                tell (make new session at the end of sessions)
                    exec command ("vim \"" & POSIX path of first item of input as text) & "\""
                end tell
                if not runs then
                    terminate first session
                end if
            end tell
        end tell
    end if
end run

This'll open a new iTerm window if there's none, otherwise a new tab, and open the file in there. Result:

enter image description here

Daniel Beck

Posted 2011-05-14T13:35:26.207

Reputation: 98 421

that's great, but how about a new tab instead? – Matt Ryan – 2011-05-15T14:22:13.810

@Matt See edited post. – Daniel Beck – 2011-05-15T14:41:51.820

@daniel that works great, but if the app is not already open it launches with two tabs. – Matt Ryan – 2011-05-15T15:16:55.577

@Matt It does what you want it to do. Nothing more, nothing less. Get your requirements in order. – Daniel Beck – 2011-05-15T15:59:21.097

@Matt Better now? – Daniel Beck – 2011-05-15T16:22:14.527

well you certainly answered the original question, and then went a step further. thanks. but it doesn't actually terminate the empty session. and actually, it makes more sense to use the first as opposed to starting a new one and then closing the first. don't worry about it though... technically best practices are not requirements. – Matt Ryan – 2011-05-15T17:45:40.907

@Matt I didn't find any indicator on whether a session/terminal is in use. I have the same problem in Terminal. I like erring on the side of too many tabs better than taking over a shell in use (and possibly failing to do that). – Daniel Beck – 2011-05-15T17:48:31.717

This is a very simple way to open files in terminal vim from iterm command click. It also jumps to the line number if it is specified. You will need to download one of the nightly builds to get the coprocess feature.

Click on: Preferences -> Profiles -> Advanced

Under "Semantic History", choose "Run coprocess..". In the text field, put: echo vim \1 +\2

source: https://coderwall.com/p/5hp1yg

alexbhandari

Posted 2011-05-14T13:35:26.207

Reputation: 111

This no longer requires the nightly built of ITerm 2. – Shadoath – 2017-01-10T17:41:15.360

Following should work(it works for me):

write following two command in your ~/.bashrc if using bash shell OR in ~/.zshrc

export EDITOR=nano
export VISUAL="$EDITOR"

Ref: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/501862/how-can-i-set-the-default-editor-as-nano-on-my-mac

Sunil Kumar Singh

Posted 2011-05-14T13:35:26.207

Reputation: 1