EditorProgramming-mini-HOWTO

Madhu M Kurup < madhumkurup AT yahoo DOT com >

This HOWTO describes how to go about writing a text editor on the Linux operating system. Most of the information can also be profitably applied to other operating systems and other text editors. This is meant for Engineering students and other interested folks who have to either create an editor or feel the urge to do so. Does your current editor give you an itch to code? Then read on.

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Why this document?
• 1.2 Copyright
• 1.3 Feedback
• 1.4 Credits and Thanks
• 1.5 Versions

2. Editors

• 2.1 What is An Editor
• 2.2 Line, Screen, Graphical
• 2.3 What kind of Editor is recommended?
• 2.4 What is the functionality to be provided?

3. Development of an Editor on Linux

• 3.1 GCC
• 3.2 GDB
• 3.3 Make
• 3.4 NCurses
• 3.5 Gvim / Glimmer / Emacs
• 3.6 Xwpe
• 3.7 KDevelop

4. Implementation Details

• 4.1 Language:
• 4.2 Data Structures:
• 4.3 Which Data structure should I use?
• 4.4 Should I use Uconio.h

5. Open Source

• 5.1 Licences
• 5.2 Releasing your editor

6. Help

• 6.1 Books
• 6.2 Lists

7. URLs