pico

Open a file for editing

$ pico [path/to/file]

$ pico +[10] [path/to/file]

$ pico -v [path/to/file]

$ pico -m [path/to/file]

$ pico -w [path/to/file]

$ pico -s [aspell] [path/to/file]

pico [options] [file]
pico +line [options] [file]

pico is a simple, user-friendly text editor originally developed as the composer for the Pine email client. Commands are displayed at the bottom of the screen, making it accessible for beginners. Context-sensitive help is available with Ctrl+G.
The editor provides basic features including search, cut/paste, spell checking, and paragraph justification. It uses a modeless interface where keystrokes insert text directly, and commands use Control key combinations.
On most modern Linux distributions, pico is a symbolic link to nano, which is a free software reimplementation with additional features. Both editors share the same interface style and keyboard commands.

+n

Start with cursor at line n

Show hidden files (starting with .) in file browser

Rebind delete key to delete character under cursor

Enable filename completion

Use function keys for commands

Show cursor position in file browser

Display help and exit

Enable Goto command in file browser

Cut from cursor to end of line instead of whole line

Enable mouse support (in xterm)

Enable new mail notification (default: 180 seconds)

Restrict operation to specified directory

Use alternate spell checker program

Tool mode for use within other programs

View mode (read-only)

Disable word wrap; long lines extend off screen

Disable bottom command menu

Enable suspend with Ctrl+Z

Ctrl+G

Display help

Exit (prompts to save)

Write out (save file)

Read/insert file

Search (Where Is)

Cut line

Paste (Uncut)

Justify paragraph

Spell check

Show cursor position

Previous page

Next page

Pico was originally part of the Pine email suite which had licensing restrictions. The nano editor was created as a free replacement and is more commonly available. Files are saved with Unix line endings. When disconnected (SIGHUP), pico saves work to filename.save or pico.save.

Pico was developed at the University of Washington as part of the Pine email client, first released in 1992. The name stands for "Pine Internal COmposer" or "Program for Internet COmmunications". Due to Pine's restrictive license, the GNU project created nano in 1999 as a free replacement. Nano eventually superseded pico in most distributions, though the pico command often remains as an alias.

nano(1), vi(1), emacs(1), pine(1)