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    Cover of The Craft of Text Editing

    The Craft of Text Editing

    Craig A. Finseth · 1991

    Never before has a book been published that describes the techniques and technology used in writing text editors, word processors and other software. Written for the working professional and serious student, this book covers all aspects of the task. The topics range from user psychology to selecting a language to implementing redisplay to designing the command set. More than just facts are involved, however, as this book also promotes insight into an understanding of the issues encountered when designing such software. After reading this book, you should have a clear understanding of how to go about writing text editing or word processing software. In addition, this book introduces the concepts and power of the Emacs-type of text editor. This type of editor can trace its roots to the first computer text editor written and is still by far the most powerful editor available.

    ProgrammingWriting & Language
    Open LibraryAmazon
    Stats for nerds
    18recommend
    31mentions
    20people
    2008–2025years
    94% recommend6% neutral

    Mentions per year

    2008201020122014201620182020202220242025

    What Hacker News says

    1. haute_cuisineAug 2025
      You can check out the book "The Craft of Text Editing" by Craig A. Finseth
      thread
    2. teddyhSep 2024
      The Craft of Text Editing¹ should be required reading for everybody who wants to write a new text editor.

      1. <https://www.finseth.com/craft/>

      thread
    3. ksherlockDec 2023
      I don't know if it answers your question per se but let me mention: The Craft of Text Editing

      https://www.finseth.com/craft/

      https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13518170

      thread
    4. teddyhSep 2023
      > there's nothing like that in software: we talk about specific tools, but never about specific domains. What if we had a book on how to do versioning, or how to make a good plugin system! That'd go a long way to improving the state of our field.

      There is, at least, a book on writing text editors:

      <https://www.finseth.com/craft/>

      thread
    5. teddyhJun 2023
      I would instead suggest The Craft of Text Editing <https://www.finseth.com/craft/>
      thread
    6. teddyhNov 2022
      Write your own Emacs: https://www.finseth.com/craft/
      thread

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