Nano Text Editor
Nano is a simple, modeless, and user-friendly text editor. It is often the first editor HPC users learn because it requires no special "modes" to type and displays all essential commands in a shortcut menu at the bottom of the interface.
Getting Started
To open a file or create a new one, simply type:
nano filename.sh
Note: Once inside, you can begin typing immediately. There is no need to switch into an "insert mode" like in Vim.
Essential Operations
The menu at the bottom of the screen uses the ^ symbol to represent the Control (Ctrl) key.
| Action | Command | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Save | Ctrl + O | "Write Out" — Saves changes |
| Exit | Ctrl + X | Closes the file (asks to save if modified) |
| Search | Ctrl + W | "Where Is" — Find a specific word |
| Cut/Paste | Ctrl + K / U | Cut (Delete) or Uncut (Paste) a line |
Pro Tip: When you press Ctrl + O to save, Nano will ask you to confirm the filename. Just press Enter to confirm.
Navigation & Shortcuts
- Ctrl + A / E — Move to start / end of the current line.
- Ctrl + Y / V — Page Up / Down.
- Alt + U / E — Undo / Redo last action.
- Ctrl + Space / Alt + Space — Move forward / backward by one word.
Example Workflow
# 1. Open the file
nano my_script.sh
# 2. Edit your text, then Save: Ctrl+O + Enter
# 3. Exit: Ctrl+X
nano my_script.sh
# 2. Edit your text, then Save: Ctrl+O + Enter
# 3. Exit: Ctrl+X
SCU High-Performance Computing Technical Documentation — 2026.