Z-VI

Smallest Vi-clone text editor for Windows (62KB) that runs in terminal and SSH sessions.

Features

• Smallest full function vi-clone text editor, only 62KB.
• Portable, distrubted as a single executable file.
• Offers a wide range of vi functions: search (/ and ?), undo (u), repeat (.), and marks (m{letter}).
• Named register for yank/paste: "a3yy and "ap.
• Supports multiple files with commands like :next, :prev, and :rewind.
• Some colon mode commands with : (available options can be listed with :set).
• Adapt to window re-sizes.
• Can be used in ssh sessions and none-GUI environments (eg. server container).
• Even runs on Windows XP and Windows 7.
• Supports %USERPROFILE%\.exrc configuration.
• Ideal for occasional or emergency use.
• Ideal for keeping it in your rescue USB-stick.

Download

• Executable file can be found in the release page.

Screenshots

Runs remotely over an SSH session on a Windows 10 server (using PuTTY):

Runs natively on Windows 7:

Runs natively on Windows XP:

Source

Busybox includes a well-implemented and maintained vi applet, which has been contributed to for more than 10 years by the busybox contributors

The code is from busybox-w32 project, I just tailor it into a single applet.

Build

Download and install MSYS2, start MinGW32 program:

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/rmyorston/busybox-w32.git
git clone https://github.com/skywind3000/zvi.git
cd busybox-w32
make mingw32_defconfig    # 32 bits will run on more platforms

then just:

copy ../zvi/.config .     # use the predefined configuration
make
mv busybox.exe zvi.exe

Credit

• https://github.com/rmyorston/busybox-w32