Micro is a user-friendly terminal text editor that seeks to provide an easy-to-use and intuitive interface while still retaining the powerful functionality that terminal users require. It can be thought of as a middle ground between the easy but not feature-rich Nano and the powerful but challenging-to-learn Vim.
It provides great mouse support, offers horizontal and vertical splits, and uses standard keybindings you are already used to from other (mostly graphical) editors.
After ten months of development, the just-released new version 2.0.14 builds on its reputation as one of the best terminal text editors, so let’s see what new brings us.
New Features in Micro 2.0.14
Starting with the basics, Micro now allows users more control over their editing environment with new options such as matchbracestyle. This feature lets users choose between underlining or highlighting matching braces, adding a layer of visual clarity to the code structure.
Similarly, the matchbraceleft option ensures that users can decide whether to match the brace left of the cursor.
For those troubled by hard-to-spot errors, Micro 2.0.14 has introduced hltrailingws to highlight trailing whitespace and hltaberrors to pinpoint inconsistencies between tabs and spaces in your code, making it easier to maintain clean and readable code bases.
The latest update also significantly improves cursor movement and selection capabilities. Features like the jump command for relative navigation and sub-word movement actions to facilitate quicker editing across large files.
Enhancements in paragraph selection and movements, along with default keybindings for Shift-PageUp/Down to select text, are thoughtful touches that streamline the editing process.
Syntax highlighting, a critical feature for any text editor, receives a notable boost in Micro 2.0.14. The editor now supports file type detection in ambiguous cases through signatures. Additionally, providing a “default.yaml” file for syntax highlighting simplifies setup for new users.
Moreover, Micro extends its functionality with improved mouse event handling and drag-and-drop features, making it more compatible with various user preferences and workflows.
Lua scripting within Micro also sees advancements with better API support and new callbacks, enhancing the editor’s flexibility and adaptability to complex scripting tasks.
The update rounds off with miscellaneous improvements like smarter paste options, better file format detection depending on the operating system, and enhanced precedence settings for user configuration files. Importantly, many bug fixes ensure stability and reliability, addressing various crashes and operational inconsistencies.
Refer to theย changelogย for more information about all changes in the new version.
