Microsoft really dropped the mic at Build 2025 by launching Edit, a shiny, open source text editor that actually lives in the command line—yes, 2025 and we’re finally past Notepad’s prehistoric vibes. Edit’s so lightweight it probably jogs for fun (under 250kB!) and does tricks like regex search, multiple tabs (Ctrl+P, anyone?), and even mouse mode. Basically, it’s aiming to be the Swiss Army knife of Windows editing. And trust me, there’s plenty more under the hood…
So, what’s the deal with Edit? Here’s the quick rundown:
- Open source: Yes, you can poke around the code on GitHub—fork it, build it, break it, or, if you’re feeling generous, fix it.
- Featherweight: At under 250kB, Edit is lighter than your average meme folder.
- Command-line native: No more flipping between terminal and editor. Edit lives where you work—right in the console.
- TUI and mouse mode: Supports a Text User Interface that won’t make you feel like you’re hacking the Matrix (unless you want to). Microsoft is rolling out Edit to registered developers in the Windows Insider Program before its general release.
- Handy shortcuts: Open multiple files, switch between them with Ctrl+P, search and replace with Ctrl+R, wrangle regex, and toggle word wrap with Alt+Z. It’s like a Swiss Army knife, but for text.
One main reason for Edit’s existence is to fill the gap left by the absence of a default CLI editor in 64-bit Windows, which many administrators and developers have requested for years.
Edit will hit the Windows Insider Program for preview, with a promise that it’ll land in the default Windows 11 install. Microsoft’s not just throwing code over the wall, either—they’re inviting developers to get involved, submit feedback, and shape Edit’s destiny.
Community involvement? Check.
This move is very on-brand for Microsoft’s recent embrace of open source, joining the ranks of open-sourced GitHub Copilot in VS Code and the Windows Subsystem for Linux. The message is clear: developers want power and flexibility, and Microsoft wants to be their best friend (or at least, not that weird uncle who still uses MS-DOS Edit).
Whether Edit will dethrone beloved command-line stalwarts like Vim or Nano remains to be seen. But as a lightweight, modern, and—dare we say—fun addition to Windows, Edit is poised to make command-line editing just a little less tedious.
Welcome to the club, Edit. Try not to crash.
