A new terminal text editor called txt has been introduced, targeting engineers who prefer to stay within the terminal environment for quick edits. Unlike traditional terminal editors that often require extensive configuration or use modal editing paradigms, txt emphasizes immediacy and ease of use. It opens instantly with predictable keystrokes and no mandatory setup, aiming to reduce friction when making quick changes.
Txt supports syntax highlighting for a wide range of programming languages using tree-sitter, including Rust, Python, JavaScript, Go, Java, and more. It offers features such as code folding, a fuzzy symbol picker, sticky scope headers, and Git integration with inline indicators and built-in commands for staging and committing.
Additional capabilities include multi-cursor editing, AST-aware selection expansion, Language Server Protocol (LSP) support for code completions and navigation, snippets, keyboard macros, and configurable keybindings with presets for VS Code and IntelliJ IDEA users. The editor also supports .editorconfig files, file watching for automatic reloads, and a mouse-friendly interface with a file sidebar.
Installation is straightforward across platforms, with packages available via Homebrew for macOS and Linux, a curl script for direct installation, and a PowerShell script for Windows. Developers can also build txt from source using Rust 1.88 or newer.
LSP support is opt-in and workspace-specific, with a picker to select language servers such as rust-analyzer, gopls, typescript-language-server, and others. Users must install language servers separately, and txt prompts for trust approval before launching them.
Txt is dual-licensed under MIT and Apache 2.0, allowing users to choose their preferred license. The project encourages bug reports and feature requests through its GitHub repository, emphasizing transparency and community involvement.
This editor addresses the common challenge of balancing powerful editing features with minimal setup and distraction, making it a useful tool for developers who frequently work in terminal environments and need a reliable editor for quick tasks without switching contexts.