Are you tired of the of Vim or the outdated interface of Nano? Meet Fresh, a modern, terminal-based text editor built for speed, simplicity, and a clean workflow.
If you love working in the terminal but want a more intuitive experience that feels like a modern IDE, Fresh might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Why Choose Fresh Over Nano?
For years, Nano has been the go-to for quick terminal edits. However, it often feels stuck in the past. Fresh takes that familiar foundation and upgrades it with a sleek UI and modern features that cater to today’s developers.
A Clean and Modern Interface
The first thing you’ll notice about Fresh is how well-organized it feels. Unlike cluttered legacy editors, Fresh offers a distraction-free environment. It’s designed to be easy on the eyes, making it perfect for long coding or writing sessions without the “visual noise” of older tools.
Logical Shortcuts (No More Memorizing!)
One of the biggest hurdles for new terminal users is memorizing complex keybindings. Fresh solves this by using standard universal shortcuts:
| Action | Shortcut |
| New File | CTRL + N |
| Save File | CTRL + S |
| Copy / Paste | CTRL + C / CTRL + V |
| Undo | CTRL + Z |
It also features full mouse integration. You can click and drag to select text and interact with the interface just like you would in a GUI editor like VS Code.
Built-in File Manager & Split Panels
Fresh isn’t just a text box; it’s a productivity hub. It includes an IDE-style menu bar and a built-in file manager.
The standout feature for power users is Split Panels. You can have your file manager on the left, your terminal on the bottom, and your source code in the center. This layout is a massive advantage for developers who need to jump between files and run commands simultaneously.
Powerful Features for Modern Workflows
The Command Palette (CTRL + P)
Stop memorizing shortcuts and start typing. By pressing CTRL + P, you open the Command Palette. From here, you can access every action Fresh is capable of from changing settings to running specific commands—just by typing what you need.
Custom Themes
Want to change the look? Fresh supports built-in themes. Simply open the command palette, select the theme option, and switch your aesthetic in seconds.
Syntax Highlighting & Fast Search
Fresh comes with out-of-the-box syntax highlighting. Whether you’re working on code or config files, your syntax is clearly color-coded for readability. Additionally, the search and replace function is lightning-fast, even when handling massive logs or data files.
How to Install Fresh
Fresh is currently available for macOS and Linux distributions. Here is how to get it:
brew install fresh-editorOn Linux
- Arch Linux: Use your favorite AUR helper
- yay -S fresh-editor
- Debian/Fedora: Download the
.debor.rpmpackage from the official source and install it via your terminal.
Launching the Editor
Once installed, just type:
freshPress enter, and you’re ready to start editing!
