Editing Edlin
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Before EDIT, there was EDLIN. '''Author:''' Microsoft '''Homepage:''' http://www.microsoft.com '''Family:''' LineEditorFamily '''License:''' Commercial '''Platform:''' All releases of MS-DOS, Windows (Yes, it's in XP and Windows 7...) '''Screenshot:''' You ''must'' be joking... MS-DOS shipped with a line editor called edlin, that could be used for creating batch files and editing configuration files. Just about anybody who used a text editor at all found a full screen editor to use instead. As of MS-DOS 5.0, Microsoft shipped EDIT.COM with DOS. EDIT.COM was actually a front end for their QBASIC.EXE BASIC interpreter. It called QBASIC in its editor personality. EDLIN was still there, but few used it. However, edlin had a useful feature that some advanced users discovered. It could be called from a batch file to make scripted edits. Unix users familiar with [[sed]] will recognize the concept. Some advanced batch file hackers found DOS versions of SED, or other similar replacments. Others used edlin because they were in positions where they ''couldn't'' deploy third-party software (like company machines), or because they just enjoyed the challenge of seeing what could be done with "vanilla" MS-DOS. --DMcCunney * I believe edlin originated under CP/M, but am not sure. --RonPerrella * I think you're correct, but can't document it at the moment. --DMcCunney * That would make sense, MS|PC-DOS was derived from Seattle Computers 'QDOS' (Quick and Dirty Operating System), later renamed to 86-DOS, which was an OS they sold for their kit 8086 computers. It was modeled on CP/M, so Edlin would likely be very much like ED. --Chuck_vdL
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