What is nano?

GNU nano was developed as a free substitute for the Pico text editor, which is included in the Pine email suite from the University of Washington. The aim was to replicate the functionality of Pico while adding more features. The Debian GNU/Linux distribution, known for its dedication to distributing truly "free" software—defined as software that poses no restrictions on redistribution—decided against including binary packages for Pine or Pico. This left many users in a challenging situation; although they valued these applications, the versions available did not conform to the GNU criteria for free software. GNU nano is designed to be a straightforward and efficient text editor. Beyond basic text editing functions, nano offers features like undo/redo, syntax highlighting, interactive search-and-replace, automatic indentation, line numbering, word completion, file locking, backup files, and support for various languages. A significant update occurred with the launch of version 4.0, which stopped the automatic wrapping of excessively long lines by default, giving users greater control over their text formatting. This modification demonstrates the ongoing development of the software to adapt to user preferences and requirements, illustrating its commitment to continuous improvement. As a result, users find themselves with a more customizable editing experience.

Integrations

Screenshots and Video

nano Screenshot 1

Company Facts

Company Name:
nano
Date Founded:
1999
Company Website:
www.nano-editor.org

Product Details

Deployment
Linux
Training Options
Documentation Hub
Support
Web-Based Support

Product Details

Target Company Sizes
Individual
1-10
11-50
51-200
201-500
501-1000
1001-5000
5001-10000
10001+
Target Organization Types
Mid Size Business
Small Business
Enterprise
Freelance
Nonprofit
Government
Startup
Supported Languages
English

nano Categories and Features

Text Editors

API
Auto-Complete
Code Folding
Column Editing
Customizable Themes
Debugging
Formatting / Table Editing
Keyboard Shortcuts
Multi-Monitor Editing
Syntax Highlighting
WYSIWYG

Code Editors

API
Auto-Complete
Code Folding
Column Editing
Customizable Themes
Debugging
Formatting / Table Editing
Keyboard Shortcuts
Multi-Monitor Editing
Syntax Highlighting
WYSIWYG

nano Customer Reviews

Write a Review
  • Reviewer Name: A Verified Reviewer
    Position: Student
    Has used product for: Less than 6 months
    Uses the product: Daily
    Org Size (# of Employees): 1,000 - 4,999
    Feature Set
    Layout
    Ease Of Use
    Cost
    Customer Service
    Would you Recommend to Others?
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

    GNU nano is cool

    Date: May 22 2026
    Summary

    nano is a great tool in my opinion, being great for all kinds of editing for text and code files.

    Positive

    It's a very simplistic product, and absolutely amazing for editing text or markdown files. It works well for writing.

    Negative

    GNU nano refuses to automatically enable line wrapping.

    Read More...
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