GNU nano

Spec sheet

Purpose

GNU nano is a small, friendly text editor designed as a free replacement for Pico.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Free plan

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · nano-editor.org

Integrations

The FAQ describes configuring nano as the editor for Pine, mutt, and Git commit messages.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Support

The project directs usage questions to its help mailing list and bug reports to the Savannah bug tracker.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Founded

1999Read 28 Sep 2026 · nano-editor.org

Compatibility

Nano aims to be reasonably compatible with Pico while providing additional functionality.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Customization

Users can configure nano through nanorc files and choose options such as syntax highlighting and line wrapping.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Documentation

The project provides an online manual, FAQ, shortcut overview, PDF manual, and man pages.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Downloads

The project offers compressed source archives and links to Linux distribution packages and Windows executables.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Editing features

It offers undo and redo, syntax coloring, interactive search and replace, auto-indentation, line numbers, word completion, file locking, backup files, and internationalization support.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Extension support

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · nano-editor.org

Macro recording

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · nano-editor.org

Multiple files

Nano can edit several files in a row and can open files in separate buffers.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Project leadership

Chris Allegretta is listed as the original author and Benno Schulenberg as the current maintainer.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Restricted mode

Restricted mode limits file access and disables actions including shell commands, spell checking, suspending, and making backup files.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Search

Search and replace support regular expressions, and searches can be case-sensitive or run backward.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Signatures

The download page provides signature files for the source archives.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Supported platforms

Linux,Windows,macOSRead 22 Sep 2026 · nano-editor.org

Unicode

Nano supports reading, entering, and saving Unicode text when the terminal encoding and locale use UTF-8.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nano-editor.org

Plans and prices

Every GNU nano plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Text Editors#26 of 828.3
• Editor Software#13 of 328.2
• Code editors#35 of 457.8