Initial import.
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kte — Kyle's Text Editor
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Vision
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-------
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kte will be a small, fast, and understandable text editor with a
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terminal‑first UX and an optional ImGui GUI. It modernizes the
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original ke editor while preserving its familiar WordStar/VDE‑style
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command model and Emacs‑influenced ergonomics. The focus is on
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simplicity of design, excellent latency, and pragmatic features you
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can learn and keep in your head.
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I am experimenting with using Jetbrains Junie to assist in
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development, largely as a way to learn the effective use of agentic
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coding.
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Project Goals
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-------------
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- Keep the core minimal and readable; favor straightforward data
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structures (gap buffer, piece table) and incremental evolution.
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- Round‑trip editing of large files with low latency in a terminal
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environment.
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- Preserve ke keybindings and command semantics wherever sensible;
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smooth migration for ke users.
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- Provide a clean separation between core model, input, and rendering
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so a GUI can grow independently of the TUI.
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- Minimize dependencies; the GUI layer remains optional and isolated.
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User Experience (intended)
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--------------------------
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- Terminal first: instant startup, responsive editing, no surprises
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over SSH.
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- Optional GUI: an ImGui‑based window with tabs, menus, and
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palette—sharing the same editor core and command model.
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- Discoverable command model: WordStar/VDE style with a `C-k` prefix,
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Emacs‑like incremental search, and context help.
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- Sensible defaults with a simple config file for remaps and theme
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selection.
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- Respect the file system: no magic project files; autosave and
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crash‑recovery journals are opt‑in and visible.
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Core Features (roadmapped)
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--------------------------
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- Buffers and windows
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- Multiple file buffers; fast switching, closing, and reopening.
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- Split views (horizontal/vertical) in TUI and tiled panels in
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GUI.
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- Editing primitives
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- Gap buffer (primary) with an alternative piece table for
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large‑edit scenarios.
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- Kill/yank ring, word/sentence/paragraph motions, and rectangle
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ops.
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- Undo/redo with grouped edits and time‑travel scrubbing.
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- Search and replace
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- Incremental search (C-s) and regex search (C-r) with live
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highlighting.
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- Multi‑file grep with a quickfix list; replace with confirm.
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- Files and projects
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- Robust encoding/line‑ending detection; safe writes (atomic where
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possible).
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- File tree sidebar (GUI) and quick‑open palette.
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- Lightweight session restore.
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- Language niceties (opt‑in, no runtime servers required)
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- Syntax highlighting via fast, table‑driven lexers.
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- Basic indentation rules per language; trailing whitespace/EOF
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newline helpers.
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- Extensibility (later)
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- Command palette actions backed by the core command model.
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- Small C++ plugin ABI and a scripting shim for config‑time
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customization.
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Interfaces
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----------
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- CLI: the primary interface. `kte [files]` starts in the terminal,
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adopting your `$TERM` capabilities.
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- GUI: an optional ImGui‑based frontend that embeds the same editor
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core.
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Architecture (intended)
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-----------------------
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- Core model
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- Buffer: file I/O, cursor/mark, viewport state, and edit
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operations.
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- GapBuffer: fast in‑memory text structure for typical edits.
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- PieceTable: alternative representation for heavy insert/delete
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workflows.
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- Controller layer
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- InputHandler interface with `TerminalInputHandler` and
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`GUIInputHandler` implementations.
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- Command: normalized operations (save, kill, yank, move, search,
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etc.).
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- View layer
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- Renderer interface with `TerminalRenderer` and `GUIRenderer`
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implementations.
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- Editor: top‑level state managing buffers, messaging, and global
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flags.
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Performance and Reliability Targets
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-----------------------------------
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- Sub‑millisecond keystroke to screen update on typical files in TUI.
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- Sustain fluid editing on multi‑megabyte files; graceful degradation
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on very large files.
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- Atomic/safe writes; autosave and crash‑recovery journals are
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explicit and transparent.
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Keybindings
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-----------
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kte maintains ke’s command model while internals evolve. Highlights (subject to refinement):
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- K‑command prefix: `C-k` enters k‑command mode; exit with `ESC` or
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`C-g`.
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- Save/Exit: `C-k s` (save), `C-k x` or `C-k C-x` (save and exit),
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`C-k q` (quit with confirm), `C-k C-q` (quit immediately).
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- Editing: `C-k d` (kill to EOL), `C-k C-d` (kill line), `C-k
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BACKSPACE` (kill to BOL), `C-w` (kill region), `C-y` ( yank), `C-u`
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(universal argument).
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- Navigation/Search: `C-s` (incremental find), `C-r` (regex search),
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`ESC f/b` (word next/prev), `ESC BACKSPACE` (delete previous word).
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- Buffers/Files: `C-k e` (open), `C-k b`/`C-k p` (switch), `C-k c`
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(close), `C-k C-r` (reload).
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- Misc: `C-l` (refresh), `C-g` (cancel), `C-k m` (run make), `C-k g`
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(goto line).
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See `ke.md` for the canonical ke reference retained for now.
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Build and Run
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-------------
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Prerequisites: C++17 compiler and CMake.
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Example build:
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```
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cmake -S . -B cmake-build-debug -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug
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cmake --build cmake-build-debug
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```
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Run:
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```
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./cmake-build-debug/kte [files]
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```
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Status
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------
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- The project is under active evolution toward the above architecture
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and UX. The terminal interface is the leading target; GUI work will
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follow as a thin, optional layer. ke compatibility remains a primary
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constraint while internals modernize.
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Roadmap (high level)
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--------------------
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1. Solidify core buffer model (gap buffer), file I/O, and
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ke‑compatible commands.
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2. Introduce structured undo/redo and search/replace with
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highlighting.
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3. Stabilize terminal renderer and input handling across common
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terminals.
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4. Add piece table as an alternative backend with runtime selection
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per buffer.
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5. Optional GUI frontend using ImGui; shared command palette.
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6. Language niceties (syntax highlighting, indentation rules) behind a
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zero‑deps, fast path.
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7. Session restore, autosave/journaling, and safe write guarantees.
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8. Extensibility hooks with a small, stable API.
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References
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----------
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- [ke](https://git.wntrmute.dev/kyle/ke) manual and keybinding
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reference: `ke.md`
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- Inspirations: Antirez’ kilo, WordStar/VDE, Emacs, and `mg(1)`
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