Microsoft has released a modern remake of its classic MS-DOS Editor, originally introduced in MS-DOS 5.0 in 1991. The new open-source editor, named “Edit,” is built with Rust and runs on Windows, macOS, and notably, Linux.
This unexpected Linux support has thrilled longtime fans, with one user on Reddit remarking, “30 years of waiting, and I can use MS Edit on Linux,” highlighting the nostalgia and utility of the updated tool on a Unix-like system.
The original MS-DOS Editor was a significant upgrade over the earlier EDLIN, a primitive line-based editor. MS-DOS Editor introduced a full-screen interface, mouse support, and intuitive pull-down menus, eliminating the need to memorize complex commands.
Some modern text editors on Linux, such as Vim, still use modal editing, which can confuse beginners. Christopher Nguyen, a product manager on Microsoft’s Windows Terminal team, noted in a blog post that the widespread meme about “how to exit vim” illustrates how command-line editors often challenge users, unlike the user-friendly approach MS-DOS Editor pioneered.