# Install ex-vi with Homebrew, MacPorts, pacman UTF8-friendly version of traditional vi. Version 050325 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-05. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:ex-vi ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install ex-vi ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install ex-vi ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: editors/ex-vi/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S ex-vi-compat ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: ex-vi-compat from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:ex-vi - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 050325 - **Source summary:** UTF8-friendly version of traditional vi - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-4-Clause AND BSD-4-Clause-UC - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-05T02:30:08+02:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - vedit (cli) - vedit (alias) ## Uses from macOS - ncurses ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 050325 - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-05 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://ex-vi.sourceforge.net/ - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage ex-vi, also known as The Traditional Vi, is a modern Unix port of the original ex/vi editor line, preserving classic vi behavior while adding portability and multibyte character support. ### Project history The project site frames ex-vi as source code for modern Unix systems. It traces vi back to Bill Joy's work at UCB starting around 1976, and notes that the old source became freely usable after Caldera removed usage restrictions from ancient Unix code under a BSD-style license in January 2002. The port deliberately preserves traditional vi's small size, terminal control style, and feature set. Its changes focus on modern Unix portability, international character-set support including UTF-8, and selected later System V or POSIX.2 behavior. ### Adoption history ex-vi is adopted as a preservation-minded package rather than a modern editor platform. Package managers carry it for users who want traditional vi semantics, not Vim-style extensions. The official page lists release 050325 as current and points adventurous users to a public CVS repository, while warning that CVS may be less tested than release archives. ### How it is used The vi manual describes vi, view, and vedit as visual-display editors based on ex. vi and ex share the same code, with users able to move between ex command mode and vi visual mode. The manual documents ~/.exrc as a user configuration file, while the -s script mode explicitly disables EXINIT and .exrc processing. ### Why package nerds care ex-vi matters to package collectors because it is close to historical Unix vi without the larger feature set of clones such as Vim or nvi. It is a compact compatibility and heritage package. It is also a useful test case for ports that want a real traditional vi, UTF-8 support, and old ex behavior without bundling a much larger editor. ### Timeline - 1976: vi development began at UCB, according to the project site. - 2002: Caldera removed usage restrictions from ancient Unix code under a BSD-style license. - 2005: Release 050325 was published as the current release listed by the project page. - 2007: The project page footer records Gunnar Ritter's 2007-11-29 update. ### Related projects - ex is the line editor base shared with vi in this codebase. - The project compares itself with vi clones and references the Heirloom Toolchest for CVS build components. ### Sources - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: ~/.exrc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** ex-vi - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Conflicts With:** macvim, vim, vim-classic - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - ex-vi: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: editors/ex-vi/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman - ex-vi-compat - 2-1: installed executable or alias match | Arch Linux sync databases: ex-vi-compat from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | The ex and vi commands based on vim's compatibility modes | https://gitlab.archlinux.org/archlinux/packaging/packages/ex-vi-compat ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [micro](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/micro/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [msedit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/msedit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [nano](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nano/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [orbiton](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/orbiton/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor. - [jed](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/jed/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text-editor. - [kakoune](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kakoune/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, text-editor. - [nvi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nvi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, text-editor, vi. - [bvi](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bvi/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, terminal, vi. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/ex-vi.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/ex-vi.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph