Turn back the clock with a retro text editor
Pico text editor has turned 33. It may seem a little archaic but it can be handy and is quick and easy to use
• App credit: Apple Inc
Terminal
Developer Apple Inc
Difficulty
Time needed
10
Happy 33rd birthday Pico text editor! It was created at Washington University in 1989. It’s been around for so long, yet hardly anyone knows it exists. It is bundled with the Mac and is a little-known utility included in Monterey.
Pico includes state-of-the-art features and functions, for 1989 that is. Its interface is archaic for a 2022 operating system, but if you don’t mind learning a few keyboard shortcuts, it is still usable. When you are at the Terminal and need to view or edit a text file, use Pico. It is quick and easy to use once you get to know it. Another useful feature is that it strips out formatting, leaving plain text.