Ox is a terminal-based text editor written in Rust that prioritizes simplicity and flexibility.
The tool addresses the need for a lightweight, configurable text editor that works in the terminal without being tied to the design of existing editors like vim or nano. Rather than extending an established codebase, Ox was built from the ground up as a standalone application. It offers syntax highlighting, undo and redo, search and replace, multiple file handling, mouse support, multi-cursor editing, macros, split views, a file tree, and integrated terminal access. The editor's core strength lies in its configurability: users can customize colors, key bindings, and behaviors through Lua-based configuration, and extend functionality through a plugin system that includes pre-built plugins for Discord RPC, Git integration, Emmet, HTML viewing, Pomodoro timers, and AI-assisted code generation.
Ox suits developers and writers who want a modern terminal editor with extensive customization without the learning curve of vim or the limitations of simpler editors. It works best on Linux but also supports macOS and Windows. The project includes detailed documentation organized into six stages covering installation, configuration, editing, command-line usage, plugin development, and planned features. A setup wizard helps new users tailor the editor to their preferences from the start.
The project shows consistent development activity with regular commits addressing bug fixes, feature additions, and improvements. The maintainer actively responds to issues and pull requests, indicating ongoing engagement with the user community. Documentation is maintained and expanded alongside code changes, suggesting a commitment to keeping guidance current with the tool's evolution.
