The Next-Gen Terminal Code Editor
A fast, lightweight, and extensible code editor built for serious terminal workflows. Powered by Python and designed for developers who value speed, privacy, and control.
Latest stable release v0.1.3 • Apache-2.0 License
Built for Real Terminal Productivity
Ecli is a fast, lightweight, and honest terminal code editor crafted for developers who spend most of their time in the terminal.
Why developers choose Ecli
Built With
See Ecli in Action
Experience the clean, modern interface designed for productivity and focus.
Code Editor Interface
Responsive terminal editing with Pygments syntax highlighting
File Explorer
Project navigation designed for keyboard-first terminal workflows
AI Chat Panel
Ask questions, request explanations, and generate snippets with a configured provider
Git Workflow
Repository status, branch information, and quick Git commands in the editor
More screenshots and demos coming soon. Follow our GitHub repository for updates.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Master Ecli with these essential keyboard shortcuts. Press F1 anytime inside the editor to open this help screen.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Backspace | Delete character left / delete selection |
| Tab | Smart indent / indent block |
| Shift+Tab | Smart unindent |
| Ctrl+\ | Toggle comment (line/block) |
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+G | Go to line |
| Ctrl+F | Find |
| F3 | Find next |
| F6 | Search & Replace (with regex support) |
| Arrow keys / Home / End | Cursor movement |
| Page Up / Page Down | Scroll by page |
| Shift + Arrow keys | Extend selection |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F2 | New file |
| Ctrl+O | Open file |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| F5 | Save as… |
| Ctrl+Q | Quit editor |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F10 | File Explorer |
| F4 | Diagnostics / Linter panel |
| F9 | Git menu |
| F7 | AI Assistant panel |
| F1 | Show Keyboard Shortcuts |
| Esc | Close current panel |
| Insert | Toggle Insert / Overwrite mode |
Frequently Asked Questions
Get clear, honest answers about Ecli from a real terminal developer's perspective.
Download Ecli v0.1.3
Latest stable release v0.1.3 for macOS 12+ (recommended), Windows 10+, Linux, and FreeBSD.
externally-managed-environment policy. When installing with pip, you may see:error: externally-managed-environment
1. Use pipx (Recommended for end users)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install pipx
pipx install ecli-editor2. Use a virtual environment (Best for development)
python3 -m venv ~/.local/ecli-env
source ~/.local/ecli-env/bin/activate
pip install ecli-editor
# To run Ecli:
ecli3. Use the official .deb package when available
The official GitHub Releases .deb package bypasses the Python package-management conflict entirely.
4. System-wide pip install (Not recommended)
pip install ecli-editor --break-system-packagesWarning: this can conflict with Python packages managed by apt. Use it only when you understand the system-level trade-off.
Need help? Check out our installation guide or report an issue.