:w writes file :w! writes file even if read only :q quit :q! quit and don't mess with me. ie if I have made changes ignore them and exit with no write (good for f ups) :wq write quit (usually what you want) :wq! write quit don't question my wisdom! There are also lots of neatish widgets, here's three :shell gives you a shell to do stuff. type exit to return to vi. :!command gives you a shell immediately below colon. ie !./script while you are editing 'script' it will exec it. hit enter to return to vi as prompted, else type more commands..... :%perldo s/this/that/ execs that perl s///