While I am still using the Micro text editor, I have also been testing out the Helix editor as an easier introduction (for me) to vim and Neovim.

Note:

You can use any terminal with helix. I'm using kitty so be aware that some of the guidance below relates to kitty. I am on Sway and Hyprland.

1. Right-clicking in the file manager Thunar to open a file in the Helix editor, I would get an error message "Unable to find terminal required for application".
2. Copying text from Helix into another application.

SOLUTION 1: Opening a file from Thunar into Helix

• Find where helix is installed with this command:

  sudo find /usr -type f -name hx 2>/dev/null
  

  For me the file location was at /usr/lib/helix/hx

• Edit the system-wide desktop entry using the text editor of your choice, e.g. nano

  sudo nano /usr/share/applications/helix.desktop
  

  Within the file find the line that starts Exec= and edit it so that it now contains the following:

  Exec=kitty -e /usr/lib/helix/hx %F
  

Note:

You mat need to change /usr/lib/helix/hx depending on the file location of helix."

When you have saved the file (ctrl+O and ctrl+x to exit) you can then update the desktop database:

sudo update-desktop-database /usr/share/applications

If you then reload thunar and then right-click a file → Open With → Helix, kitty should open correctly and run /usr/lib/helix/hx.

SOLUTION 2: Copying a piece of text from Helix into another application

• As I am using Sway and Hyprland you need to ensure that wl-clipboard is installed:

  sudo pacman -S wl-clipboard`
  

The copy and paste function should now be working in Helix!