How to use the command 'cot' (with examples)

CotEditor is a Plain-Text Editor for macOS that allows users to open and edit text files. This article will guide you through various use cases of the ‘cot’ command and provide examples of each use case.

Use case 1: Start CotEditor

Code:

cot

Motivation:

This use case is simple and allows users to start CotEditor without any additional arguments. It is useful when you want to quickly open the application to begin editing text files.

Explanation:

• cot: This command starts CotEditor.

Example output:

CotEditor opens and is ready for you to start editing text files.

Use case 2: Open specific files

Code:

cot path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...

Motivation:

Sometimes you may want to open specific text files directly in CotEditor, rather than navigating through the application’s file menu. This use case allows you to open multiple files with a single command.

Explanation:

• cot: This command starts CotEditor.
• path/to/file1 path/to/file2 ...: These arguments represent the paths to the specific files you want to open. Replace “path/to/file1” and “path/to/file2” with the actual paths to your files.

Example output:

CotEditor opens and the specified files are loaded for editing.

Use case 3: Open a new blank document

Code:

cot --new

Motivation:

If you need to start a new document from scratch, this use case allows you to open a new blank document directly in CotEditor without any existing content.

Explanation:

• cot: This command starts CotEditor.
• --new: This argument specifies that you want to open a new blank document.

Example output:

CotEditor opens and a new blank document is ready for you to start writing.

Use case 4: Open a specific file and block the terminal until it is closed

Code:

cot --wait path/to/file

Motivation:

In some cases, you may want to keep the terminal blocked until you are done editing a specific file in CotEditor. This use case allows you to achieve that, ensuring you have uninterrupted focus on the file.

Explanation:

• cot: This command starts CotEditor.
• --wait: This argument specifies that you want to block the terminal until the file is closed.
• path/to/file: This argument represents the path to the specific file you want to open. Replace “path/to/file” with the actual path to your file.

Example output:

CotEditor opens with the specified file loaded, and the terminal remains blocked until you close the file in CotEditor.

Use case 5: Open a specific file with the cursor at a specific line and column

Code:

cot --line 1 --column 80 path/to/file

Motivation:

When working with large text files, it can be helpful to jump directly to a specific line and column in the file. This use case allows you to open a specific file in CotEditor with the cursor positioned at a desired line and column, enhancing your productivity.

Explanation:

• cot: This command starts CotEditor.
• --line 1: This argument specifies the line number where you want the cursor to be positioned. Replace “1” with the desired line number.
• --column 80: This argument specifies the column number where you want the cursor to be positioned. Replace “80” with the desired column number.
• path/to/file: This argument represents the path to the specific file you want to open. Replace “path/to/file” with the actual path to your file.

Example output:

CotEditor opens with the specified file loaded, and the cursor is positioned at line 1, column 80.

Conclusion:

The ‘cot’ command provides various options for opening files and controlling the behavior of CotEditor. Whether you want to quickly open the application, open specific files, start a new document, or specify cursor position, these use cases demonstrate the versatility of the ‘cot’ command. CotEditor is a powerful tool for editing text files on macOS, and the ‘cot’ command allows you to streamline your workflow and enhance your productivity.