How to exit nano and save to current file automatically?

Question

Whenever I close nano after having edited an existing file, it first asks if I'd like to save the file (which is fine), and then asks me to confirm the filename (so I press Enter, since literally 100% of the time I want to keep the same filename).

So I'm wondering, is there any shortcut I can use to avoid having to confirm the filename every time?

Solution

According to Nano manual

You can configure ~/.nanorc to Save automatically on exit, don't prompt

($:~)=> nano -w ~/.nanorc 

# Save automatically on exit, don't prompt 
set tempfile 

Note: as @cutrightjm commented - the above setting can cause major problems in configurations if you are not careful and modify files and auto-save on exit.

Comments

[Sparhawk]

The correct answer is: use vim! 😁

[hildred]

If there is an editor you prefer, setting the EDITOR variable will stop most instances of automatic invocation of nano, ie sudo.

[cutrightjm]

Good suggestion, I would just exercise caution for newer users using this. Often times when I open up config files I'll accidentally put a character or two in it which can cause major problems in configurations if you are not careful

[JAB]

That's an interesting prompt they use.

[Yaron]

@cutrightjm - thanks for the comment, I've updated my answer.

[Danijel]

@Yaron Maybe add info on how to exit without save, discarding the changes?

[Danijel]

The example config file with many (all?) the options is located at /usr/share/doc/nano/examples/sample.nanorc. Copy this file to your ~/.nanorc and start editing from there.