Bash command to write in temp buffer

Question

I remember running across this command a while back although I do not remember the command itself. As I remember it, you ran the command, it would create a temp buffer that would then be edited by the default editor (vim) and upon closing the buffer, the command would be executed.

Eg:

$ <buffer edit command>
~ # Write bash temp script
~ for i in *; do
~     echo $i
~ done
$ file1
$ file2
$ file3
$ ...

Does anyone know what this command is? It is like writing a bash script in vim only without saving the file and just running it.

Answer 1

You want to bind some key combo to edit-and-execute-command. I use:

bind '"\C-e": edit-and-execute-command'

in my ~/.bashrc. When I hit Ctrl-e, it invokes $EDITOR and lets me edit the command. When I save and quit, it executes the edited command.

Answer 2

If you run set -o vi (or have it in your ~/.bashrc), then pressing v in normal mode (i.e., press Esc and then v) will bring up a buffer as you describe.