csvgo: terminal csv editor

csvgo is a terminal-based CSV editor built in Go, tested on Ubuntu Linux. It provides a simple spreadsheet-like interface for viewing and editing CSV files directly in the terminal. The UI is based on tview and tcell.

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Features

• Edit CSV files directly in the terminal
• Insert and delete rows or columns
• Copy, cut, and paste cells
• Move with arrow keys
• Edit cell contents in an input box
• Confirmation dialogs for delete and quit actions
• Automatic config file (.config) for column widths
• Saves automatically on exit
• Creates .completed.csv file when rows are deleted (for backup/reference)

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Requirements

• Go 1.20 or newer
• Tested on Ubuntu Linux [ 24.04.1 LTS ]

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Build and Install

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/terminal.csv.editor.git
cd terminal.csv.editor
chmod +x install.ubuntu.sh
./install.ubuntu.sh

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Run the Application

csvgo <csv-file>

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Key	Action
↑ ↓ ← →	Move selection
e or i	Edit selected cell
Enter	Insert a new row below
Tab	Insert a new column to the right
Backspace	Delete selected column (with confirmation)
d	Delete selected row (after confirmation; also copies to <file>.completed.csv)
c	Copy cell to clipboard
x	Cut cell (copy + clear)
v	Paste clipboard into selected cell
n	Clear selected cell (set to empty)
q	Quit (with confirmation and auto-save)
Esc	Exit edit mode or cancel dialogs

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Config file

For each CSV file, a config file named <filename>.config is automatically created. It stores column widths in a simple col:width format, for example:

0:10
1:10
2:30

If the config file is missing or corrupted, it is automatically regenerated.

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Status

• This project is fully functional and currently used in my regular work. If you would like to contribute or add new features, feel free to fork the repository and submit a pull request.
• Currently tested only on Ubuntu Linux (terminal mode).
• Expect occasional layout or redraw issues in smaller terminals.
• Logging with log.Printf can distort layout during runtime (known observation).

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License

MIT License

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Known Issues / TODO

• log.Printf causes display corruption ( should be replaced with a non-blocking logging option )
• Add undo/redo stack for edits
• Add scroll indicators when table exceeds screen size
• Improve resize behavior for small terminal windows
• Add optional autosave toggle
• Optional read-only mode
• Optional color theme configuration
• Optional “magnify cell” full-screen view on a shortcut key
• Windows and macOS terminal support not fully tested

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Note on Project and Application Naming Convention

I use dot-separated names for projects and applications (e.g., terminal.csv.editor) to make each project’s purpose immediately clear. With over 40 projects - many of which I use regularly - this naming system helps me quickly use applications without forgetting their names, and easily track, remember, and understand what each project does without even opening it.

I specifically chose dots (.) instead of underscores (_), hyphens (-), or PascalCase because:

• Underscores require Shift to type on most keyboards, which is slower.
• Hyphens are not consistently accepted in file naming on all systems, and their key position is farther from the base row than the dot key.
• With Linux terminal auto-complete, using dots makes it easier to find and run applications - for example, typing linux.<Tab> quickly lists all applications starting with “linux.”
• Dots are widely supported across major operating systems (Linux, macOS, and Windows) and are easy to type.
• This makes naming simple, consistent, and cross-platform friendly (I rarely use Windows).

This approach is based on my personal experience and workflow over many years. It has proven efficient and intuitive for me, though preferences may vary among developers - it is simply the convention that works best in my environment.

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Open to collaborate, feel free to fork and work on it.