Is it possible to read a shell command's output from nvi's command line?

Question

I was trying see if I can integrate fzf with nvi, but couldn't find a way to do something like :Edit <shell command's output> which would solve my problem.

I tried :source nvi.ex -- it works for a normal file; but when I do mkfifo nvi.ex and then :source nvi.ex, nothing happens even though it waits till I write into the fifo.

I wrote into the fifo like this:

1. cat - >> nvi.ex
2. Edit README followed by an Enter and Ctrl-D

Are there cases where a programs treats a fifo differently compared to a normal file?

PS: This works in vi and vim though! nvi version is 1.79.

Answer 1

1. fzf has a vim plugin here that might work for you
2. vim users might try clam from Steve Losh
3. Vim (not sure about nvi) has a :redir command that can be used to accomplish similar results.