@@ -14,6 +14,28 @@ line).

 [operators]: https://vimhelp.org/motion.txt.html#operator

 [text objects]: https://vimhelp.org/motion.txt.html#text-objects

+## Background

+

+[Readline][] is a library that provides line-editing for interactive

+command-line programs. It is used in a great many places, including shells such

+as [Bash][] (where it originated) and [REPL][]s such as [Python][] or

+[Octave][]. Using [`rlwrap`][], Readline can even be used with programs that

+doesn't have built in support for it, such as Matlab (as in `lrwrap -a matlab

+-nodesktop -nosplash`). These factors make it fairly ubiquitous.

+

+Readline can be configured with an `inputrc` file, usually placed at

+`~/.inputrc`.

+

+Readline uses [Emacs][]-like key bindings by default. If you're a Vim fan

+though, you probably use its `vi` mode, activated by `set editing-mode vi` in

+the configuration or through some mechanism in the containing program, such as

+Bash's `set -o vi`.

+

+If you *are* a Vim fan though, this has the potential of landing you in a sort

+of [uncanny valley][] since (Readline's) `vi` (mode) does not include the many

+improvements contained in Vim that you have come to rely on, mainly [text

+objects][].

+

 ## License

 Licensed under the [ISC License][], see the [`LICENSE`](LICENSE) file.