PCQuest: File Associations in Linux

"With kernel 2.2, you can associate file-types to load up their apps".

"You are no longer restricted to native executable file formats (ELF, a.out, etc), in Linux. With kernel 2.2 onwards, there's support for multiple file formats, that is, you can make the kernel recognize any file format provided you've an interpreter for it. These files can then be run just by typing their name at the prompt, like any pure executable. You could, for instance, associate all text files with the vi editor. Whenever you type the name of a text file on the shell prompt, the vi editor will automatically load with this file."

Complete story.