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Unfortunately, the barrier I faced with even trying VI is that you cannot discover any functionality intuitively. Exaggerating (but just a little) I could not

Unfortunately, the barrier I faced with even trying VI is that you cannot discover any functionality intuitively. Exaggerating (but just a little) I could not even figure out how to type without someone giving me a tutorial. That was enough to make me stop.

gen220 7y ago
I agree. You need to use vimtutor to get the basics: the simplest modes (insert, normal), the simplest normal-mode motions (hjkl), the simplest normal-mode actions (d, c, f/t), and the concept of "adverbs" (8j, 4dw, 2df]). Once you have mastered these simple concepts, most of the magic comes from (1) combining them (2) googling the things that you intuitively know must be possible, and discovering how they're done, which in turn gives you more basic concepts. At that point, your feedback loop gives you escape velocity, and you'll never willingly go back to a standard text editor again. :) Getting escape velocity is really tough, though.
- derekp7 7y ago
  For me, learning came when I was on an IBM RT/PC (pre RS-6000), in something like 90 or 91. I used IBM's editor from the console, but one time I had to edit something from a terminal back in the shop. Which didn't have full support for the IBM editor (Ined I think it was called), due to the way the keyboard was mapped. Something about left cursor was the same as backspace (ctrl-h). Well, that did it -- I went back to my desk, and pulled up vi-tutor.txt, then never looked back.
gfodor 7y ago
When given a tradeoff between intuitivity and other benefits, vi almost always breaks against intuitivity. It's this design philosophy taken to its logical extreme.
- appleflaxen 7y ago
  There's a better fit than "intuitive" Vim is extremely intuitive in its compositional behavior; I have never used "67w", but I know exactly what it would do because of composition. I think "discoverability" is closer.
nouveaux 7y ago
I understand the frustration since even as a veteran users of Vim, there are lots I do not know about. Vi is a completely different way of thinking. I would compare it to learning to program. When you first start, there isn't very much that is discoverable. You just have to sit through the learning. Once you do, you have access to a lot of power.

gen220 7y ago

I agree. You need to use vimtutor to get the basics: the simplest modes (insert, normal), the simplest normal-mode motions (hjkl), the simplest normal-mode actions (d, c, f/t), and the concept of "adverbs" (8j, 4dw, 2df]). Once you have mastered these simple concepts, most of the magic comes from (1) combining them (2) googling the things that you intuitively know must be possible, and discovering how they're done, which in turn gives you more basic concepts. At that point, your feedback loop gives you escape velocity, and you'll never willingly go back to a standard text editor again. :) Getting escape velocity is really tough, though.

derekp7 7y ago
For me, learning came when I was on an IBM RT/PC (pre RS-6000), in something like 90 or 91. I used IBM's editor from the console, but one time I had to edit something from a terminal back in the shop. Which didn't have full support for the IBM editor (Ined I think it was called), due to the way the keyboard was mapped. Something about left cursor was the same as backspace (ctrl-h). Well, that did it -- I went back to my desk, and pulled up vi-tutor.txt, then never looked back.

gfodor 7y ago

When given a tradeoff between intuitivity and other benefits, vi almost always breaks against intuitivity. It's this design philosophy taken to its logical extreme.

appleflaxen 7y ago
There's a better fit than "intuitive" Vim is extremely intuitive in its compositional behavior; I have never used "67w", but I know exactly what it would do because of composition. I think "discoverability" is closer.

nouveaux 7y ago

I understand the frustration since even as a veteran users of Vim, there are lots I do not know about. Vi is a completely different way of thinking. I would compare it to learning to program. When you first start, there isn't very much that is discoverable. You just have to sit through the learning. Once you do, you have access to a lot of power.