You didn't specify an operating system, but for OS X there's KeyRemap4MacBook[1]. Among a zillion other things, it has a setting for "Ubiquitous Vim Bindings" w

You didn't specify an operating system, but for OS X there's KeyRemap4MacBook[1]. Among a zillion other things, it has a setting for "Ubiquitous Vim Bindings" which enables vi-like bindings everywhere, except in terminals, emacs, and vi itself. And some things like password dialog boxes default to insert mode. I'm not a vi person myself so I can't comment on how effective it is, but I do use KeyRemap4MacBook to enable certain system-wide emacs/readline-like keybindings that are missing (C-w for backward-kill-word, C-m for return) and some ergonomic tweaks (Return key mapped to Control when held down, because I don't have a right-hand Control key on my keyboard). [1] http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/ http://pqrs.org/macosx/keyremap4macbook/