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Personal Anecdote: When I was first getting started in software I was very much part of the "I can think faster than I type" school and I had the good fortune

Personal Anecdote: When I was first getting started in software I was very much part of the "I can think faster than I type" school and I had the good fortune to fall in with some really serious hackers, one of whom was an absolute wizard with `vim`. He was a very humble guy, so it was some time before I learned he was in no small part such a `vi` pro because he had written a real vi, it was called `xvi` and I gather that it was around the time that `vim` was taking off. I asked him why he used `vim` if he had written `xvi` and I'll never forget his reply: "Writing a `vi` is something any programmer can do if they put the effort in, writing a `vi` as good as `vim` is something only people like Bram can do. Obviously I'm going to use the better tool." Bram changed the lives and careers of so many of us, myself included. I never interacted with him personally but from everything I've ever seen he was humble, brilliant, helpful, and took his craft as seriously as anyone I've ever heard of. RIP Legend.

thewakalix 3y ago
https://martinwguy.github.io/xvi/ https://martinwguy.github.io/xvi/
kmarc 3y ago
> Bram changed the lives and careers of so many of us True. > [...] he was humble, brilliant, helpful, and took his craft as seriously as anyone I've ever heard of I start to think that this is not a coincidence. These excellent people, the "brilliant, but humble" ones are the ones that changed my (and possibly others') lives and careers. Mr Moolenaar, many other FOSS devs (maintainers), university professors (I'm sure I'm not the only lucky one who experienced this), all the real silent "rock stars".
- anon432q 3y ago
  My personal theory is that "humble" people are more open to ideas and collaboration with others. I've seen too many people with big egos who stagnate as developers. They were the top of their class in school and were used to being the "smartest" in the room. When they start working, they often make a toxic work environment and can be a huge negative impact. Unfortunately their confidence makes them more appealing to the management and many are promoted to positions where they have even less reasons to listen to others "below them" and eventually stop improving Those that are humble and eager to learn and work with others are a huge boost to the team. The mythical 10x programmer may not exist, but a single individual can certainly make a 10x team.
  - cloudedcordial 3y ago
    This message, whether in the context of Bram Moolenaar or not, rings a bell. Academic education does not necessarily give credit to the humble and the team players. The top folks from school are not necessarily doing impactful things later in life.
kazinator 3y ago
I evaluated a bunch of vi clones in around 1994 and went with Vim. Xvi was one of them, as well as Elvis and some others. Already, Vim was a cut above the rest with some nice features.
behnamoh 3y ago
It's weird, his last message was in December 2022: """ Happy New Year to all Vim users! I have updated the handy desktop calendar for 2023. It prints on one sheet of paper and, after folding and applying a bit of glue, stands on your desk. It is available in English and Dutch. You can find the PDF files on my website: https://moolenaar.net/#Calendar https://moolenaar.net/#Calendar Happy Vimming! -- No man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife. [real standing law in Pennsylvania, United States of America] """ RIP Bram. Rest assured that us Vim users will be happy Vimming while being sad that you are gone.

thewakalix 3y ago

https://martinwguy.github.io/xvi/ https://martinwguy.github.io/xvi/

kmarc 3y ago

> Bram changed the lives and careers of so many of us True. > [...] he was humble, brilliant, helpful, and took his craft as seriously as anyone I've ever heard of I start to think that this is not a coincidence. These excellent people, the "brilliant, but humble" ones are the ones that changed my (and possibly others') lives and careers. Mr Moolenaar, many other FOSS devs (maintainers), university professors (I'm sure I'm not the only lucky one who experienced this), all the real silent "rock stars".

anon432q 3y ago
My personal theory is that "humble" people are more open to ideas and collaboration with others. I've seen too many people with big egos who stagnate as developers. They were the top of their class in school and were used to being the "smartest" in the room. When they start working, they often make a toxic work environment and can be a huge negative impact. Unfortunately their confidence makes them more appealing to the management and many are promoted to positions where they have even less reasons to listen to others "below them" and eventually stop improving Those that are humble and eager to learn and work with others are a huge boost to the team. The mythical 10x programmer may not exist, but a single individual can certainly make a 10x team.
- cloudedcordial 3y ago
  This message, whether in the context of Bram Moolenaar or not, rings a bell. Academic education does not necessarily give credit to the humble and the team players. The top folks from school are not necessarily doing impactful things later in life.

kazinator 3y ago

I evaluated a bunch of vi clones in around 1994 and went with Vim. Xvi was one of them, as well as Elvis and some others. Already, Vim was a cut above the rest with some nice features.

behnamoh 3y ago

It's weird, his last message was in December 2022: """ Happy New Year to all Vim users! I have updated the handy desktop calendar for 2023. It prints on one sheet of paper and, after folding and applying a bit of glue, stands on your desk. It is available in English and Dutch. You can find the PDF files on my website: https://moolenaar.net/#Calendar https://moolenaar.net/#Calendar Happy Vimming! -- No man may purchase alcohol without written consent from his wife. [real standing law in Pennsylvania, United States of America] """ RIP Bram. Rest assured that us Vim users will be happy Vimming while being sad that you are gone.