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Vim is not only an editing language, but a fast-starting editor with a small-ish native executable, and small run-time memory use. This facet is typically not

Vim is not only an editing language, but a fast-starting editor with a small-ish native executable, and small run-time memory use. This facet is typically not ported into other editors that have a Vim mode. Vim runs natively inside virtual machines and containers, on resource-constrained embedded systems, and on remotely accessed machines. Another aspect is that Vim can be operated entirely using a terminal emulator, and so can be running on a remote host to which the use only has a SSH or serial connection.

trollbridge 2y ago
Well said. I use nvim with all kinds of plugins and a custom init.lua, and then I use vim (or nvi) when something goes wrong with my init.lua, and nvim won't start, or when I want to quickly open a file really quickly and not wait the second or so it takes for my nvim setup to load. Likewise, vim lets me do local editing on any system I connect to as there's rarely ever a Unix left that doesn't have vim installed. (Back when vim was the new kid on the block, I said the same thing about stock ex/vi - I made sure I was comfortable editing in vi, and then I never felt uncomfortable when I had to do work on a remote system.) Another benefit with vim or nvim is how easy it is to copy someone else's full-featured setup: one of the programmers I work with is really into nvim, and he figured out an ideal setup for both working on Go and Python code. Then he just shared his setup with me. Copying someone's VSCode setup with plugins and all and getting it all to work would be a multi-hour ordeal.
- xcrunner529 2y ago
  Would you mind sharing the python setup? So many options and it’s overwhelming for someone looking to switch from vscode.
  - Zizizizz 2y ago
    nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins - `blink.lua` (auto complete drop-down) - `dap.lua` (debugger) - `lsp.lua` (language server ruff and pyright setup)
    - Zizizizz 2y ago
      https://github.com/KingMichaelPark/dotfiles/tree/main/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins https://github.com/KingMichaelPark/dotfiles/tree/main/nvim/.... (Forgot the link)
  - trollbridge 2y ago
    I copied this guy's Python setup: https://github.com/samuellwn/myconfig https://github.com/samuellwn/myconfig The relevant stuff is under "nvim". If you do a lot of Python development, the rest of his "myconfig" might be useful to you too.
- lawn 2y ago
  I believe you can use `nvim --clean` to ignore your config files.
mysteria 2y ago
The reason I chose Vim over Emacs is simply because of the fact that it's available literally EVERYWHERE. I've honestly never seen a UNIX system which doesn't have Vi or Vim installed by default. Emacs is more hit and miss.
- topspin 2y ago
  > literally EVERYWHERE Chrome and youtube also support some of the common vi/vim navigation keys.
- jakupovic 2y ago
  Because it's part of POSIX ...
  - guerrilla 2y ago
    Exactly. Well, vi anyway. It's a part of UNIX. Even more reason to choose it.
- kylebenzle 2y ago
  What does Vim offer over Nano? After using both I settled on Nano years ago and still don't see how my workflow would improve with Vim.
  - syndicatedjelly 2y ago
    No one is trying to convince you to use Vim over Nano. Use whatever makes you productive
  - temporarara 2y ago
    Are you being serious? Vim offers so much more advanced features. But if you don't have a use for those advanced features of Vim Nano is probably more than enough for your use case. I just find Vim more enjoyable to use even for simple tasks since the commands are already in my brain and I really prefer the modality.
    - 2y ago
djaouen 2y ago
> but a fast-starting editor with a small-ish native executable, and small run-time memory use. In spite of these so-called "flaws", I still prefer Emacs!
shreddit 2y ago
So does nano
- kazinator 2y ago
  Nano has all those advantages too of being small and running on terminals. It's not as widely preinstalled, and has a poor editing language. If you can breathe with your mouth closed, you want something else.
nurumaik 2y ago
Zed feels quite as fast as vim though, and has remote ssh for remote hosts And you don't have to suffer latency when working on machines with 300ms latency I still use vim when I need to quickly edit some file on some remote host once, but for see no reason to use it over zed in other cases
- gorjusborg 2y ago
  There are two main camps of editor user: habitual adopter and entrenched. Habitual adopters tend to jump from editor to editor, for myiad reasons. Entrenched users tend to dig in and try to learn their editor when they hit snags. Vim amd Neovim are great for the entrenched type of user. There is so much depth to the editor, but it is not immediately obvious. Habitual adopters tend to discard Vim when a new editor gets a little traction.
keybored 2y ago
I use Emacs with Evil. But for looping macros on big files I use Neovim.
1vuio0pswjnm7 2y ago
IME, vim is also easier to compile statically than nvi and other vi clones that are actually smaller than vim.

trollbridge 2y ago

Well said. I use nvim with all kinds of plugins and a custom init.lua, and then I use vim (or nvi) when something goes wrong with my init.lua, and nvim won't start, or when I want to quickly open a file really quickly and not wait the second or so it takes for my nvim setup to load. Likewise, vim lets me do local editing on any system I connect to as there's rarely ever a Unix left that doesn't have vim installed. (Back when vim was the new kid on the block, I said the same thing about stock ex/vi - I made sure I was comfortable editing in vi, and then I never felt uncomfortable when I had to do work on a remote system.) Another benefit with vim or nvim is how easy it is to copy someone else's full-featured setup: one of the programmers I work with is really into nvim, and he figured out an ideal setup for both working on Go and Python code. Then he just shared his setup with me. Copying someone's VSCode setup with plugins and all and getting it all to work would be a multi-hour ordeal.

xcrunner529 2y ago
Would you mind sharing the python setup? So many options and it’s overwhelming for someone looking to switch from vscode.
- Zizizizz 2y ago
  nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins - `blink.lua` (auto complete drop-down) - `dap.lua` (debugger) - `lsp.lua` (language server ruff and pyright setup)
  - Zizizizz 2y ago
    https://github.com/KingMichaelPark/dotfiles/tree/main/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins https://github.com/KingMichaelPark/dotfiles/tree/main/nvim/.... (Forgot the link)
- trollbridge 2y ago
  I copied this guy's Python setup: https://github.com/samuellwn/myconfig https://github.com/samuellwn/myconfig The relevant stuff is under "nvim". If you do a lot of Python development, the rest of his "myconfig" might be useful to you too.
lawn 2y ago
I believe you can use `nvim --clean` to ignore your config files.

mysteria 2y ago

The reason I chose Vim over Emacs is simply because of the fact that it's available literally EVERYWHERE. I've honestly never seen a UNIX system which doesn't have Vi or Vim installed by default. Emacs is more hit and miss.

topspin 2y ago
> literally EVERYWHERE Chrome and youtube also support some of the common vi/vim navigation keys.
jakupovic 2y ago
Because it's part of POSIX ...
- guerrilla 2y ago
  Exactly. Well, vi anyway. It's a part of UNIX. Even more reason to choose it.
kylebenzle 2y ago
What does Vim offer over Nano? After using both I settled on Nano years ago and still don't see how my workflow would improve with Vim.
- syndicatedjelly 2y ago
  No one is trying to convince you to use Vim over Nano. Use whatever makes you productive
- temporarara 2y ago
  Are you being serious? Vim offers so much more advanced features. But if you don't have a use for those advanced features of Vim Nano is probably more than enough for your use case. I just find Vim more enjoyable to use even for simple tasks since the commands are already in my brain and I really prefer the modality.
  - 2y ago

djaouen 2y ago

> but a fast-starting editor with a small-ish native executable, and small run-time memory use. In spite of these so-called "flaws", I still prefer Emacs!

shreddit 2y ago

So does nano

kazinator 2y ago
Nano has all those advantages too of being small and running on terminals. It's not as widely preinstalled, and has a poor editing language. If you can breathe with your mouth closed, you want something else.

nurumaik 2y ago

Zed feels quite as fast as vim though, and has remote ssh for remote hosts And you don't have to suffer latency when working on machines with 300ms latency I still use vim when I need to quickly edit some file on some remote host once, but for see no reason to use it over zed in other cases

gorjusborg 2y ago
There are two main camps of editor user: habitual adopter and entrenched. Habitual adopters tend to jump from editor to editor, for myiad reasons. Entrenched users tend to dig in and try to learn their editor when they hit snags. Vim amd Neovim are great for the entrenched type of user. There is so much depth to the editor, but it is not immediately obvious. Habitual adopters tend to discard Vim when a new editor gets a little traction.

keybored 2y ago

I use Emacs with Evil. But for looping macros on big files I use Neovim.

1vuio0pswjnm7 2y ago

IME, vim is also easier to compile statically than nvi and other vi clones that are actually smaller than vim.