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How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? In many ways, GUI was developed as the natural evolution of TUI. X server,

How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? In many ways, GUI was developed as the natural evolution of TUI. X server, with its client-server architecture, is meant to allow you to interact with remote sessions via "casted" GUI rather than a terminal. Countless engineers spent many man-hours to develop theories and frameworks for creating GUI for a reason. TUI just got the nostalgia "coolness".

jazzyb 8mo ago
> How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? Perhaps I'm in some sort of "TUI bubble", but I'd bet good money that Emacs/Vim users outnumber VSCode users by an order of magnitude. But maybe I'm just surrounded by *nix devs.
- chrisweekly 8mo ago
  I'll take that bet
- 9dev 8mo ago
  No need to guess, the SO survey is probably still representative of the state of development environments: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es Note that respondents may use multiple tools, but around 76% answered VSCode, whereas 24% answered Vim. So, I’d wager you’re indeed in a *nix bubble.
  - coldtea 8mo ago
    It's more indicative of the state of SO users. Care to bet even those 24% vim devs code circles around the VSCode ones?
    - JCattheATM 8mo ago
      That's no sure thing - plenty of vim users are new or not particularly knowledgeable, they just chose their village' for various reasons.
  - jazzyb 8mo ago
    That is so different than I expected. Thank you for the link.
  - einpoklum 8mo ago
    The SO survey was skewed to begin with, and by 2025 it covers a much reduced fraction of past users. See: https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/437921/1593077 https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/437921/1593077 Not that your conclusion is necessarily wrong of course.
- troupo 8mo ago
  > but I'd bet good money that Emacs/Vim users outnumber VSCode users by an order of magnitude No, no they don't. Enterprise and gaming alone would easily invalidate your bet.
coldtea 8mo ago
>How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? How many people eat microwave meals? How many eat gourmet Michelin star dishes? I don't care "how many use VSCode". My argument Emacs/Vim have great, well loved TUIs. And they are used by a huge number of the most respected coders in the industry. Whether a million React jockeys use VSCode doesn't negate this. >Countless engineers spent many man-hours to develop theories and frameworks for creating GUI for a reason. Yes, it sells to the masses. Countless food industry scientists aspend many man-hours to develop detrimental ultra-processed crap for a reason too.
- 9dev 8mo ago
  The analogy mostly makes a point for snobbishness, but otherwise doesn’t really work. Most people would rather eat meals prepped by a Michelin star cook, but they can only afford microwave meals - whereas EMacs/Vim and VSCode are equally accessible to anyone.
  - brabel 8mo ago
    I love emacs but would never compare that with a Michelin meal! On the contrary, emacs is the DIY option that lets you experiment with whatever ingredients you please without judging your choices!
    - californical 8mo ago
      I think their point was about “most popular” not necessarily meaning “better”. I don’t think they meant anything more by it
  - coldtea 8mo ago
    >Most people would rather eat meals prepped by a Michelin star cook, You'd be surprised. Most people can't eat anything adventurous or out of the junk-food category with some comfort food staples thrown in.
- troupo 8mo ago
  > My argument Emacs/Vim have great, well loved TUIs. They... are not great. They provide the absolute bare minimum of an UI. An UI, even a terminal one, is more than a couple of boxes with text in them. Unfortunately, actual great TUIs more or less died in the 1990s. You can google Turbo Vision for examples.
Brian_K_White 8mo ago
Buddy, I am here to inform you that you are projecting.
dwb 8mo ago
I agree except about the TUI coolness factor. There really is a lot that’s appealing about TUIs, I agree on that with the other commenters here. I want a better synthesis than what we have.

jazzyb 8mo ago

> How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? Perhaps I'm in some sort of "TUI bubble", but I'd bet good money that Emacs/Vim users outnumber VSCode users by an order of magnitude. But maybe I'm just surrounded by *nix devs.

chrisweekly 8mo ago
I'll take that bet
9dev 8mo ago
No need to guess, the SO survey is probably still representative of the state of development environments: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2025/technology#1-dev-id-es Note that respondents may use multiple tools, but around 76% answered VSCode, whereas 24% answered Vim. So, I’d wager you’re indeed in a *nix bubble.
- coldtea 8mo ago
  It's more indicative of the state of SO users. Care to bet even those 24% vim devs code circles around the VSCode ones?
  - JCattheATM 8mo ago
    That's no sure thing - plenty of vim users are new or not particularly knowledgeable, they just chose their village' for various reasons.
- jazzyb 8mo ago
  That is so different than I expected. Thank you for the link.
- einpoklum 8mo ago
  The SO survey was skewed to begin with, and by 2025 it covers a much reduced fraction of past users. See: https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/437921/1593077 https://meta.stackoverflow.com/q/437921/1593077 Not that your conclusion is necessarily wrong of course.
troupo 8mo ago
> but I'd bet good money that Emacs/Vim users outnumber VSCode users by an order of magnitude No, no they don't. Enterprise and gaming alone would easily invalidate your bet.

coldtea 8mo ago

>How many developers are using VSCode? How does that number compare with Emacs/Vim? How many people eat microwave meals? How many eat gourmet Michelin star dishes? I don't care "how many use VSCode". My argument Emacs/Vim have great, well loved TUIs. And they are used by a huge number of the most respected coders in the industry. Whether a million React jockeys use VSCode doesn't negate this. >Countless engineers spent many man-hours to develop theories and frameworks for creating GUI for a reason. Yes, it sells to the masses. Countless food industry scientists aspend many man-hours to develop detrimental ultra-processed crap for a reason too.

9dev 8mo ago
The analogy mostly makes a point for snobbishness, but otherwise doesn’t really work. Most people would rather eat meals prepped by a Michelin star cook, but they can only afford microwave meals - whereas EMacs/Vim and VSCode are equally accessible to anyone.
- brabel 8mo ago
  I love emacs but would never compare that with a Michelin meal! On the contrary, emacs is the DIY option that lets you experiment with whatever ingredients you please without judging your choices!
  - californical 8mo ago
    I think their point was about “most popular” not necessarily meaning “better”. I don’t think they meant anything more by it
- coldtea 8mo ago
  >Most people would rather eat meals prepped by a Michelin star cook, You'd be surprised. Most people can't eat anything adventurous or out of the junk-food category with some comfort food staples thrown in.
troupo 8mo ago
> My argument Emacs/Vim have great, well loved TUIs. They... are not great. They provide the absolute bare minimum of an UI. An UI, even a terminal one, is more than a couple of boxes with text in them. Unfortunately, actual great TUIs more or less died in the 1990s. You can google Turbo Vision for examples.

Brian_K_White 8mo ago

Buddy, I am here to inform you that you are projecting.

dwb 8mo ago

I agree except about the TUI coolness factor. There really is a lot that’s appealing about TUIs, I agree on that with the other commenters here. I want a better synthesis than what we have.