Vim, or vi improved, is an open source text editor for multiple platforms. This article gives an overview of vim's latest improvements over vi. New features include multiple windows, syntax highlighting, multiple levels of undo, and color themes. All of these improvements are made possible by the use of vim plugins.
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Member since:2005-07-07
personal preference. Thats very simple. I am so damn fast in VIM there is no reason for me to use jedit or joe or nano or whatever else.
I, for example, don't use a GUI editor at work, because I always work on one dev box via SSH and have a screen running there.
If I have to open some files localy I use gnome editor or kedit, but thats really more like "cut/paste" or something like this. For any realy work, like coding, I always use vim.
And I doubt I would forgot the basic commands in 6 months, they are already "burned" into my memory.
Member since:Why people stick to VI claiming it's "darn powerful" is beyond me. I have even heard of people refusing to use Eclipse without a VI plugin. I wonder how many of those who say that actually use anything more advanced that anyone could do with say UltraEdit on windows or a good GUI editor on linux.
Why do people use Vi? Because it is FUN! Seriously. I have UltraEdit and it is a great program, but whenever I get the chance, I hop into vi. I don't care what anyone says about productivity or whatever - vi makes editing fun, and that is all there is to it.
Member since:"Powerful" usually means "difficult" because there are a lot of commands and features to learn and they take a little practice... no matter what program you're talking about.
Some examples are AutoCAD, Photoshop, and probably any hard-core accounting program you can think of. Sure they all have "easier" to use counter parts (Visio, MS Photo-editor, and Quicken) but that doesn't mean that they can replace the more powerful programs or that the powerful programs suck.
It simply takes some time to learn what all of the features and commands are, what they do, and when they're appropriate to use. If you need the power that the program provides, then it's worth your time to learn what it can do to save you time in the long run... if not, then you're probably in the wrong line of work.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:2005-06-30
I wouldn't use Eclipse even with a vim plugin unless it was strictly necessary, so wanting such a plugin to me isn't much of a benchmark for lunacy to me. I would much rather use IDEA. That's called a personal preference.
Now I could spend 6 months without using vim, and I wouldn't have to search to do anything with it. Why? I don't know. I don't think that I am supremely intelligent; perhaps I just know how to use it well.
Vim has, and has had for some time, multiple levels of undo. Things are difficult in any tool until you learn how to use it; that's just life.
I don't know if your post is a troll, or just ignorant. People that engage in editor wars are well, just sad. Don't be too offended if some random person tells you that 'vim is the best text editor evarrrr.' It's a text editor, putting it firmly below even a penis contest to argue about. Writing a post that's basically emacs vs. vi grade pointless and asking people to flame you is childish.
Member since:2005-08-18
"Why people stick to VI claiming it's "darn powerful" is beyond me."
Just like any other editor/ide it's powerfull once you've learned it. If you're used to vi/vim then that's what you're productive in, if you're used to Emacs that's what you're productive in etc etc.
Claiming something isn't powerfull just because you havent had the time and/or interest to figure it out is just silly.
Member since:
2005-08-29
Why people stick to VI claiming it's "darn powerful" is beyond me. I have even heard of people refusing to use Eclipse without a VI plugin. I wonder how many of those who say that actually use anything more advanced that anyone could do with say UltraEdit on windows or a good GUI editor on linux.
Spend 6 months without using VI and you'll have to search again how to do basic things (search and replace all ...). The only reason to stick to it is the refusal many people have admitting they have spent years getting used to it and losing all that worthless effort.
Note that, I do use VI when connecting on a remote server and editing files. The only reason I chose to keep using it is because you are certain it will always be there. Does that make it the best? Even in textmode you can make software that is more intuitive.
If it's it power that you like.. then add those bloody features to some easy-to-use editor.
So .. multiple undo/redo is one of the features you get in the new version? Hm.. do you mean that during all those years when we heard people claiming VI(m) was the best editor around you couldn't even do that? I just thought I was unable to do it (like most things in this so-friendly interface).
There is absolutely no need for things to be difficult. If they are, then they plain suck. There is no direct correlation between powerful and difficult.
Ok, now, flame me. And please forget a feature in VI that's not available in other editors and that doesn't require writing regular expression or bash commands.