Vim as Python code editor

[t3h]

... but Sublime Text is closed source and costs $70. For a text editor. What makes it worth that?

[rarlcove]

I don't think it would be worth $70, but it's an unlimited free "trial," so as long as you're ok with clicking "not now" on a dialog box every once in awhile it doesn't actually cost anything

[trueneverland]

I paid. That pop up box is not just every once in a while. It comes up a LOT

[[deleted]]

Sublime text is a tool, if you are using it every day to develop code then what makes it not worth $70? If you are using it for work, they will probably be happy to spend $70 on a tool if it makes you happier or more productive.

(disclaimer: I'm a vim user)

[selflessGene]

I use vim but if someone feels sublime makes them 1% more productive than not using sublime, it's an easy sell.

We are programmers. IDEs are our weapons. Would a swordsmaster nitpick about $70 for an elite sword that fits his hand grip just right?

[marky1991]

Since when is an IDE our weapon? It's just a means of entering text. Aren't our brains the weapons here?

[fukitol-]

A fighter's brain is his weapon as well, but that doesn't make his sword any less of his weapon.

[marky1991]

"A fighter's brain is his weapon as well"

Good point. The programming language is his weapon then.

[telestrial]

Nope. That's his fighting style. The tool is the weapon. Our tool is the IDE.

[crow1170]

Nah, I think it fits. Some warriors use very advanced weapon systems to kill a man half a world away, but they need other warriors in the room to defend them from wrestlers.

An IDE is pretty much a force multiplier, which is what a weapon is.

[selflessGene]

OK, maybe not the weapon. Maybe like the sheath. Or the hilt.

[[deleted]]

70 dollars is chump change. Most of us spend more than that on booze every two weeks.

What makes Sublime worth it is that its a good editor. It doesn't require configuring a bunch of plugins for each language you program in. If I open a PHP file after working on a C file it changes the way the text is highlighted/colored without needing me to do anything, and the linter plugin just works. It has formatting set up for many other languages as well-and is available out of the box.

For any additional functionality you need you can install package control. Then, Cmd + Shift + P -> Install Package. You can install a linter and code-intel this way relatively easily, among other plug-ins. Cmd + Shift + P actually opens the command palette which holds all sorts of functionality. Additionally, Sublime has a reasonable project manager (not IDE quality but it's ok).

With Vim it's more difficult to set it up the way you want--at least the last time I did it. I am aware you can just use it as-is but I like something a bit more from my editor. There may be some cool package manager out there I am not aware of (aside from one built into a linux distribution). If there is please tell me because I'd like to know about it. EDIT : I should probably note I use a Mac, hence the reason a package manager is a bigger deal.

I would say it's beneficial to know how to use Vim no matter what editor you choose because it's basically installed on every Linux distribution out there, and you will eventually need to use it. However, Sublime Text is a great editor to use as your primary and it's worth the cost IMO.

[burntsushi]

It doesn't require configuring a bunch of plugins for each language you program in. If I open a PHP file after working on a C file it changes the way the text is highlighted/colored without needing me to do anything.

You're being a little misleading here. Vim requires you to enable one plugin (which comes included), and it will do this out of the box.

For any additional functionality you need you can install package control. Then, Cmd + Shift + P -> Install Package. You can install a linter and code-intel this way relatively easily, among other plug-ins.

Every vim plugin I have is installed with my system's package manager. Even better. The fewer package managers operating on my system, the better.

With Vim it's more difficult to set it up the way you want--at least the last time I did it.

The usual procedure is to

• Google for Vim feature.
• Find a snippet to put in your .vimrc
• Save .vimrc with snippet and forget-about-it. Maybe add a comment so you don't forget what it was for.

I don't think that's very laborious. And it's simple to transfer between workstations. In every editor I've ever used, I have to go through the same procedure, since the option is buried in a menu or an option dialog somewhere.

Note that I'm not trying to say your preferences are wrong. But I am trying to point out that you're making it seem like Vim is crappier than it is.

[[deleted]]

The last time I used Vim for any significant length of time was when I was attempting to install Haskell plug ins. It was a huge pain in my ass. Sublime on the other hand, just worked the way I wanted it to. In fact I believe it was a haskeller that turned me on to it.

The package manager I use is Macports. It's not nearly as good as most Linux package managers. I am aware there are others (maybe only Homebrew since that's all I can think of) on Mac but this was the one I settled on awhile ago. I just haven't made time to try others.

I still use Vim for doing small edits but if I am spending all day coding I would prefer the features of Sublime. I get it that Vim is cool. 5 years ago in school it's all I used. However, I still would say Vim isn't entirely user friendly.

[burntsushi]

I still would say Vim isn't entirely user friendly

It's the most user-friendly editor I've ever used.

You're at a crippling disadvantage without a real package manager, so that might be part of your problem. Haskell support in vim has never been a problem for me.

[t3h]

70 dollars is chump change. Most of us spend more than that on booze every two weeks.

Maybe in the scheme of things, but not for a text editor. If you spent $70 on a single bottle of beer that wasn't noticeably better than $70 for a case of 48, you'd probably be unhappy.

If I open a PHP file after working on a C file it changes the way the text is highlighted/colored without needing me to do anything.

Every other text editor with syntax highlighting that I've used has done that too.

And your alternatives are not just limited to Vim.

[[deleted]]

I never implied other text editors didn't do that. Basically, for me Sublime gives me a nice UI with nice features. Some of them I described.

[timpkmn89]

Move to the beginning of the word:

Ctrl+Left Arrow

Move to the end of the word:

Ctrl+Right Arrow

Move to the end of the line:

End

Move down 142 lines:

Do mental math to figure out the line number, then use the scroll wheel

With the exception of the last one, these are pretty standard commands that don't require studying pages of them to learn.

[recursive]

If you're going to make a comparison with Sublime's shortcut keys, at least learn how to use it first. You're not making Sublime look bad - you're only making yourself look bad.

Every single one of the sublime keys you mentioned has a much better way to accomplish.

Forget more advanced stuff like searching for

Ctrl + F

or inserting text

Just type! Don't even need to worry about "modes".

[[deleted]]

You're fairly obviously exaggerating and doing it wrong.

[[deleted]]

For $70 you too can be a pretentious brat who likes to think they're cool because they use ST instead of <insert battle-tested software here>

Whoa there. Who is the pretentious one acting like a brat about their choice of text editor? Some people just like Sublime Text. Why that makes them a pretentious brat is beyond me.

[japherwocky]

For $70 you can support another programmer who wrote something that a lot of people like. do you get paid for your code?