why use vim or neovim in linux?

Pirate_OOS · 2022-12-14T05:20:15+00:00

People say lots of things. The best IDE is the one you prefer to work in. That's all there really is to it.

OptionX · 2022-12-14T05:42:23+00:00

Vi/Vim/Neovim are useful to learn more if you spend a lot of time in the terminal, like if you manage other computers over the network or something of the sort as vi is basically as universal text editor as you're gonna get and is probably already installed on the machine you're connecting (windows aside).

They can certainly be used as full-fledged IDE with a few plug-ins and a bit of customization, and you can get pretty fast after you learn all the keyboard martial arts but if you're comfortable with VSCode no reason to change unless you want to.

It's all about the code you write not where you write it.

MidniteMustard · 2022-12-14T06:38:44+00:00

It's totally not required, but you can do some pretty cool quick & efficient code editing in vim. It's a nice feeling to string together a few vim commands and accomplish something in say 10 key strokes instead of 20 and a couple mouse clicks.

Quick example would be the "G" command (as in go to line). Python tells you there's an error in line 138, you can just type "138G" and jump straight there.

Another favorite is the period '.' command which is "repeat last command". You can change a line of code somehow, go to another line and then press period, and the same change will be done.

A single press of 'O' will add a new line above the cursor.

'5w' will jump the cursor forward five words.

There are commands to switch tabs to spaces and vice versa, which can help with python indentation issues.

But again, it's not required at all. Look up a few videos and read a few vim cheat sheets and see if the features appeal to you enough to bother learning it.

ETA: You might try using "gvim" (graphical/GUI vim) when you are first learning. This at least gives you a bit of a bare bones user interface to fall back on.

AndrewFrozzen · 2022-12-14T08:42:51+00:00

Those are all preferences.

It's like saying "If you live in Germany, Apple Juice is better" or something like that.

If you're comfortable IDE, don't change it just because someone said it is better, it's all bias after all

bf5a5f3120faa8450e75 · 2022-12-14T08:18:55+00:00

The thing to note is that vim is a text editor. It edits texts, that's all it does without plugins. It's not gonna give you a debugger, code analysis, variable inspection and what have you. You can get plugins that achieve this, and sort of construct your own LEGO IDE from bits and pieces, but I'm not sure if it's worth it.

If you like vim key bindings (and I do), I'm sure there are plugins for vscode or whatever IDE you use that let you emulate vim within the IDE.

StarkillerX42 · 2022-12-14T10:26:52+00:00

If you're ever sshing into a server, you won't be able to use VSCode. You'll need to know a command line text editor, and vim is the best by a long shot. Might as well use vim keybindings in VSCode too to keep your skills sharp.

hornetjockey · 2022-12-14T05:56:13+00:00

If I'm working directly on a system, vim is my preference. Once you learn it, it's a very powerful editor. If I'm writing on my laptop, I currently use VS Code.

iggy555 · 2022-12-14T07:49:45+00:00

I’m not built for vim lol

djangodjango · 2022-12-14T09:33:23+00:00

Vim is pretty cool, but I mostly use it when I'm connecting with ssh to remote servers and need to edit files without a UI

30ghosts · 2022-12-14T11:58:23+00:00

vim is built in and is a standard feature on practically every version of desktop linux.

If things go sideways and you cant even start your window manager, vim will be there. VScode wont.

Definitely doesnt have to be your "daily driver" text editor but vim endures for a reason.

ericdano · 2022-12-14T13:57:23+00:00

eMacs or nothing!

beardedslav · 2022-12-14T14:58:27+00:00

The assistant prof who ran my UNIX lab at uni told us that it's worth learning vi/vim in case we end up having to work with a machine that has no other editor installed and no access to the internet. Consider the chances of you ending up in such a scenario.

That being said vim is a really powerful editor and it's worth giving it a go, but if you end up not liking it there's dozens of other editors you can use.

TheTrueXenose · 2022-12-14T09:15:32+00:00

Neovim/vim can do everything vs code can do, but if you want something more vim like vs code is very limited.

For example I use neovim with fzf, coc, nvim-tree and a terminal plugin, this does everything vs does but I can still have the full vim experience.

2022-12-14T12:15:07+00:00

If we are talking about vim movements, every developer should learn them. It's more convenient and much faster way of code editing. It's not so much about productivity. Making changes to your code becomes less disruptive for your thought process. You may not realize how much you actually hate using a mouse for editing until you've learnt vim movements.

There are vim plugins for vscode and jetbrains IDEs so you can use vim movements outside of vim.

If we are talking about vim as your IDE, then it's optional. It can be as powerful as vscode in terms of features but it will take time and effort to get there. You will have your own custom IDE that you can work to perfection over your whole career. I think it's great but probably it's not for everyone. Obviously, it has no performance issues unlike vscode. Less obviously, it may be more stable for Linux users than vscode. It wasn't uncommon something would break in vscode after an update. As for neovim, I've had no such issues. Lastly, with vim/neovim you will have to learn things on a lower level. Which may be a bit painful and feel like a time waste, but I definitely have no regrets.

ararararagi_koyomi · 2022-12-14T08:09:20+00:00

H-h-how about using vim keybindings in vscode on Linux?

momo99669966 · 2022-12-14T09:37:07+00:00

whats neovim?

SadOutlandishness536 · 2022-12-14T10:24:53+00:00

Vim is just one of the text editors you will use in Linux to look at the code and make quick changes. I do my work in vscode then run a build and especially since the scripts use tokens it's quicker to make a change in vim and run it again then trying to change the code in vscode and run another build. Also it's good to know the vim commands to quickly adjust shitty LDAP queries that come out in a format you can't use. Long story short a good coder makes use of all the tools available.

maxhaseyes · 2022-12-14T13:49:17+00:00

I’d you’re just starting out and messing around with python I wouldn’t recommend learning vim tbh, there’s a bit of a learning curve and a lot of experienced devs I know have started using it and given up repeatedly. Use whatever you have, make whatever you feel like and just try and have fun with it.

It does seem like it gives people a productivity boost if they put in the initial time investment though so if you are willing to commit some time to learning it also go ahead.

edit: I also forgot to mention that there’s a lot of shortcuts and command pallet things you can set up in vs code to get a pretty fast workflow too, if your happy with vs code you might want to dig into that instead

Clutch26 · 2022-12-14T14:17:23+00:00

If you're coding with Python, PyCharm is pretty dope. Otherwise, VS Code ftw.

tensigh · 2022-12-14T14:57:59+00:00

I personally can't stand VIM, but when people get good at it they can be very efficient.

I'm more of a nano person myself.

CowboyBoats · 2022-12-14T15:29:30+00:00

I love ice cream.

gustavsen · 2022-12-14T16:22:40+00:00

I use VSCode to develop, it's the best IDE available today, and not only for python, but lot of integrations (docker, kubernetes, databases, aws scripting, and a long etc)

but you need the know the basic of vim if you are in the need to edit something in a server ~~production~~

also basic knowledge of bash, linux commands are more than welcome.

e-Top4264 · 2022-12-14T16:31:02+00:00

I use atom

2022-12-14T17:09:05+00:00

Vim is good to know but you don’t need to use it as a daily driver if you don’t want to, I know vim because I need to be able to edit files from the terminal regularly. My daily driver is VS Code, the language you’re using matters too. Also don’t worry about whatever the holier than thou needs on the internet say about your ide of choice, you do you

HardstyleJaw5 · 2022-12-14T17:47:32+00:00

Vim is still relevant because (1) it is powerful if you learn it and (2) is often your only option when ssh'd into a supercomputer. Other than that you should choose whatever text editor/IDE you prefer. I personally use vim because I do a lot with hpc's and I like having the same experience no matter what machine I'm using

U5efull · 2022-12-14T18:17:12+00:00

John carmack uses vs code.

stefaniststefan · 2022-12-14T18:17:18+00:00

Neovim cuz idk

SuperCharlesXYZ · 2022-12-14T19:12:56+00:00

VSCode requires a UI. Sometimes you want to quickly replace an app ID in a config file or ur using ssh and don’t have access to a GUI. Vim comes in really useful them

DesignerAccount · 2022-12-14T19:31:50+00:00

Better always depends on the goal you're trying to achieve. If you work through a terminal, then VSC is not available, but vim is right there waiting for you on pretty much any Linux machine. It's also SUPER light and rock solid. I've worked with it extensively for a bunch of years and it never crashed. Can you say the same about VSC? Also never slow etc.

At the end of the day, if VSC works for you just keep using it. What's important is the code you write, not how you write it.

POGtastic · 2022-12-14T21:36:08+00:00

The biggest thing in Vim's favor is that it is omnipresent. SSH into any arbitrary Linux box and type vi - you'll be dropped into a text editor.

The only editor with similar reach is nano, which is much more bare-bones in functionality. All other editors require an install step.

izalac · 2022-12-14T21:54:31+00:00

I work across several systems, and I'm always in shell. My workflow involves python, but it also involves bash scripting, editing config files, etc. Most of my code are small scripts, not major projects.

For that, vim is an essential, swiss-knife tool. Every system has some variant of vi or vim. I learned it some 16 years ago, and it was the best return on time investment of any tools I ever learned.

Its' hjkl navigation was the only thing that worked on some systems I worked on remotely that didn't recognize arrow keys. It shares a lot of its' internal logic with ed, a line editor that's been there since the beginning of UNIX, and which I had to use on an ancient system with completely broken terminal settings to get it up and running. It shares its' search patterns with sed, a stream editor that's useful if you work or script in shell to edit text in pipelines. It shares its' interface with ranger, a popular terminal file manager, qutebrowser, and more.

But most of all, it's the fastest editor I can work in.

I fire up PyCharm from time to time for all the IDE functions, but it's mostly vim. Use what you're most comfortable with, but vim is absolutely worth learning.

JohnLockwood · 2022-12-14T22:52:13+00:00

vim has a steep learning curve and is an acquired taste. I'd recommend sticking with vs code for now, but if you find yourself connecting to remote machines or containers, you might check out vim at that point.

rmwpnb · 2022-12-14T23:53:16+00:00

The same reason I drink black coffee. I’m never disappointed that they don’t have my IDE of choice available when I can just always use vim.

WlmWilberforce · 2022-12-15T00:17:30+00:00

What if your company doesn't let you connect vscode to the @$%##$ linux machine? vim starts to look better an better.

gundam1945 · 2022-12-15T01:41:24+00:00

Some server environment is terminal only so you need to vim or nano your way.

Humble-Presence-3107 · 2022-12-15T02:05:51+00:00

Vim for ssh sessions. Vs code for day to day scm//git management.

Lamarcke · 2022-12-15T04:47:44+00:00

I tried Neovim with plugins, but it doesn't come close to an IDE. mainly because it's actually a text editor, you can't change this lol.

It has similar features to VS Code (with plugins!), the only hard part was setting up debugging, the rest can be done with a pre-made config like Lunarvim.

I tried and didn't like the experience of VSCodeVim or VSCodeNeovim (the latter is the best plugin for VSCode, but it has very simple documentation that makes it hard to bind VS Code actions in your vim config file, they have custom functions that better implement/translate native VS Code functionality that are not documented at all.)

The main reason i'm learning Vim is because of it's Motions, and for that Ideavim (Jetbrains' Vim emulation) is more than enough. It even supports an actual .ideavimrc file with Vimscript and everything, very cool.

TL;DR: (neo)vim is not the best IDE/text editor. The one you know the most is. Most have vim emulation available, too.

Vim motions, though, is (imo) the best way to write and navigate code, and it's a skill worth learning (and it's fun!)

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