Slant community chat on Discord| 9 Recommended Products | Recommendations | Platforms | License | Auto Complete |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Vim· · · | 9 | 2 | Windows; macOS; *nix; iOS; Android | Vim License | Yes (with aid of ctags better) |
| #2 Emacs· · · | 9 | 1 | Windows; macOS; *nix | GPL | Yes |
| #3 Neovim· · · | 0 | 0 | Windows; macOS; *nix | Apache | – |
| #4 Textadept· · · | 3 | 0 | – | – | – |
| #5 Light Table· · · | 1 | 0 | Windows; macOS; Linux | MIT | Y |
| #6 Micro (editor)· · · | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
Pro Tons of plugins/add-ons
This makes Vim the definitive resource for every environment (Ruby/Rails, Python, C, etc.), or simply just provides more information in your view.
Pro Amazing extensibility
Vimscript provides a rich scripting functionality to build upon the core of Vim. When combined with things like Tim Pope's Pathogen plugin management system, it becomes easy to add support for syntax, debugging, build systems, git, and more.
Pro Works in terminal over SSH
Unlike other editors such as Sublime Text, Vim is a command line editor and hence can be used in remote development environments like Chromebooks via SSH.
Con Difficult learning curve
You'll spend a lot of time learning all the commands and modes supported in Vim. You'll then spend more time tuning settings to your needs. Although once it's tuned to your needs, you can take your .vimrc to any machine you need and have the same experience across all your computers.
Con Poor support for external tooling
Many plugins depend on optional Python and Lua features, which may or may not be included in whatever binaries are available for your system. And without platform-specific hacks, it is difficult for plugins to operate in the background or use external tooling.
Pro Vi keybindings through Evil mode
Evil mode emulates vim behaviors within Emacs. It enables Vi users to move inside the Emacs universe.
Con Default keybindings may cause Repetitive Strain Injury
Richard Stallman himself, the primary maintainer of GNU Emacs, suffered crippling RSI for years. Unlike editors that allow a relaxed, home-row oriented approach to using the keyboard with only occasional need to use a modifier key, Emacs requires frequently contorting hands to use several keys at o...
Con Chorded keyboard combinations can be baffling
For example, for navigation it uses the b, n, p, l keys. Which for some people may seem strange.
Pro Plugins don't require vimL/vimscript
nvim supports plugins written in, for example, python. VimL is an awkward language to write plugins in, switching it out for other languages was a great call.
Con Not fully vim compatible
Some vim plugins aren't fully compatible with nvim. Switching over isn't completely painless as a result.
Know any negative aspects of this option?
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