Emacs vs Neovim vs Vim: What are the differences?

Introduction

This post will focus on the key differences between Emacs, Neovim, and Vim. These three text editors are highly customizable and popular among developers and power users. While they share similarities in terms of functionality and extensibility, there are noteworthy distinctions that set them apart from each other.

1. Extensibility: Emacs takes a different approach to extensibility compared to Neovim and Vim. It is built around the idea of being an "operating system" rather than just a text editor. Emacs has its own Lisp dialect for scripting, allowing users to customize almost every aspect of the editor. Neovim and Vim, on the other hand, provide a more traditional plugin system that allows users to extend the functionality using a variety of scripting languages such as Python, Lua, or Vimscript.

2. True GUI Support: Neovim is notable for its strong emphasis on providing a modern and seamless graphical user interface (GUI) experience, which is not a strong suit of Vim or Emacs. Neovim can run in a terminal as well as a standalone application with native-looking windows and tabs, making it more appealing to users who value a graphical interface.

3. Modal Editing: Vim introduced the concept of modal editing, which is a significant departure from the traditional text editing styles. It separates the modes for inserting text, navigating, and executing commands, making it possible to perform complex editing tasks using few keystrokes. While Neovim and Emacs also support modal editing through plugins or built-in features, Vim remains the most widely recognized and extensively used modal editor.

4. Built-in Language Servers: NeoVim sets itself apart by offering built-in support for Language Servers Protocol (LSP). LSP provides a standardized way for editors to communicate with language-specific analysis tools. By integrating LSP, developers using Neovim can benefit from features like code completion, syntax highlighting, and jumping to definitions without relying on external plugins or complicated configurations.

5. Legacy and Community: Vim has been around since the early 1990s and has a vast community and plugin ecosystem built around it. This gives Vim a significant advantage in terms of stability, a mature ecosystem of plugins, and abundant online resources. While both Emacs and Neovim have active communities and plugin ecosystems, they may not match the sheer size and depth of Vim's community.

6. Size and Performance: Neovim aimed to improve upon Vim's performance limitations, particularly when dealing with large files. Neovim made architectural changes, leveraging modern technologies, and improving responsiveness. While Emacs is a highly capable and versatile editor, it is often perceived to be more resource-intensive compared to Vim and Neovim.

In summary, Emacs, Neovim, and Vim are all powerful text editors with unique strengths and capabilities. Emacs offers extensive customizability and scripting abilities, while Neovim focuses on providing a modern GUI experience and built-in LSP support. Vim, with its modal editing paradigm and large community, remains the most recognizable and widely adopted modal editor.