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Kakoune vs Vim: What are the differences?
Key differences between Kakoune and Vim
Kakoune and Vim are both popular text editors used for coding, but they have some key differences that set them apart. Here are six specific differences between Kakoune and Vim:
Modal Editing: Vim is known for its modal editing, where users switch between different modes (such as insert, normal, and visual) to perform different actions. On the other hand, Kakoune takes a different approach by using selections, which allows for simultaneous editing of multiple selections and better support for non-rectangular selections.
Multi Cursors and Selections: Kakoune excels in multi-cursor and multi-selection editing, allowing users to edit multiple sections of code simultaneously. Vim also supports multi-cursor editing, but it generally requires the use of plugins or additional commands.
Extension Language: Vim has its own scripting language called Vimscript, which allows users to customize and extend its functionality. Kakoune, on the other hand, uses a more modern and familiar language like Lua or Python for scripting purposes, making it easier for developers who are already familiar with these languages.
Copy and Paste: In Vim, copying and pasting is done using a combination of different commands and registers. Kakoune simplifies this process by providing a unified copy-paste mechanism, making it easier and more intuitive for users to copy and paste text.
Built-in Autocompletion: Kakoune has built-in autocompletion features, allowing users to easily complete code snippets, function names, and variable names. While Vim also has autocompletion options, they generally require the use of additional plugins to achieve the same level of functionality.
Multiple Cursors in Search and Replace: Kakoune allows for multiple cursors in its search and replace functionality, enabling users to make changes to multiple occurrences of a pattern in a single command. Vim does support search and replace, but only with a single cursor at a time.
In summary, Kakoune offers a more modern and streamlined approach to editing code with features like multi-cursors, unified copy-paste, and built-in autocompletion. Vim, on the other hand, is known for its modal editing and extensive customization options through Vimscript.
For a Visual Studio Code/Atom developer that works mostly with Node.js/TypeScript/Ruby/Go and wants to get rid of graphic-text-editors-IDE-like at once, which one is worthy of investing time to pick up?
I'm a total n00b on the subject, but I've read good things about Neovim's Lua support, and I wonder what would be the VIM response/approach for it?
Neovim can basically do everything Vim can with one major advantage - the number of contributors to the code base is just so much wider (Vim is ~100% maintained only by B. Mooleanaar). Whatever you learn for Neovim you can also apply to Vim and vice versa. And of course there is the never ending Vim vs Emacs controversy - but better not get into that war.
Actually, the biggest advantage with Neovim (as a VS user) is that you can embed REAL Neovim as the editor UI, rather than using a "Vim emulation", you're using actual NVIM, embedded in VS!
"asvetliakov.vscode-neovim" is the extension you are looking for:
- Install the 'vscode-neovim; extension (https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=asvetliakov.vscode-neovim)
- Install Neovim version 0.5+ nightly
- Start winning.
(You can install neovim-nightly separately for just vscode, I usually build and install it to /opt/nvim - it's enough enough to do - let me know if you need help).
Works wonderfully. It might not work out of the box if you have some 100K epic nvim initialization file, but the plugin documents a workaround for having an embedding/VS specific configuration.
I don't actually notice much of a difference between the two, as the end result looks identical. If you use Vim and are switch to Neovim it's an extremely easy 1-minute process. I switched from Vim to Neovim. I can't say I found much of a difference, but the key points where Neovim could be better than just vim is that first, there are much more people maintaining Neovim compared to vim, which means fewer bugs and a modern code base. It also has a smaller code base which might result in a small speed improvement. Another thing is that it's basically just a fork of vim, so what harm can it do? ;)
I recommend using vim 8+
it has native plugin support
if you need language supports you can install the package vim-nox
which will come with support for python, lua, ruby, etc
The hints on the codebase's contributors and the VSCode integration helped me make up my mind.
I really appreciate all comments, though.
Thanks a bunch!
It truly depends on whether you want to completely avoid GUI and stick to TUI and command lines. If you want to edit all of your codes within a terminal, then Vim or neovim would be the choice. Emacs can be run in a terminal, but the functionality is limited. Most people use Emacs using GUI and emacs-client not to use too much memory.
My general preference is to use an independent text editor, which is better if it is highly customizable and programmable. So, I have used Emacs for several years. For beginners, I guess Emacs requires significant time to learn to fully enjoy its wonderful functionalities. In that sense, using atom would be a recommendable option.
Regardless of all the situations, learning basic vim in the terminal will help you in any case. In summary, I recommend 1. vim as a default editor in the terminal 2. atom if you are a beginner, or 3. Emacs if you have a long-term plan to master a programmable editor
Other editors like sublime text, VS code, and so forth are also worth learning and using. But, no matter which editor you choose, stick to one or two until you become an advanced user. Being able to use most text editors at an intermediate level is waste of time.
I hope it helps.
Pros of Kakoune
- Multiple selections7
- Fast editing7
- Interactivity5
- Consistency of the underlying language4
- UNIX citizen4
- Self documented3
Pros of Vim
- Comes by default in most unix systems (remote editing)347
- Fast328
- Highly configurable312
- Less mouse dependence297
- Lightweight247
- Speed145
- Plugins100
- Hardcore97
- It's for pros82
- Vertically split windows65
- Open-source30
- Modal editing25
- No remembering shortcuts, instead "talks" to the editor22
- It stood the Test of Time21
- Unicode16
- VimPlugins13
- Everything is on the keyboard13
- Stick with terminal13
- Dotfiles12
- Flexible Indenting11
- Hands stay on the keyboard10
- Efficient and powerful10
- Programmable10
- Everywhere9
- Large number of Shortcuts9
- A chainsaw for text editing8
- Unmatched productivity8
- Developer speed7
- Super fast7
- Makes you a true bearded developer7
- Because its not Emacs7
- Modal editing changes everything7
- You cannot exit6
- Themes6
- EasyMotion5
- Most and most powerful plugins of any editor5
- Shell escapes and shell imports :!<command> and !!cmd5
- Intergrated into most editors5
- Shortcuts5
- Great on large text files5
- Habit5
- Plugin manager options. Vim-plug, Pathogen, etc5
- Intuitive, once mastered4
- Perfect command line editor4
- Not MicroSoft1
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Cons of Kakoune
Cons of Vim
- Ugly UI8
- Hard to learn5