this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2025
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When I was in high school I found Sublime Text and learned "multiple cursors". Since then, I've transitioned to vscode, mainly because I need LSP (without too much configuration work) for my work.

I keep hearing about how modal editing is faster and I would like to switch to a more performant editor. I've been looking at helix, as the 4th generation of the vi line of editors. Is anyone using it? Is it any good for the main code editor?

The problem that I have is that learning new editing keybindings would probably take me a month of time, before I get to the same amount of productivity (if I ever get here at all). So I'm looking for advice of people who have already done that before.

My code editing does involve a lot of "ctrl-arrow" to move around words, "ctrl-shift-arrow" to select words, "home/end" to move to beginning/end of the line, "ctrl-d" for "new cursor at next occurrence", "shift-alt-down" for "new cursor in the line below", "ctrl-shift-f" for "format file" and a few more to move around using LSP-provided "declaration"/"usages".

I would have to unlearn all of that.

Also, I do use "ctrl-arrow" to edit this post. Have you changed keybindings in firefox too?

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[–] slugr@leminal.space 5 points 1 month ago

neovim. i much prefer the motions of helix, but there’s just some plugins i can’t live without.

[–] eronth@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

VS Code with your favorite plugins is pretty fantastic for any editing in my experience. I've tried others and they do seem to work well, but not well enough to warrant switching, and they often come with quirks that are just annoying enough to make me want to switch back.

I suggest trying others to know what's out there, even if you ultimately end up back on VS Code.

[–] syklemil@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 month ago

I've moved on from vim to neovim, and I think I'll continue using something in that family in the future. It's a pretty stable experience overall, but the inclusion of LSPs and tree-sitter have been good improvements too.

Ultimately editors are tools, similar to keyboards, os-es, screens, chairs, shoes and so on. There are some objective quality differences between a well-constructed tool and some slapdash nonsense, and there are a huge amount of subjective quality differences. What suits me may not suit you, and vice versa.

It's generally good to try out some new (to you) stuff and see if you like it. If you do, great; if you don't, well, now you know. I think my worst experience was with Acme (or Wily? can't remember), during a phase where I experimented with Plan 9 stuff. Ultimately very not my cup of tea, but apparently Rob Pike (who made it) and some other gophers still enjoy it? Which is good for them, just like it's good for me that I can choose not to use it. It's just personal tastes, and I still think it's good that I gave it a go.

The debate over holding down modifier keys vs modes is also a part of the Emacs vs vi debate from many decades ago. There might be some statistics for what works best for the most people now, but again, use what suits you. And try some new stuff when you get curious, it's generally good for you.

[–] MITM0@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I use Lapce, which could be a great native alternative to VS-Code (Also it's built with Rust, this is for the Rustaceans)

There was a time where I used Geany as well, I still like it

[–] PapstJL4U@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

VS, VSCode, Sublime, Neovim,

I use Sublime for short scripts in Python, VSCode for angular|typescript, VS for c# and neovim for elixir, elm and all new stuff I learn on my own.

[–] communism@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

I just use Vim out of habit. I've been using it as my main text editor since I was like 13 or so, maybe more like 10 I don't really remember. It works perfectly well for the vast majority of my use cases. I use Jetbrains IDEs if I feel I need the power of a full IDE. Jetbrains has an IdeaVim plugin if you want it to be a modal editor, or if your fingers are accustomed to Vim keybindings.

[–] wuphysics87@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

Why do people use vscode over codium? (Minus the two people who actually know the answer)

[–] 0101100101@programming.dev 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Amateurs. I use butterflies.

https://xkcd.com/378/

[–] gamer@lemm.ee 3 points 1 month ago

I switched to and exclusively used vim for about a year. I switched back to Sublime one day, and found I was like 10x more productive and comfortable.

Just use the editor you like. There's no right or wrong answer!

... And btw, Sublime 4 has improved LSP support. Just install the base LSP plugin + plugins for the languages you want. Some even give the option to install the LSP server automatically if if's not detected.

[–] lonesomeCat@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

Helix because it's easy to setup and hassle free, and it runs well on my 2009 ASUS Eee

[–] chrastecky@phpc.social 3 points 1 month ago

@verstra I use Jetbrains for pretty much anything except C++, their editors are the best. I use it for PHP, Go, Java/Kotlin, C#, databases, Typescript and I'm probably missing something.

[–] kekmacska@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago

vscodium. Easy to use for beginners (i'm a beginner too), fully open-source, all microsoft tracking binaries removed. Aviable for Windows, Linux, macOS, darwin, propably bsd, or even as a webview, and supports a lot of architectures. Great for intrepeted languages, but supports compiled ones too

[–] MyNameIsRichard@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

If I'm working on a Qt project, I use Qt Creator, for a Java project I use Eclipse, otherwise I use VSCode.

[–] bitchkat@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Mostly emacs, vi, or what IDE I happen to be using like Eclipse.

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago

Most code I write is Java and I use IntelliJ for that. When I write Python I use PyCharm, anything else, Visual Studio Code or VSCodium.

All of these have plugins for vim keybindings which are always the first thing I install. I almost never disable them.

[–] shortrounddev@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I used to use vim but imo it's not worth the time it requires to configure to get working properly. These days I don't code without a debugger so if there's not a good way to set breakpoints I don't even start

[–] ArseAssassin@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Well, I've successfully used LSP for Sublime Text before. Would probably still use it if I hadn't transitioned to Neovim recently.

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[–] meldrik@lemmy.wtf 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] verstra@programming.dev 3 points 1 month ago

A coworker has told me that in a previous job, he was talking to an intern and mentioned IRC and intern asked what was that. He told him that it is the "old instant messaging", which another senior coworker overheard and chimed in that "no, IRC is the new messaging thing".

If someone would be asking be what netbean is, I'd say "an IDE from the old generation of editors", but I guess that is all relative :D

[–] Shareni@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago

Doom Emacs and lazyvim nvim.

Don't know about helix, and don't really care.

Modal is incomparably more comfortable, that's the main benefit.

The problem that I have is that learning new editing keybindings would probably take me a month of time, before I get to the same amount of productivity

Do you imagine vi-based editors don't let you use your mouse or what? Go through vim-tutor, learn the basic shortcuts you need, and you're back to your old productivity in a few days. You don't need to learn vi" to select a string, you can just use your mouse.

No offense to you or your habits, but C-arrow is an idiotic movement scheme. If you have to leave the home row to move around the text, you fucked up.

Just go through vim tutor...

[–] Kissaki@programming.dev 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I mainly work with C#, where I use Visual Studio. I think I mainly changed bindings for expand selection, and go to definition, declaration, implementation (ALT+A/+S/+D). All other bindings work out for me.

Cursor and selection "jumping" with CTRL and SHIFT, and using multiple cursors is a regular occurrence for me. I largely keep using keyboard, but for navigating I do often switch to or combine it with mouse.

When it's not C#, it's often VS Code, or otherwise Notepad++ for non-IDE simple editing. For even simpler quick edits I also use Double Commanders integrated text editor.

I use TortoiseGit, and its diff editor. I sometimes make changes there too. I also occasionally use KDiff or Winmerge.


I think whether it's worth to learn a new one should be determined by 1. what are your pain points/shortcomings, 2. what are the promises or your hopes, and 3. testing it out.

If you explore a promise and quickly find it not useful to you, it may be easy and simple to dismiss a switch without investing more.

[–] thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Helix’s is amazing. It’s pretty simple and it has tons of out of the box features like lsp support. I switched from vim and never looked back tbh. It’s far superior

[–] yournamehere@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

seeing mscode/codium/vswhatever makes my brain hurt. geocities of code. now i am using Zed. problem solved.

[–] stepan@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
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[–] GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Android Studio or VSCode usually.

But really, there's no single best option here - use whatever works the best with you and the tech you're targeting. The same advice applies for programming languages, libraries and just about everything in tech

[–] AdamBomb@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 1 month ago

I use JetBrains Rider for dotnet (with Vim emulation), VS Code for general misc code editing (with Vim emulation), and NeoVim for quick in-terminal edits and Git workflows. I even have vi-mode enabled in my terminals, but I haven’t bothered trying to do it in browser yet.

My experience is that modal editing is only a little faster, but it’s much more comfy, even fun! I enjoy coding with modal editing much more so than modeless. Being able to zip around the code without having to move my fingers to the arrow cluster just feels nice.

[–] whotookkarl@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Sublime text, vi, eclipse, emacs depending what I'm doing

[–] RedSeries@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

I personally enjoy using pycharm and vscode, depending on what I'm working on and what tools I need/want.

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