Vim (Vi IMproved)
Vim, short for “Vi IMproved,” is an enhanced, improved, and extended version of the Vi text editor. Developed by Bram Moolenaar in the early 1990s, Vim builds upon the foundation of Vi while adding numerous features and improvements. It is a more feature-rich and upgraded version of the Vi editor. It includes all the features of Vi but also adds additional features as well.
Features
- Vim has all the functionality of Vi while adding numerous enhancements and features.
- It includes syntax highlighting.
- Allows search and replace with regular expressions.
- Has support for extensive customization through plugins and scripting.
- Has an active and dedicated user community.
- It is available on various platforms, including Unix-like systems, Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Vi (Visual Editor) |
Vim (Vi IMproved) |
---|---|
Original text editor with a minimalistic design |
Enhanced version of Vi with additional features |
Vi is a modal text editor |
Vim is also a modal text editor but with additional modes |
Does not support syntax highlighting |
Supports syntax highlighting |
Limited customization |
Extensive customization |
Does not have plugins and script support |
Supports plugins and scripts |
Discontinued and does not provide community support |
Has an active and dedicated community support |
Does not have search and replace functionality |
It has search and replace functionality |
Vi vs. Vim: Choosing the First Right Text Editor
Vi and Vim are both text editors used primarily in Unix-like operating systems, although they are available on various platforms. They both are powerful text editors known for their efficient text manipulation and keyboard-driven interface. Whether you should learn Vi before Vim depends entirely on you, your requirements, and your specific goals and needs. Vim is an extended, enhanced, and improved version of Vi, and it includes all the functionality of Vi along with many additional features. Here are some factors to consider while deciding whether to go with “vi” or “vim” before starting.
Minimalism: Vi has a minimalistic design. Learning Vi first can give you a solid understanding of the basics and may make it easier to transition to Vim later.
Efficient Workflow: If your primary goal is to use the powerful and advanced text-manipulation capabilities of Vim then it would be better to start with Vim directly.
Older Systems: On the other hand if your goal is to work on older systems or simply want a minimalistic text editing experience, Vi might be your go-to choice.
Learning Curve: Vim has a steeper learning curve compared to Vi because of its additional features.
Vim is the more widely used and powerful option overall, so sooner or later, you may want to transition to Vim for a more feature-rich text editing experience.
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