I tried a couple of times and it’s still magic to see anyone able to use it properly

I’ll just stick to VScode for now I guess

  • The_Pete@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 years ago

    If you are actually interested in learning, it’s not too hard, you’ll be slow for a little bit but it pays off in the end.

    First, understanding there are actions and objects and quantifiers. Actions are what you do to objects, so when you want to (d) delete, that is the action, then you’d want to specify a object. ($) being the end of the line, (^) start, (w) is word, (j), (g) is top of file and so on, these are already the words you’ll use to move along as well.

    Then, for many of these we can add quantifiers, i.e. repeat x number of times.

    So 3dw is delete three words and 3dj is three lines down and so on. If you want to select, it’s just swap v for d and off to the races.

    Once you learn the basic concept, you really only need a few actions and a few objects to be functional.

    Print/find/make a cheat sheet and put it up by your monitor or keyboard and give yourself a week.

    Also, checkout the vimtudor or vim golf and play the game for a few minutes.

  • Davel23@lemmy.ml
    2·
    2 years ago

    35 years ago (give or take) I used vi (no “m”) for email and Usenet. I doubt I could remember how to do anything useful with it now.

    • Leigh@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 years ago

      This is exactly how I learned all those years ago, and to this day, I still use vim regularly. As in, literally, I was using it on a server this morning to make some changes. It’s just become natural to me now.

  • jmsw22@lemmy.ml
    1·
    2 years ago

    I have about 30 years of my career left. That’s not enough time for the return on investment of learning VIM to payout.

    • taj@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 years ago

      Eh. I know the basics. I can open, do some very basic editng, save and close. That’s about as much as is really needed, right?

  • TheInsane42@lemmy.ml
    1·
    2 years ago

    Drat, I’ve been working with vi for 35y now… (feeling old) I’m glad I now know how to kill the mouse functions in vim so X clipboard works. ;)

    Tried emacs once (in '94)… opened an extra xterm and killed it as I couldn’t figure out how to save and exit. (it’s just what you’re used to ;) )

    • Petri@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 years ago

      I would never use an IDE that didn’t have a Vi/Vim mode or plugin :-)

  • skookumasfrig@sopuli.xyz
    0·
    2 years ago

    The only way to learn to use it is to use it. It’s OK if you don’t but using it will get you there. I’ve been a vi & vim user since the 90’s and I’m still learning new things.

    • taj@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 years ago

      I can use it. I just… I would rather not. Nano is soo much nicer…