Over the years I've used many different programs to alter text. Either for config files, writing code, creating documents, or even just jotting down some notes.
Then after using Linux for a while I'd heard about Vim and how it was worth trying it out. The initial learning curve is pretty steep, but after just a short while, I knew it was worth it.
I've now been using it for about 4 years as my sole text editor, and I am still learning more every time I read anything about it.
This entire site was created using only vim!
This page is dedicated to Vim - Please try it out (even if you're running Windows!)
Vim certainly doesn't look like much, it's clean, no toolbars, no dropdowns, no annoying animated stationary, basically it's just an editor. You use it to EDIT TEXTBASED FILES! But once you actually start using it, then you really see the power.
The whole idea is to keep you fingers on (or very near) the home row, no need to use the mouse, you don't even need the cursor keys. Sounds very limiting, but believe me it's not!
There are three modes to help you edit :
Normal - This is where the majic happens. In this mode a few key presses does alot of things to your text
Insert - In this mode you actually do your typing
Visual - Hi-light sections and use the normal mode commands to alter your selected text.
I'm not going to go into detail on how to use it, there are enough pages on the web dedicated to that - most wrote better than I could. I just thought I'd push Vim to a wider audience.
If you try it, and think it's as cool as us geeks do - then you may want to sample some plugins/scripts, these are the main ones I use :There are many others out there, but these are the ones I think I use the most.
Below you will see some pics - vim in use, a handy cheat sheet, and maybe some other stuff.
NOW GO TRY IT
This is just a rough page, I will be adding my .vimrc, some cheatsheets and other crap over time!
