The Vim Hype Is Real
Everywhere you look, developers are praising Vim:
- "Faster than a mouse"
- "Never leave the keyboard"
- "Edit files over SSH like a pro"
So I switched. Completely. For six months.
What I Loved
Navigation is magic. Once you build muscle memory, jumping around files feels superhuman.
Text editing is powerful. Manipulating text inside Vim is unlike anything else.
It works everywhere. Same experience whether local, remote, or in a container.
What I Hated
The learning curve is steep. First month was painful. I was slower at everything.
Plugins are overwhelming. The plugin ecosystem is powerful but confusing. I spent more time configuring Vim than coding.
Pair programming was awkward. Watching someone else use Vim when you don't know it... frustrating.
The Verdict
I still use Vim for quick edits over SSH. But for my main development work? I'm back in VS Code.
And that's okay.
The Real Lesson
The best tool is the one that lets you focus on writing code, not configuring your editor.
TL;DR
- Vim is powerful but has a steep learning curve
- Great for remote work, tough for beginners
- Use what makes you productive
- Don't let peer pressure dictate your tools