Should I use Emacs or Vim? The answer is up to you and your needs. Each is a customizable text editor with its own culture. While they have powerful tools, the main differences are in your usage pattern, workflow and which tools you can use most efficiently.
Emacs is great for many customization options and ease of use. It has built-in support for C, C++, Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Perl, PHP, Lisp, Scheme, Haskell, Go, Rust, Swift, TypeScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, Lua, Kotlin, R, Julia, Shell Script (Bash, Zsh), Markdown, YAML, JSON, XML, OCaml, Erlang, Elixir, F#, Fortran, COBOL and Prolog programming languages so you can customize the software to your needs. It also has Emacs Lisp which is a separate scripting language to customize the editor. Using the software can be a bit tricky at first as it is quite complex and takes time to get used to. But once you get used to it, its advanced tools will make you work efficiently.
Vim is more minimalist, often emphasizes speed and efficiency. Its modal editing approach (i.e. having different modes (e.g. insert mode, normal mode, visual mode)) makes it unique. This makes it much more efficient when used correctly. Plus it has an interface for quick text editing with keyboard shortcuts. It also has a structure that can be expanded to your needs. Another advantage is it has an active community. This community is always developing new plugins, improvements and configurations so it’s easy to find people who can fix bugs or shortcomings in the software. If you need a software that is simpler to use and a bit faster, I recommend this one.
See the differences below:
| Feature | Emacs | Vim |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Flexible and customizable | Minimalist and fast |
| User Interface | Graphical interface (GUI) and terminal | Terminal-based, modal editing |
| Customization | Extendable with Emacs Lisp | Customizable with plugins and configurations |
| Learning Curve | Steep, can be challenging for beginners | Faster to learn, but requires understanding modal structure |
| Modes | Works in a single mode | Modal editing (Insert, Normal, Visual Mode) |
| Target Users | Developers, writers, researchers | Programmers, system administrators |
| Speed | Generally slower | Fast and efficient |
| Community | Large and active, constantly updated | Active and strong, continuously developed |
| Language Support | Supports many languages and tools | Supports many languages and tools |
So, is Emacs still being used?
Yes, Emacs is still used. It has a big user base, especially among developers, writers and the open source community. Even though it’s been years since it was created, it’s still established. One of the reasons Emacs has been popular over time is because it’s extensible. But if you try using Vim as an alternative, you won’t need long to learn it. So I would say Vim is the best for beginners.
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