Vim is a text editor that allows users to write code, edit files, and do many other things. This open-source and highly configurable application can often be used as a console editor and with a graphical user interface (GUI). VIM is old-school and has a steep learning curve, but it can be compelling once you get used to it.

VIM history

VIM stands for VI IMproved. The application's name comes from a text editor called VI, which Bill Joy created in 1976, written in the programming language UNIX. In 1991, Bram Moolenaar started working on VIM, and he wanted to improve the functionality of VI. He created many new features that were not available in vi.

Vim modes

The VIM editor has different modes that can be used for different types of editing tasks:

• The Normal mode is used for general text editing, navigating the document, and selecting text or objects. This is where you'll spend most of your time while using VIM.

• The Insert mode can be used for entering text or commands. This can be useful when pasting text into a file or when typing text that needs to be added to the end of a file.

• Visual mode allows you to select text and perform operations, such as deleting or copying it. This can be useful for automating or scripting repetitive tasks.

Vim plugins

Plugins are one of the most valuable features of VIM because they allow the editor to be customized and extended in numerous ways. Plugins can be used to add new features, such as syntax highlighting for programming languages. VIM has many plugins that are contributed by the open-source community. This is one of the main reasons why VIM is such a powerful editor. VIM's plugin architecture allows users to add new functionality to the editor without modifying the editor's code.

Keyboard shortcuts

VIM also has a wide range of keyboard shortcuts that can be customized for each user to optimize efficiency and productivity. They are unique because they don't map the keys to a specific command. Instead, they map the keys to the desired functions, which allows users to create custom shortcuts to meet their needs and preferences.

Persistent multi-level undo tree

VIM has a persistent undo tree that stores all changes made to the document. This allows you to go back and redo changes to your document, even after you've closed and reopened it.

VIM auto-commands

Auto commands take effect automatically upon certain events taking place within VIM. They're handy because they don't require user input – they only run when needed.

Conclusions

VIM is a powerful and flexible text editor application that can be used to edit any text file. It offers many features, including highly customizable keyboard shortcuts, and can be extended using plugins to perform various tasks. Though, the app has its limitations: it might take some effort to master it, and it's not meant to create text documents. Overall, the VIM application is a powerful tool that can be used by anyone who needs to work with text daily.