Vim
Bram Moolenaar (original Vim), macvim-dev (MacVim port)
Vim, short for Vi IMproved, is a highly configurable text editor popular among developers, system administrators, and writers for its efficiency and power. MacVim is a actively developed port of Vim that seamlessly integrates with macOS, offering a native Mac application experience with features like tabbed editing, standard macOS shortcuts, and transparent backgrounds. Vim is known for its modal editing and extensive keyboard shortcuts that enable users to perform complex text manipulations quickly without relying on a mouse.
User Sentiments
Top Likes
- Highly efficient and fast text editing
- Extensive customization and plugin ecosystem
- Powerful keyboard shortcuts and modal editing
- Available on virtually any platform
Top Dislikes
- Steep learning curve
- Not intuitive for new users
- Configuration can be complex
Popular Comments
Reddit User - u/chazzerdoo
2020-06-08
I'm a developer and for years used Sublime but recently i moved to Vim in iTerm, and I think it's awesome, love it.
MacUpdate User - Version 9.1.1050 review
2025-02-02
MacVim is a port of the text editor Vim to Mac OS X that is meant to look better and integrate more seamlessly with the Mac than the older Carbon port of Vim. MacVim supports multiple windows with tabbed editing and a host of other features such as: Bindings to standard OS X keyboard shortcuts (⌘-Z, ⌘-V, ⌘-A, ⌘-G, etc.), Transparent backgrounds, Full-screen mode...
Reddit User - u/RuanPienaar
2023-10-22
I have successfully used vim for macOS development many many times. I use YCM with clangd and vimspector. You can generate a compilation database from Xcode project with xcpretty. Works for iOS too...
Mac App Store User - mocksa
2025-01-29
The real Vim. Of course you'll only benefit from this iOS port if using a physical keyboard, but that's the whole point. It's a true build of Vim, not a half-baked replica.
Reddit User - u/deleted
2021
Minimalist Mac Vim users: this is the only keyboard customization you need...Using Karabiner Elements, configure it so that tapping Caps Lock is Escape, while holding it is Control. This single modification makes Vim beautifully ergonomic.
Reddit User - u/rhysaurus
2021-08-04
Vim is the #4 most loved editor with a 70% rating, according to the 2021 Stackoverflow Developer Survey (Neovim is #1, VSCode #2).
Detailed Review
Vim is a venerable and highly efficient text editor available on macOS. While macOS comes with a terminal-based Vim pre-installed, MacVim provides a polished, native GUI application that enhances the Vim experience on Macs. MacVim integrates seamlessly with macOS, supporting standard keyboard shortcuts, transparent backgrounds, and tabbed editing. Vim itself is renowned for its modal editing, which separates text editing into distinct modes (Normal, Insert, Visual, etc.), allowing for powerful text manipulation primarily through keyboard commands. This modal approach, while initially challenging, leads to significant speed and efficiency gains for experienced users. Vim's strength lies in its extensive customizability and a vast ecosystem of plugins, enabling users to tailor the editor to their specific workflows and programming languages. It supports syntax highlighting for hundreds of languages, powerful search and replace functionalities, and integration with numerous development tools.
Standout Features
- Modal Editing: Vim's core feature, enabling efficient text manipulation through different modes and keyboard commands.
- Extensive Keyboard Shortcuts: Allows users to perform complex actions without lifting their fingers from the keyboard.
- Highly Customizable: Users can customize virtually every aspect of Vim through configuration files and plugins.
- Plugin Ecosystem: A vast collection of plugins extends Vim's functionality for various tasks and programming languages.
- Cross-Platform Availability: Vim is available on almost every operating system, ensuring consistency across different environments.
- MacVim GUI: Provides a native macOS application experience with GUI enhancements and better system integration compared to terminal Vim.
Conclusion
Vim, especially MacVim on macOS, is an excellent choice for users seeking a powerful, efficient, and highly customizable text editor. While its steep learning curve can be daunting for beginners, the investment in learning Vim pays off in increased productivity and text editing prowess for developers, writers, and system administrators alike. MacVim makes Vim more accessible and user-friendly on macOS, leveraging the system's features for a smoother experience. For those willing to dedicate time to mastering its intricacies, Vim becomes an indispensable tool for text manipulation and coding.
