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Vim vs Emacs

Developers should learn Vim for its speed and efficiency in editing code without relying on a mouse, making it ideal for remote server work, terminal-based workflows, and repetitive editing tasks meets developers should learn emacs when they need a highly customizable, keyboard-centric editing environment that can be tailored to specific workflows, such as software development, technical writing, or system administration. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Vim

Developers should learn Vim for its speed and efficiency in editing code without relying on a mouse, making it ideal for remote server work, terminal-based workflows, and repetitive editing tasks

Vim

Nice Pick

Developers should learn Vim for its speed and efficiency in editing code without relying on a mouse, making it ideal for remote server work, terminal-based workflows, and repetitive editing tasks

Pros

  • +It is especially valuable in environments where GUI editors are unavailable or for users who prioritize keyboard shortcuts and customization to boost productivity
  • +Related to: vimscript, neovim

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Emacs

Developers should learn Emacs when they need a highly customizable, keyboard-centric editing environment that can be tailored to specific workflows, such as software development, technical writing, or system administration

Pros

  • +It is particularly valuable for tasks requiring extensive text manipulation, automation, or integration with tools like Git, shells, and debuggers, making it ideal for power users who prefer efficiency over simplicity
  • +Related to: emacs-lisp, vim

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Vim if: You want it is especially valuable in environments where gui editors are unavailable or for users who prioritize keyboard shortcuts and customization to boost productivity and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Emacs if: You prioritize it is particularly valuable for tasks requiring extensive text manipulation, automation, or integration with tools like git, shells, and debuggers, making it ideal for power users who prefer efficiency over simplicity over what Vim offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Vim wins

Developers should learn Vim for its speed and efficiency in editing code without relying on a mouse, making it ideal for remote server work, terminal-based workflows, and repetitive editing tasks

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev