Vimscript vs Emacs Lisp

The language that makes Vim powerful, but also the reason you'll need a therapist after debugging it meets the lisp that turns your text editor into an os, whether you wanted one or not. Here's our take.

Vimscript

Nice Pick

The language that makes Vim powerful, but also the reason you'll need a therapist after debugging it.

Pros

• Deep integration with Vim's core features like buffers and modes
• Enables complex automation and custom key mappings
• Widely supported by the Vim plugin ecosystem

Cons

• Syntax can be arcane and inconsistent, making debugging a nightmare
• Limited modern language features compared to alternatives like Lua

Emacs Lisp

The Lisp that turns your text editor into an OS, whether you wanted one or not.

Pros

• Tight integration with Emacs allows for deep editor customization
• Dynamic scoping and macros enable powerful, expressive code
• Mature ecosystem with extensive libraries for text processing

Cons

• Dynamic scoping can lead to confusing bugs and debugging headaches
• Steep learning curve for those new to Lisp or Emacs's idiosyncrasies

The Verdict

Use Vimscript if: You want deep integration with vim's core features like buffers and modes and can live with syntax can be arcane and inconsistent, making debugging a nightmare.

Use Emacs Lisp if: You prioritize tight integration with emacs allows for deep editor customization over what Vimscript offers.

The Bottom Line

Vimscript wins

The language that makes Vim powerful, but also the reason you'll need a therapist after debugging it.