A Eulogy for Vim
drewdevault.com
March 25, 2026
5 min read
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53/100
Summary
Vim has been integral to the author's writing process, with nearly all written content, including blog posts, code, and emails, being created using the software. The author describes a deep, intuitive relationship with Vim, where its modes and keybindings are second nature.
Key Takeaways
- The author has a deep personal connection to Vim, using it extensively for writing and coding throughout their life.
- Bram Moolenaar, the creator of Vim, passed away, and the author reflects on his altruistic commitment to providing education and healthcare to Ugandan children.
- The author expresses concern about the negative impacts of generative AI, including environmental issues, exploitation of workers, and the rise of fascism.
- To maintain their relationship with Vim, the author has forked the software, creating Vim Classic based on version 8.2.0148, prior to the introduction of Vim9 Script.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- The maturity of Vim9 script is being leveraged by advanced AI development tools, showcasing the potential for enhanced productivity in coding workflows.
- GitHub Copilot's integration with Vim demonstrates how AI can assist in software development, potentially streamlining the coding process.
Concerns
- The AI boom is contributing to significant energy consumption, raising ethical concerns about its environmental impact and the displacement of jobs.
- Reliability issues have emerged in software where AI is responsible for the majority of commits, indicating potential risks in trusting AI-generated outputs.
