Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Re: why is it so difficult to start using vim (may be just for me).

Deepak,

Firstly, Vi/VIM/GVim is not an easy editor to use! That's the good news. There's nothing wrong with you or your potential in using VIM. But you must be patient and persevering.

Secondly, there's no secret to VIM but practice and more practice. As a number of people have said, muscle memory!

Third, you need resources. I recommend a good book to get you started (at least the first five chapters)
http://pntpm4.ulb.ac.be/pntpm/Files/OReilly.Learning.the.vi.and.Vim.Editors.7th.Edition.Jul.2008.pdf

Remember! Read slowly, reread, and practice. I have read chapters repeatedly to grasp what the author is saying. Also, I recommend you search for VIM cheat sheets or reference sheets online. As you read the aforementioned book, you may find yourself saturated. In these times, pick up the reference sheets and read them. Then practice and practice. As you read, you may find its time to organize what you read into your own reference document. Do that! Using VIM. This will aid you in moving between 'command mode' and 'insert mode' and navigating text blocks. You will begin to appreciate the evolution of the software from ex to Vi to VIM to GVim.

As an ancillary, I recommend that you create two text files to practice what you read with: (1) with normal text/sentences (i.e. copy a paragraph from a novel laying around the house.) (2) download or use a C or programming language file. Depending on your objective, you may want to focus on getting better at a specific task that you aim to use the editor for.

I'm a beginner to Vi/Vim myself. This is how I started and I'm 2 months in. You can do it. Just be patient.

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