Transitioning to Productive Development: My Journey with VIM and Emacs

My journey with VIM and Emacs as primary code editors was not without challenges. As a developer, I initially struggled with these versatile yet powerful editors. However, the journey towards mastering these tools was as rewarding as it was enlightening. In this article, I will share my experience transitioning from intermittent to proficient use of VIM and Emacs, and how it ultimately enhanced my productivity.

Initial Struggles and Intermittent Use

For several years, I relied on VIM only sporadically. Typically, it was when I had to log into a Solaris server and quickly edit a configuration file. This intermittent use did little to cement my skills, as my proficiency with VIM remained limited and largely unused in my daily coding activities.

It was only when I committed to exclusively using VIM as my primary editor that the learning process truly began. I understood that the key to mastering VIM or Emacs lies not just in learning a list of commands, but in integrating them into my workflow to the point where they become second nature.

Progressing Through Levels of Proficiency

My journey with VIM and Emacs can be divided into several stages, each marking a significant milestone in my proficiency.

Level 0: Basic Navigation

Stage 0: At the very beginning, I was able to get into VIM, delete a line, add a line, save a file, and quit. This minimal level was like scratching the surface and gave me a basic understanding of the editor's interface.

Level 1: Core Command Mastery

Stage 1: Moving on, I learned the core set of commands, which is where I officially became a functional VIM user. I managed to perform basic operations like deleting and adding lines, and saved the file. However, my proficiency at this stage was limited, resembling a basic proficiency in a new language.

Level 2: Ingraining Core Movements

Stage 2: The next stage involved ingraining the core movements required for efficient editing. At this point, I began to navigate the editor with more ease and confidence. Learning and regularly practicing these movements significantly improved my efficiency.

Level 3: Advanced Concepts and Speed

Stage 3: Finally, I delved into more sophisticated movement concepts, such as Vim objects, Vim surround, relative numbers, named buffers, and other features that allowed for faster and more intuitive editing. This stage marked a significant shift in how I approached coding and development.

Initial Learning Curve: Weeks

After devoting a few weeks to these initial stages, my productivity with VIM did not diminish; in fact, it remained comparable to that of a non-VIM user. The learning curve felt steep, but the gains in efficiency were minimal at this stage.

Steady Growth: Months

Over the next few months, as I continued to use VIM more frequently, I began to outpace my non-VIM colleagues. My proficiency grew steadily, and I started to make noticeable improvements in my editing speed and efficiency.

Long-Term Evolution: Years of Continuous Learning

Interestingly, the process of mastering VIM and Emacs is not a static one. Even now, years after starting my journey, I continue to learn and seek to ingrain new commands. My editing speed continues to improve, and I now edit code at a rate that is probably double that of a skilled non-VIM developer.

From VIM to Emacs to IDEs

While my journey with VIM and Emacs has been rewarding, I have also observed the evolution of software development tools. Nowadays, I resort to using proper IDEs most of the time, such as JetBrains’ IntelliJ IDEA or Visual Studio Code.

However, there are scenarios where I still resort to VIM or Emacs, especially when I need a lightweight, efficient editor. Despite these modern IDEs, I value the deep understanding and speed I gained from mastering VIM and Emacs.

Conclusion: The journey to becoming a productive developer with VIM and Emacs is a long and ongoing process. While the initial learning curve may be steep, the long-term benefits in terms of productivity and coding efficiency are significant. Even years later, the skills and habits I developed continue to pay dividends in my development career.