Our verdict: Vim is the classic keyboard-driven editor that is available on almost every system. Once you learn its modes and commands, editing text becomes very fast. The learning curve is steep, and for modern IDE features many users now choose Neovim.
About Vim
Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar and first released in 1991. Since his death in 2023 it has been maintained by the Vim community. Vim is charityware: it is free, and users are encouraged to donate to the ICCF Holland charity for children in Uganda.
The Windows installer includes gVim, a graphical version with menus and mouse support, and the console vim.exe. It can add an 'Edit with Vim' entry to the right-click menu. Vimscript and Vim9 script let you configure the editor and write plugins.
What it does well
- Modal editing. Separate modes for moving, inserting and selecting make editing fast without the mouse.
- gVim for Windows. A graphical version with menus, toolbar and mouse support.
- Plugins and scripting. Extend Vim with Vimscript or Vim9 script plugins.
- Macros and registers. Record repeated edits and replay them across a file.
- Runs everywhere. The same editor and configuration work on Windows, Linux, macOS and servers.
Who it is for
Good fit
Developers and admins who edit text all day and want an editor that works the same on every machine.
Look elsewhere
People who want an editor they can use well without learning commands, or a modern IDE out of the box.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very fast and light
- Available on almost every system
- Includes a Windows GUI
- Decades of plugins and documentation
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Plain look without configuration
- Fewer modern IDE features than Neovim
How to install Vim
The download button gets the 64-bit gVim installer for the current Vim release from vim.org. Newer signed builds are published on the vim-win32-installer GitHub page linked from vim.org. Run vimtutor after installing for a 30-minute introduction.
Questions about Vim
Is Vim free?
Yes. Vim is open source under the Vim license. It is charityware, so donations to ICCF Holland are encouraged but not required.
What is the difference between Vim and gVim?
gVim is the graphical version of Vim with menus and mouse support. The Windows installer includes both.
How do I exit Vim?
Press Esc, type :q and press Enter. Use :wq to save and quit, or :q! to quit without saving.
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