Helix 23.10: What's New?

Let's check out the new features of the 23.10 release of the Helix text editor.

Contact:

#helix

[acalinp]

I really like Helix. I don't feel I'm missing anything. Tried to use NeoVim for about half a year, got my own config with the plugins I wanted, however I switched back to Helix since it just works and does so pretty well. I like the simple configuration and the command discoverability. And after getting used to the key bindings it honestly feels more natural and user friendly than vim. I don't know, using Helix is nice and I can't wait to see how it evolves. I hope it has a long future ahead of it!

[ChrisHaupt]

Yeah, I was really hoping for a plugin system too. But I will nevertheless continue using Helix for many daily tasks as it is so much more fun to use than VSCode, and I always get the feeling like my coding capabilities are increasing the more I learn about Helix. The main thing that I still have to use VSCode for is file management. If I'm setting up a new part of a project that requires making lots of new files and moving things around due to a refactor, VS code's file tree is still a lot easier to work with. This is why I'm hoping for a nice file management plugin or for Helix to introduce its own file management system.

[jhonyortiz]

People keep talking about whats missing on Helix. And people can have their own preferences. But at this point im so tired of vs code being as bulky as an IDE because of all the extensions. Or maintaining a neovim config and plug-ins. Neovim plugins keep being replaced all the time. Helix is less flexible, and has a different workflow, but if a text editor and an lsp is the main things you need, helix works just fine. Its less bloated than neovim once youve added all the neovim plug-ins, obviously less bloated than vs code, and just lets you focus on coding. It doesn't have as many features, it truly is minimalist, and i like that, it works for me. Basically, it just has the right amount of features. Anything missing, and well, I'm already in a shell, there are other tools to compensate.

[endogeneticgenetics]

Helix has gotten good! As in usable as a primary tool. Been maining neovim for 2 years. But it's become a *chore* to keep up with and fix and change. (Packer deprecation forcing moves to lazy.nvim was a huge pain; and I discovered that managed versions like LazyVim just... neovim isn't designed to be managed.) Helix has inlay hints debugging, crazy speed. I think the default keybinds are really questionable. But I can change most of that. And there's more than enough good to make up for it. Really excited. The fact that it's in Rust also means it will be way easier to contribute or fork. So great. (I remember my first Helix vid being from this channel way back!)

[eidiazcas]

I love helix, but we neeeed a plugin system

[stefan_luptak]

So how do people run a test for a particular file or line with a keyboard shortcut when using Helix? In my opinion, this is a show stopper for any real development. Or am I missing something?

[michaelcarnevale]

Helix needs a file tree imo, even more than a plugin system atm - tho obviously neovim will reign as king until helix has a plugin system

[thatguynar]

Still waiting for them to add a file treeee

[tobias-edwards]

This is pretty cool but I don't know if it's enough for me to drop my long-term Neovim setup. I'm concerned if one day Helix gets deprecated

[SkullTraill]

My main development stack involves React + StyledComponents. Until I can use a LSP that supports both of those in a TSX file (getting for CSS in the styled-component AND the TS + React stuff in the React component) I simply cannot work with hx.

[pt]

Something you will find is the biggest Neovim promoters are Youtubers and people who don't actually do much coding but instead promote Neovim. Nobody with a job is going to spend 3hrs configuring a text editor which after a month stops working due to some dependency problem 😂

[ayoubelmhamdi]

i try to remove all plugins that i use now, because the correct way is to write code, not copy pasting, also autocompletions and Formatting, are so bad, it makes many errors and less merrory muscles, and some wrong habit, and we use less vim motions, when i remove any plugins from my setup, i will switch to helix.

[espolete]

I will certainly switch when they fully support VIM motions

[zeocamo]

almost all programs that you want to use support or got a plugin for Vim keymaps, this is important as you don't need to switch around, so i don't think Helix is useful.