Learning Vim in a Week

Mike Coutermarsh presents a talk based on his great blog post, Learning Vim in a Week. The talk is beginner focused and covers getting up and running, and eventually productive with Vim.

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[kennyken]

after opening vim for the first time, you can''t quit. that's how addictive it is

[pangpengmaster]

I learnt Vim a year ago. I could probably say, it is the most significant thing i've learned in my life just after learning how to read.

[humbertocontreras]

Totally agree. Learning Vim is a process. I've been using it for about 13 years and I'm still learning new things every month.

[dysonlu]

4:12 "God forbid Eclipse". I already love this video! LOL

[kosodrzewinka]

This was insanely helpful! Been using Vim for around 2 months and this video really was a breakthrough for me.

[angela_jx]

One of the biggest advantages I’ve had with using vim for about 3 years now is that it simply doesn’t matter what system you’re on, whether if there’s Sublime or VS Code or whatever you usually use. Vim or Vi is pretty much pre-installed on every system. So you’re not only more effective and efficient but you’re also not dependent on any other text editor going forward

I started learning Vim with this video around 6 years ago. I came across Vim when I had RSI problems in my wrist and try to get rid of mouse. Since then I am using Vim mainly. Thanks again!

[MaggotDiggo]

Learning Vim is like learning to type. It's frustrating but worth it in the long run.

[peripona]

That’s the most fluent talk on vim I have seen. Motivates me to start it now

[batchrocketproject]

I'd been using vim for years until I experienced a breakthrough where it finally chimed. I used it mainly because I was always in terminal but hated nano. I relied on a tiny subset of commands (even using arrow keys instead of hjkl). I was vaguely aware of many more features (such as the change inside example) but rarely used them. For me, the breakthrough came when I consciously slowed right down and though about every action before I did it. It became like a game to think of alternative ways to do whatever I trying to do. I enjoyed thinking of ways that involved the fewest toggles between insert and command mode. Within a couple of days I was using macros, often with quite elaborate collections of actions. I definitely agree with the suggestion to 'speak' the commands and I found it was soon like I was giving silent verbal instructions directly to my hands - the computing equivalent of learning to ride a bike. It's definitely a worthwhile investment to learn vim. I only wish I'd done so properly years before.

[ThomasKingo]

This was really inspiring. Vim sounds like an investment in life. 
Only one thing left to do. Practice, practice, practice. 

[Pittsburghfix]

Great video, I am now learning vim and it's going well after only a day. The one thing that helped me was to use chrome extension vimium in conjunction with vim. Seems to be easier as I am making use of all the navigation commands while browsing the web.

[kuruptgt]

10:40 the key repeat setting can now be changed in your terminal:
defaults write -g InitialKeyRepeat -int 10 # normal minimum is 15 (225 ms)
defaults write -g KeyRepeat -int 1 # normal minimum is 2 (30 ms)
It's life changing. You're welcome.

[prasannarajaram]

I should actually _thank you_ for the nice presentation.
I just want to take all your points and use it for *Emacs*. It fits it well

1. Different from everything you have used before
2. Don't start at work
3. Break up with your mouse
4. But can it? ---- yes it can!
5. Always a better way!
6. Learn something every week

And the quote from Tom too...
" Sometimes you got to work a a little so you can ball a a lot "

[marufhasan]

One cool thing I have learned recently that Crtl+C does the same thing as ESC, which saved me a lot of time when changing mode. Another thing is that you can jump to any line by typing '<line-number>gg'. That certainly makes navigation easier.

[EarnestRedwoodLINUXMASTER]

Thanks Mike you did a great job on how I should approach Vim. I am a Linux Admin and form looking at this video this will help me out about.

[edotk]

best vim intro i've seen to date! +1

[evergreen-]

9:18 regarding Caps Lock to Escape key remap, on macOS 13 Ventura the remap can be done natively by going to Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts... > Modifier Keys > in a dropdown menu set Caps Lock key to Escape

[ianpan]

[ Emacs User Alert! ] The biggest problem with Vim keybindings that I could think of is that it really gets deep in your brain, and you'll not be able to effectively edit text on other software or platform without constantly reminding yourself NOT to use 'hjkl' to navigate or press 'i' and 'ESC' to hop in and out of Insert Mode. While with Emacs bindings all the navigating shortcuts are prefixed with Ctrl or Meta (Alt) and can be ported to different platforms once you get used to it!

[samsamhuns]

Wtf, this is some life-changing material. Especially after reducing my key delay I think my typing speed just exploded lol.