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I enjoy using vim, its endless features and the way it does things (for the most part). I've been using it on and off (not as my main editor) for at least 7 years now, so while I'm far from being an expert, I generally know my way around it.
Now, while I love it in the command-line, I'd really like it to be my main editor in Windows and Linux GUIs. But... gvim... is horrible. It breaks so many usability "rules" on Windows that it's not even worth fighting with it. Not even Cream, with its changes and fancy .vimrc, saves the day.
So, my question is: is there a modern vim GUI for Windows and Linux that makes it look and behave as most GUI editors? Having Sublime Text, Kate, TextMate or Editra's GUI with vim's features would be incredible. I realize all four (as well as many other editors) have plugins that sort of makes them behave like vim, but it's nowhere close (at least for Editra and Sublime Text, not sure for the others) the real vim.
Vim being open source, I'm really not sure why there hasn't been a complete GUI overhaul yet. Do people not use gvim?
15Personally, I use gVim on Windows precisely because it behaves the same way as the console/terminal
vim
on Unixes. – user1686 – 2011-09-10T16:30:17.6931It would be useful to know some details of the usability rules with which you find gVim particularly at fault. – RedGrittyBrick – 2011-09-10T20:43:02.510
2OK, here's one: selecting some text in visual mode and scrolling actually modifies the selection. I understand this happens because the cursor always has to remain visible, and it helps using the 'o' command while in visual mode, but this is so counter-intuitive to standard GUI apps. I see many people use gVim just because it behaves like Vim, but then why just not use console Vim? Setting up a Linux environment in Windows and/or using a good terminal like mintty is very easy to do. – imiric – 2011-09-10T21:35:10.970
2Instead of "setting up a Linux environment in Windows", why not just use gVim? No setup needed. – user1686 – 2011-09-10T22:24:19.287
Here's another interesting discussion about having a modern GUI for Vim: http://groups.google.com/group/vim_use/browse_thread/thread/515733a49dc58074
– imiric – 2011-09-14T03:22:38.773I completely share your frustrations--I discovered the power of Vim about two years ago, and I tried using it exclusively for about a year, but I realized that my frustration with the (lack of) GUI killed any marginal productivity bonus I got from Vim, so I ended up switching to another editor and have not regretted it. (Although I do miss it from time to time.) I suggest you do the same, because most Vim folks simply don't care about the GUI--MacVim is a special case. Don't try to fight with it; accept that it's simply not for you. – Sasha Chedygov – 2012-03-29T08:34:02.263
Hehe thanks for the support musicfreak, this doesn't seem like a popular opinion among geeks. The reality is that I can't live without Vim, it really makes development much faster and comfortable once you get used to its idiosyncrasies. Which is why I've abandoned gVim and kept using console Vim exclusively, and it's worked out great. gVim is a horrible app, stick to Vim. – imiric – 2012-03-30T14:57:45.757