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Users of Vim and similars, what exactly makes it useful compared to other text editors? How much time do you suppose you save when working with it? (programming.dev)

submitted 2 months ago by ICastFist@programming.dev to c/ask_experienced_devs@programming.dev

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I'd like actual examples instead of "I work faster", something like "I can move straight to the middle of the file with 7mv" or "I can keep 4 different text snippets in memory and paste each with a number+pt, like 2pt", things that you actually use somewhat frequently instead of what you can do, but probably only did once.

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[–] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Ctrl-shift-}
How often do you want to delete exactly 9 words? It's much easier if this is interactive.
Not a common task IMO.
Ctrl-F and click a button. This is rare enough that a button click is fine.
Not sure what you mean by "jagger files" but I find multiple cursors are a lot easier to get right than e.g. regex replace because they give you instant feedback. Vim sequences are more like "oh you got it wrong, better start from scratch".

[–] abruptly8951@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

1 is just going to highlight right?

2, how about 6 words, 10 words, 100 words

3, 4 I use all the time

5 if your edit locations don't line up so that you can alt drag a single column, this is what I mean by jagged. I would use a combination of find and repeat action.

Start from scratch - skill issue :p

[–] FizzyOrange@programming.dev 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

how about 6 words, 10 words, 100 words

Yes exactly my point. How often do you need to delete exactly 100 words? Do you count them? Obviously not - you probably guess and delete 50, and then 25 and then 20 etc.

[–] abruptly8951@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

10dw . . .