Guides
Vim guides
Fair comparisons, the best ways to learn, and Vim keys in the editor you already use. For single tasks, see the how-tos.
Learning Vim
- Is Vim worth learning? The honest costs and benefits Is Vim worth learning? The real costs (a slow first few weeks, config rabbit holes), the benefits (motions in VS Code, JetBrains, Zed, servers), and how to start.
- The best way to learn Vim in 2026 How to learn Vim: vimtutor, browser courses, games, books and the built-in manual compared by format, price and who each suits, plus a plan that works.
- Vim games: the best ways to learn Vim by playing Vim Adventures, VimGolf, Vim Racer, VIM GYM, daily Vim golf and more: what each Vim game teaches, what it costs, and whether you need to install anything.
- Vimtutor: what it teaches, how to start it, and what comes next Vimtutor is the free 30-minute Vim tutorial that ships with Vim. How to start it on any system, every lesson it covers, what it leaves out, and what to do next.
Comparisons
- Neovim vs VS Code: terminal editor or IDE-style app Neovim vs VS Code compared fairly: terminal vs GUI, setup time, extensions, LSP in both, remote work over SSH and containers, and Vim keys inside VS Code.
- Vim vs Emacs: modal editing or a programmable workshop Vim vs Emacs compared fairly: modal keys vs chords, Vimscript and Lua vs Emacs Lisp, Org mode, startup, and Evil mode for Vim keys inside Emacs.
- Vim vs nano: which editor to use on a server Vim vs nano for editing files over SSH: on-screen shortcuts vs modal editing, which is installed where, when nano is the right call, and how to set your default editor.
- Vim vs Neovim: what's different, and which to use Vim vs Neovim compared: config in Vimscript or Lua, the built-in LSP client, Tree-sitter, defaults, plugins and Vim9 script. The motions are identical in both.
- VSCodeVim vs vscode-neovim: Vim keys in VS Code, two ways VSCodeVim emulates Vim inside VS Code; vscode-neovim runs a real Neovim behind it. Compared on compatibility, config, macros, Ex commands and speed, and which to use.
Vim in your editor
- Vim in IntelliJ and other JetBrains IDEs: IdeaVim setup How to set up IdeaVim in IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm and other JetBrains IDEs: a starter ideavimrc, mapping IDE actions, shortcut conflicts and emulated plugins.
- Vim in VS Code: VSCodeVim setup and settings How to set up Vim motions in VS Code with VSCodeVim: the settings that matter, jk to Escape, clipboard, Ctrl key clashes, what does not work, and vscode-neovim.
- Vim mode in Obsidian: setup, vimrc and limits How to turn on Vim key bindings in Obsidian, what its CodeMirror Vim mode supports, how to keep mappings in an .obsidian.vimrc file, and where it falls short.
- Vim mode in Zed: setup, keys and settings How to use Vim mode in the Zed editor: turning it on, the Zed-specific keys for code navigation, settings, jk to Escape in keymap.json, and the known differences.