---
title: "Vim"
category: "Code editors"
tagline: "The classic modal text editor, installed alongside the original vi."
source: "pacman"
package: "vim"
command: "vim"
website: "https://www.vim.org/"
code: "https://github.com/vim/vim"
links:
  - name: "The original vi (ex-vi)"
    url: "https://ex-vi.sourceforge.net/"
---

## What it is

Vim is a text editor that runs in the terminal and is driven entirely from the keyboard. It's modal: in normal mode keys move around and edit, in insert mode they type text, and short commands combine into precise edits, such as `dw` to delete a word or `ci"` to change the text inside quotes.

It's found on almost every Unix-like system, so the skills carry over to any server you log in to. Run `vimtutor` for a half-hour introduction.

## Why it's here

- **Everywhere.** The same editor on your desktop and over SSH on any server.
- **Fast to start, fast to edit.** It opens instantly and keeps your hands on the keyboard.
- **The vi family.** Learn it here and Neovim, `vi` and Vim modes in other editors feel familiar.

## On CoreDesktop

Vim is installed from pacman. CoreDesktop also installs `vi` from the AUR package of the same name: the original ex/vi editor from the 1970s, kept for anyone who wants the real thing. CoreDesktop's own editor shortcuts, `n` and `eff`, open Neovim, which is set up with kickstart.nvim. `eff` uses `$EDITOR` if you've set it, so `export EDITOR=vim` makes it open Vim instead.

`update` keeps Vim current with the rest of the pacman packages, and `vi` with the AUR packages.