Neovim vs Vim

After a long time using Neovim and following many heated debates between Neovim and Vim fans, I realized that instead of arguing, we should focus on understanding the differences between them.

Vim: A Minimalist Text Editor

For me, Vim is a simple text editor. I often use Vim when SSHing into servers, where installing additional software like Neovim is unnecessary. In such cases, Vim truly shines compared to other editors like Nano. Vim (or Vi) is always pre-installed on servers, making editing quick and convenient.

No plugins or complex configurations are needed—just a few basic settings like set syntax, and everything is ready to go.

Neovim: Aiming to Replace IDEs

On the other hand, Neovim aims to replace powerful editors like Visual Studio Code, Helix, IntelliJ, and other IDEs. This is evident in Neovim's roadmap and recent updates.

Notably, with version 0.11, Neovim introduced built-in autocomplete, a feature that previously required plugins like nvim-cmp or blink.nvim. Additionally, setting up LSP (Language Server Protocol) has become much simpler thanks to new improvements in this version.

Conclusion: Vim and Neovim for Different Purposes

In conclusion, for me, Vim and Neovim serve entirely different purposes. Therefore, the debate over whether to use Vim or Neovim is no longer necessary. I use both, depending on my specific needs and circumstances.