Emacs vs Vi?

[RobinVossen]

Hi, I guess this has been here before. But ok.
What do you prefer when you are programming?
Emacs or Vi?
And which is more like a IDE? Like can add the function to compile on one key press and open more files at once.
And enables to select text and then copy/move it?

Cheers,
Robin

[hazel]

I must admit I use gedit. It has the same kind of syntax colouring as vi and is much easier to use.

[Cabhan]

As for which a person prefers, that question triggers debates like you've never seen. Both vi and Emacs have their strengths. As a general rule, vi tends to be more minimalistic, while Emacs allows for an incredible degree of development and customization. I personally prefer vi, because I feel that it is better at being a text editor, but there is a ton of support for each. Try them both and see what you like!

Neither of them is an IDE. If you want an IDE, I suggest you use an IDE: there is always Anjuta or KDevelop for C/++, and Eclipse for Java. Both vi and Emacs are capable of having many files open at once, in separate buffers (and both can display more than one buffer at a time). Text can also be selected in both. You can use gVim to get mouse abilities in Vim, and Emacs has the mouse already. However, both vi and Emacs allow you to use the keyboard to select text by using marks.

I know that Emacs can run gcc, make, gdb, etc. all from right within the editor. vi can also be set up to run make and/or gcc for you. I have never done this process with either editor, however, so I can't speak on it.

I suggest that you find some tutorials on using both editors, and try them out.

[techieMoe]

I use neither to program. I write software in Eclipse. If I want to just edit a quick configuration file, vi works, and it's almost guaranteed to be installed on any UNIX or UNIX-like system.

[oz]

vi works, and it's almost guaranteed to be installed on any UNIX or UNIX-like system.

That's exactly why I started off in the beginning using vi, and I've not found any reason to change.

[Dapper Dan]

I started off with vi so I guess I'd say I prefer it, though my time with emacs is very limited. For a while now I've used joe and love it. To me, it's the simplest command line editor to use.

[anomie]

vi - learn your way around and use it everywhere.

Linux, *BSD, HP-UX, Solaris, etc.

It's part of the 'base system' in all of those.

------------------

P.S. I've written various scripts/programs in sh, bash, python, perl, and java using vi. You don't need an IDE for writing sysadmin-related apps.

[rcgreen]

Anybody remember a little rant about ed?

golem> ed

? 
help 
? 
? 
? 
quit 
? 
exit 
? 
bye 
? 
hello
? 
? 
eat flaming death 
? 
^C 
? 
^C 
? 
^D 
?

http://wwwth.mppmu.mpg.de/members/ha...eOfEditor.html

[RobinVossen]

Thanks for all the help.
My problem is that I only have a Console on this pc and can install in no-way X11 or Kdrive.
So a Graphical GUI (or even IDE) cant and wont work.
But well I dont really need a IDE since I dont use all the functions of it.
At to moment I use nano since I like it. But its not powerfull.
But what Id like to see in a texteditor is:
Cut/Copy
Syntax Hilighting
One Button Exec Command
Auto-Text Hilighting on known File type
Up to 4 Windows
Open Files bar (Which is closable)

Can vi or Emacs (or anyother) do that?
I never used either propher. And well. Nano.. for that?

Cheers,
Robin

[Lakshmipathi]

I started with vi and now mostly working gedit.
I used to switch between vi and gedit ..both works fine for me...