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Vim users: stop using hjkl

vimcasts.org

1–10 of 218 posts

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#2
> Moving your Vim cursor around using the arrow keys is a bad habit ...

Yes, as is having a keyboard with more than 64 keys, a pointing device, software that allows character insertion, deletion and cursor motion all without changing modes, or any computer designed after 1980. We must all fight against this rising tide of convenience and efficiency by insisting that everyone use vim and its descendants.

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#3
I hate hjkl for the simple reason that I learned to type with my index fingers on F and J keys. I use search a heck of a lot more but I guess I should add w, b and e to my repertoire.

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#5
post #2

> Moving your Vim cursor around using the arrow keys is a bad habit ... Yes, as is having a keyboard with more than 64 keys, a pointing device, software that allows character insertion, deletion and cursor motion all without changing modes, or any computer designed after 1980. We must all fight against this rising tide of convenience and efficiency by insisting that everyone use vim and its descendants.

Being rude is a bad habit too.

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#8
post #2

> Moving your Vim cursor around using the arrow keys is a bad habit ... Yes, as is having a keyboard with more than 64 keys, a pointing device, software that allows character insertion, deletion and cursor motion all without changing modes, or any computer designed after 1980. We must all fight against this rising tide of convenience and efficiency by insisting that everyone use vim and its descendants.

No kidding. I spend a ton of my day in Vim and use the arrow keys because I like them. That's the only reason: I've tried hjkl (I mean, I've ascended seven times in Nethack, I know hjkl) and I don't like it. I even use motions...with the arrow keys. I have a Mac and the arrow keys are all of three and a half inches from the home row and I do not have the little blob in the back of my brain that lights up with pain when I am performing a trivial operation in a more mentally consistent but less optimal manner. (The time it's taken to write this post has probably outstripped any optimization I'd get for using hjkl...yearly.)

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#9
post #2

> Moving your Vim cursor around using the arrow keys is a bad habit ... Yes, as is having a keyboard with more than 64 keys, a pointing device, software that allows character insertion, deletion and cursor motion all without changing modes, or any computer designed after 1980. We must all fight against this rising tide of convenience and efficiency by insisting that everyone use vim and its descendants.

It really doesn't have to be dogma, stuff like this can really help building a habit especially if you use it every day.

I had this problem when I used to play Counter Strike Source. I was weapon switching with the scroll wheel which is just terrible, and since it is a shooting game I was getting shot because in a tight spot I couldn't pull out my pistol fast enough. So I just unbound the scroll wheel for a couple weeks and then using the number keys instead was natural, and now it doesn't matter if the scroll wheel is connected or not, I reach for the numbers first.

So after you fix the habit you can put the mapping back and still have it available.

Totally Unrelated: I read most of your book about sailing (most I think, you're in the Mediterranean,) and I've enjoyed it, cheers.

Re: Vim users: stop using hjkl

#10
post #6

This is okay advice, except that hjkl are actually useful occasionally. Disabling them will only hurt yourself.

The article says that. The title of this posting is a bit sensationalist, although it's used as a subtitle in the article itself.
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