Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels • Hacker News Board

Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#1

Post by nickandbro » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 9:26 AM UTC

Just launched my app, VimGolf.ai! As users complete the levels on the map, I introduce progressively more complicated concepts — it’s aimed at people who have never used Vim. Any feedback would be much appreciated!

Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels
vimgolf.ai

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#2

Post by nylonstrung » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 10:53 AM UTC

Can you add Helix golf support?

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#3

Post by pluc » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 11:18 AM UTC

I get a Forbidden white screen in the vim "window" and that's that

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#4

Post by nickandbro » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 11:23 AM UTC

pluc wrote: post #3

I get a Forbidden white screen in the vim "window" and that's that

Thanks for the feedback! What browser are you using? Sometimes the containers also don’t work properly with certain VPNs.

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#5

Post by nickandbro » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 11:24 AM UTC

nylonstrung wrote: post #2

Can you add Helix golf support?

I’ll look into it! Definitely worth pursuing

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#6

Post by pluc » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 11:45 AM UTC

nickandbro wrote: post #4

pluc wrote: post #3

I get a Forbidden white screen in the vim "window" and that's that

Thanks for the feedback! What browser are you using? Sometimes the containers also don’t work properly with certain VPNs.

Could be it, Firefox w/ Mullvad on Linux. Gets a 403 on the second /session call, first one is a 302.

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#7

Post by nickandbro » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 11:57 AM UTC

pluc wrote: post #6

nickandbro wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the feedback! What browser are you using? Sometimes the containers also don’t work properly with certain VPNs.

Could be it, Firefox w/ Mullvad on Linux. Gets a 403 on the second /session call, first one is a 302.

Thank you, investigating this

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#8

Post by Hugsbox » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 12:04 PM UTC

I've wanted something like this for quite a while. I'm such a "basic" vim user, despite the fact that I'm 20 years into it... I do everything in INSERT mode, like a pleb. These might actually help me start using vim as it was intended to be

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#9

Post by nickandbro » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 12:05 PM UTC

Hugsbox wrote: post #8

I've wanted something like this for quite a while. I'm such a "basic" vim user, despite the fact that I'm 20 years into it... I do everything in INSERT mode, like a pleb. These might actually help me start using vim as it was intended to be

Thank you so much for your feedback!

Re: Show HN: Vimgolf.ai – Learn Vim by playing through a map of levels

#10

Post by BoxwoodSeed » Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 12:06 PM UTC

Uses unholy amounts of CPU making my laptop's fans spin out of control. Editing is very slow, too. Not really a good impression of vim. I'm still going to recommend people to use vimtutor to get used to vim.