This blog post details the author's highly automated Vim setup, emphasizing speed and efficiency. Leveraging plugins like vim-plug for plugin management and a variety of others for features like fuzzy finding, Git integration, and syntax highlighting, the author creates a streamlined coding environment. The post focuses on specific configurations and keybindings for tasks such as file navigation, code completion, compiling, and debugging, showcasing a personalized workflow built around minimizing friction and maximizing productivity within Vim. The ultimate goal is to achieve a near-IDE experience using Vim's powerful extensibility.
The author recreated the "Bad Apple!!" animation within Vim using an incredibly unconventional method: thousands of regular expressions. Instead of manipulating images directly, they constructed 6,500 unique regex searches, each designed to highlight specific character patterns within a specially prepared text file. When run sequentially, these searches effectively "draw" each frame of the animation by selectively highlighting characters that visually approximate the shapes and shading. This process is exceptionally slow and resource-intensive, pushing Vim to its limits, but results in a surprisingly accurate, albeit flickering, rendition of the iconic video entirely within the text editor.
Hacker News commenters generally expressed amusement and impressed disbelief at the author's feat of rendering Bad Apple!! in Vim using thousands of regex searches. Several pointed out the inefficiency and absurdity of the method, highlighting the vast difference between text manipulation and video rendering. Some questioned the practical applications, while others praised the creativity and dedication involved. A few commenters delved into the technical aspects, discussing Vim's handling of complex regex operations and the potential performance implications. One commenter jokingly suggested using this technique for machine learning, training a model on regexes to generate animations. Another thread discussed the author's choice of lossy compression for the regex data, debating whether a lossless approach would have been more appropriate for such an unusual project.
Summary of Comments ( 25 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42990801
Hacker News users generally praised the author's approach to Vim automation, emphasizing the balance between leveraging Vim's powerful features and avoiding over-complication. Several commenters shared their own preferred plugins and workflows, highlighting tools like
fzf,vim-projectionist, andCtrlPfor file navigation, andluasnipandUltiSnipsfor snippets. Some appreciated the author's philosophy of learning Vim gradually and organically, rather than attempting to master everything at once. A few commenters discussed the trade-offs between using a highly configured Vim setup versus a more minimalist approach, and the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on plugins. There was also a brief discussion about the relative merits of using language servers and other external tools within Vim.The Hacker News post titled "Automating the Vim Workplace (2020)" with the ID 42990801 has several comments discussing various aspects of Vim automation and related topics.
A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the trade-offs between automating everything within Vim and using external tools or shell scripts. Some commenters advocate for the power and efficiency of keeping actions within Vim, leveraging its built-in capabilities and plugins for tasks like project management and file manipulation. They argue this approach maintains focus and avoids context switching. One commenter specifically mentions using Vim for tasks like creating Github issues and managing TODO lists, emphasizing the benefit of a unified workflow. Another highlights the speed advantage of Vim's internal commands compared to external tools, particularly for smaller tasks. This speed is attributed to avoiding the overhead of launching external processes.
Conversely, other commenters argue for the flexibility and power of shell scripting and external tools. They point out that shell scripts can be more easily composed and reused, and they provide access to a wider range of functionalities. One commenter specifically suggests using
makefor complex project automation, citing its robust dependency management capabilities. This perspective suggests that while Vim excels at text editing, dedicated tools are better suited for broader automation tasks. Another comment emphasizes the importance of choosing the right tool for the job, advocating against forcing all tasks into the Vim environment.The discussion also touches on specific Vim plugins and tools. One commenter mentions using projectionist.vim for project management within Vim, while others discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches for tasks like compiling code and running tests.
A few comments delve into more specific technical details, such as the use of Vim's built-in functions for file manipulation and the integration of Vim with external tools through plugins and scripts. One commenter mentions using Vim's
system()function for interacting with the shell, while another discusses the use of:!for executing external commands.Finally, some comments offer alternative perspectives on automation in general. One commenter suggests that excessive automation can hinder learning and understanding, while another emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the costs and benefits of automation before implementing it. This highlights a common thread in the discussion: finding the right balance between automation and manual control for optimal efficiency and productivity.