(update: there is a part 2)
I have been hoping for an alternative to Emacs:
- The complexity of configuration (my
init.elhas over 200 lines) - The sluggish behavior, especially over SSH
- The uncomfortable hurt on my left tiny finger
I may have found one in Helix, though it does lack certain rather important features:
- It cannot work through SSH :(
- It cannot manage files (though there is a proposal to fix this)
- It cannot open files relative to that in an open buffer (though there is a proposal to fix this as well)
- It cannot remove trailing whitespace on save (though there is a proposal to fix this too)
Beyond that, I love that it integrates IDE functionality without any need for configuration. In addition, I enjoy how responsive it is (it feels far more snappy/lightweight than Emacs). It also has a nifty approach, where text that would be operated on is highlighted, and that makes it far more approachable than vi (and relatives), to a point where I feel it takes modal editors to more mainstream audiences.