NeoVim, Split Keyboards and a New World.

#sideprojects #neovim

The First Step Toward the Terminal

It was around 2023 or 2024—I can't quite remember—but I was tired of doing the same thing over and over in programming: VS Code, JavaScript, React, TypeScript, always the same. I wanted to try something different, something that would help me rediscover my passion for programming and the desire to learn new things.

That's when ThePrimeagen appeared with a completely different programming style from the traditional one, where everything was a boring YouTube tutorial teaching you how to build a CRUD in VS Code. This guy was really good at what he did, but there was something unusual about him: a keyboard split in two, and his editor wasn't VS Code but one in the terminal, like in The Matrix. I was impressed. I watched many of his videos and couldn't understand how he navigated between editors and files without using the mouse. I had heard something about this years before, but it was the first time I saw someone do it so fluidly and so fast.

And something inside me said: this is what I've been missing. Not continuing to build CRUDs or projects that would lead me to the same place as everyone else, but something that would truly motivate me to step out of my comfort zone. And so I started.

My First Experience with a Split Keyboard and Neovim

Since I had no idea about the terminal—beyond running npm install and things like that—and even less about split keyboards, I searched to see if they sold anything in Chile so I wouldn't have to buy from abroad. That's when I found Zone Keyboards, with various and affordable options, so I went for the least aggressive choice: a Sofle RGB, my first split keyboard.

I think it took me almost a full year to master it completely: typing without looking at each key, learning new shortcuts, using all my fingers, getting used to the new hand position. But after that, everything was faster. I didn't have to think about each movement, I didn't have to do Cmd + Shift to search for what program to open. I thought and I executed, no pauses, just executing. It was wonderful.

From Comfort to Frustration

The next step was missing: learning to use the terminal. I realized the editor was called Vim and that it came on almost every operating system, but ThePrimeagen was using Neovim, which is basically the same thing but on steroids. I installed it and after some failures I understood it would take me another couple of months to learn, but this time I was more motivated. My .config folders and I became best friends; now I did and undid things, without depending on some weird VS Code plugin.

At several points I came across pre-made configurations, but that was my moment to say: no, I'm going to understand this from the inside. I want to know why, when, and for what each thing executes, not just install and be done with it.

From Here On Out

Now my days are 100% Neovim. VS Code is something I look at fondly, but I don't plan to go back to using the mouse or failing at text selection because my hand is shaky. A V + i + "" and done. My friends think I'm crazy for using that editor and a keyboard (now a Corne V3) without symbols on the keys, but for me it's the best thing that could have happened: it's comfortable and I love it.

Now I'm on Linux and other things, but that's a story for another post. For now, I'm happy with my setup, Neovim, and my Corne V3.