Like Vim, but Helix

#development #vscode #vim #productivity

The creator of Helix calls it a "post-modern text editor." What does that even mean? Who knows. But here's what really matters: multiple cursor support, imports, Tree-sitter, LSP, tons of beautiful themes with great support for popular programming languages — all of it available right after installation. You just download it, open the language config, tweak a couple of LSP settings for your Deno or Node.js projects, and you're good to go. No complicated setup rituals, no digging through obscure manuals, no configuring dozens of plugins (half of which probably won't even work). Even VSCode doesn't offer this kind of flexibility out of the box — but Helix just works.

When a vim-like editor immediately supports your favorite programming language, you don't have to get sidetracked by configuration — you can focus on what matters most: editing text. It sounds trivial, but with Vim, Neovim, or Emacs, I often didn't even make it to that point — I'd burn out during the setup phase. Helix is different. Sure, you won't memorize all the hotkeys for every mode right away, but the built-in hints and clear documentation help you ease into it quickly. It took me just a couple of days.

At first, the process feels like a game: you're exploring the editor's capabilities, learning key combinations, diving into the docs. It's fun because there are so many modes and tools. After a week, things start to click automatically. I’ve even caught myself trying to select text in Telegram like I would in Helix — habits form quickly. Yes, the system is complex, but it's intuitive. Once you master it, it becomes incredibly efficient.

So what’s the catch? Helix stands out because it has nothing extraneous, yet everything you need to just start coding. It doesn't waste your time with plugin setups or deciphering convoluted guides. It's simply an editor, with functionality focused purely on text editing.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Helix adheres to the Unix-way philosophy:

There are no plugins (yet), though they’re planned for the near future.
There’s no traditional file tree or tabs. Instead, Helix offers an alternative approach to managing files, which can quickly feel intuitive if you give it a chance.
It’s a fresh perspective on text editing and project structure. It's worth your attention. I’d strongly recommend Helix to anyone curious about vim-like editors but intimidated by the steep learning curve. Helix provides a smooth, intuitive introduction, making it easy to grasp the basics. Plus, it rekindles that spark of excitement you get when discovering something new. With Helix, editing text becomes genuinely enjoyable.

How do I use Helix?
Right now, it lets me keep dozens of personal and work projects readily accessible. That’s something I couldn't achieve with any IDE or editors like VSCode.

But remember: Helix is just a text editor. It's designed purely for editing text — nothing more. If you don't expect the impossible, it can be an outstanding tool for your daily workflow.

If you're looking for a fast, easy-to-learn, and powerful text editor, give Helix a try. It might just be exactly what you need.

And more on my channel =)