# Vim

> Vi-compatible modal text editor with multi-level undo, syntax highlighting, spell checking, a scripting language (Vim9 script), and an optional GUI.

Stars: 41.2k · Language: Vim Script · License: Vim · Categories: Editor

- Repository: https://github.com/vim/vim
- Website: https://www.vim.org
- Page: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/vim

## Overview

Vim is a text editor that extends the UNIX editor Vi. It adds multi-level undo, syntax highlighting, command line history, on-line help, spell checking, filename completion, block operations, and a script language (Vim9 script is documented in README_VIM9). A graphical user interface is also available. Vi compatibility is maintained, and differences are listed in runtime/doc/vi_diff.txt.

All commands are entered with normal keyboard characters. Function keys can be mapped to commands, and the mouse can be used. When compiled with a minimal feature set (commonly called vim.tiny), Vim aims to be a mostly POSIX-compatible vi implementation, which many Linux distributions use as their default vi.

Vim runs on MS-Windows (7, 8, 10, 11), macOS, Haiku, VMS and most UNIX variants. It is used by developers and system administrators for editing programs and plain text files. Documentation is built in: `:help` opens the reference, `:help user-manual` opens a book-style manual, and `vimtutor` starts a one-hour beginner course. Source builds are described in src/INSTALL, and system-specific notes are in the READMEdir files.

## Alternatives

- [Helix](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/helix.md): A terminal-based text editor written in Rust, inspired by Kakoune and Neovim with built-in language server support (Rust, 46.7k stars)
- [micro](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/micro.md): Terminal-based text editor with modern features, multiple cursors, and syntax highlighting for 130+ languages (Go, 29.8k stars)
- [Edit](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/edit.md): Terminal text editor written in Rust, modeled on the MS-DOS Editor with VS Code-style input controls. Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. (Rust, 14.7k stars)
- [Kakoune](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/kakoune.md): Modal code editor inspired by Vim that uses multiple selections as its core editing model, with a client-server architecture and external tool integration. (C++, 11.1k stars)
- [Fresh](https://www.trmn.sh/tools/fresh.md): Terminal text editor with VS Code-style keybindings, mouse support, LSP, multi-cursor editing, and a command palette that requires no configuration. (Rust, 9.3k stars)

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Canonical: https://www.trmn.sh/tools/vim