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+---
+title: "Configuration and plugin hell and why I don't use Vim and Tmux anymore"
+url: configuration-and-plugin-hell-and-why-i-dont-use-vim-and-tmux-anymore.html
+date: 2024-03-14T11:11:20+01:00
+type: post
+draft: false
+---
+
+There are three tiers of CLI software as far as I am concerned:
+
+- tools like `ls`, `cat`, `ps` (you use flags to customize, and you pipe results through them),
+- tools like `htop`, `nvtop`, `midnight commander` (you can change the theme and maybe small things),
+- editors like `vim`, `helix`, `emacs` and multiplexers like `tmux`, `zellij`, `screen` (usually very customizable).
+
+I understand that something like [GNU
+utils](https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/) need to be small and
+concise and minimal. No unnecessary fat or configuration options. I am a
+massive proponent of [POSIX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POSIX)
+style of utilities. I still think the [`pipe
+operator`](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/piping-in-unix-or-linux/) is
+one of the most amazing things every invented. I am still in awe when
+I use today.
+
+But when it comes to applications like text editors or terminal
+multiplexers, I have a bit of a different opinion. I think they need to
+have some basic batteries included. And I agree that basic batteries
+included is a loaded term and means different things to different
+people. I will try to make a case that takes in account things that
+matter to me and, by extension, also matter to others. Otherwise, they
+would not have configuration files for these applications that are bigger
+than some of their own projects.
+
+It is very naive to think that bare-bones [Vim](https://www.vim.org/)
+is enough for working on a larger codebase. For some it may
+be so, but the majority of people would prefer some minimal
+[LSP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Server_Protocol) integration
+to quickly jump to definitions, fuzzy finding of files, things like
+that. And in [Vim](https://www.vim.org/), I need a plugin to do this. The
+same goes for [Neovim](https://neovim.io/).
+
+People bash on others when they say: I would rather not deal with
+configurations, or I just want to use my system without the time
+investment of learning everything into details and then configuring it.
+
+Most people don't derive their pleasure from ricing their setup. How is
+this so impossible to understand for some people?
+
+There is also the argument that you should learn your tools. That is
+correct and true. But again, it's a matter of perspective. Not everything
+needs to be conquered and dominated. I am perfectly fine with knowing only
+30% of some tool if 30% is what I need from it to do the job I need to do.
+
+For me, the argument, "But what if you end up being on a
+server?" is ridiculous. Firstly, you shouldn't be developing on
+a server. If you need to SSH to debug something, there is probably
+[Vi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vi_%28text_editor%29) there already and
+`:w` and searching config files will work. And if nothing else, you most
+likely have `nano`. Not pretty, but gets the job done. I don't think
+people making these arguments take their [Neovim](https://neovim.io/)
+setup (with all their custom shortcuts and plugins, which makes this
+a [PDE](https://www.guidefari.com/pde/) actually) with them on the
+server. If they do this, they should be fired. :)
+
+You should learn [Vim motions](https://vim.rtorr.com/) is another
+one. They will change your life. I did learn a lot of them. I think
+they are amazing. But my life wasn't changed at all. I can still
+hop into a normal notepad and do some coding there and be very
+productive. Nothing really changed for me. I suspect these are the
+things that people who have a very addictive personalities say because
+[Vim](https://www.vim.org/) motions bring joy to them. I can imagine
+they get a massive dopamine hit using it. For me, it does nothing. It
+is a convenient way to edit text. If I don't have them, I also don't
+miss them. [Vim motions](https://vim.rtorr.com/) I mean. I adapt
+quickly. Doesn't bother me at all.
+
+The next argument I hear a lot is, "I only check my setup once a year, and
+then I am set. I don't tinker with my setup at all". This is an argument
+of a seasoned user who went through all the stages of Vimtopia. If you
+were to put a vanilla Vim in front of them, they would feel almost as lost
+as a first-time user. You get a completely warped sense of reality when
+you rice your setup to ungodly levels. Which you tend to do anyway. It's
+the nature of the beast. Sure, you would know some basic motions, but
+all those custom shortcuts you are so used to would not be there. You
+would feel lost. No question about it.
+
+Did I have a massive `.vimrc`? Yes, I did. I was transitioning
+from [Emacs](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/) to
+[Vim](https://www.vim.org/) and I wanted some basic things to navigate
+code and not waste time finding stuff in projects I work on. And
+to reproduce something usable required multiple plugins to make
+[LSP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Server_Protocol) work,
+fuzzy searching was a bit easier, just two plugins, I think. But
+it required a ton of reading and Googling for information. Also,
+let's not pretend these plugins are frozen in time. Making
+[LSP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Server_Protocol) work with
+[Neovim](https://neovim.io/) became much easier, and you now use different
+plugins than you did two years ago. So, you also have to keep track of
+these things. This adds a big overhead. Let's be honest about it.
+
+The same goes for [Tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux). Tmux also supports
+plugins. And here we go again. And saying you can just use the native
+functionalities is a dishonest thing to say. Because if that were true,
+nobody would use these plugins, and they would not be popular at all.
+
+Now, if you like ricing your setup. Configuring things. And playing
+around with your environment, you go for it. I can understand. I was
+the same in my youth. It was fun and I loved every minute of it.
+
+The problematic thing that occurs is that Vim evangelists them go and
+preach the Vim gospel, making everybody not using it feel like shit and
+incompetent fools who do not care about "real" programming.
+
+I have friends who use [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/) and
+are amazing programmers. They don't care about terminals or plugins or
+config files. They open their editor of choice and smash at writing the
+code they need to write. And my respect for them has nothing to do with
+the complexity of their setup. I respect them because the code they write
+is of high quality. How they come up with it is of no importance to me.
+
+Most of the software we use daily or runs our world was written
+by people who barely knew how to use a keyboard. Just watch [Brian
+Kernighan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Kernighan) type and you
+will see what I mean. And then look at his accomplishments. Slow typing
+doesn't mean shit. It's the quality of the work that matters.
+
+The reason why I switched to
+[Helix](https://helix-editor.com/) is simple. It has
+[LSP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_Server_Protocol) and fuzzy
+finding built-in. There is no plugin system in place, so they needed
+to include common things programmers need these days. For commenting
+a line, you don't need a plugin. Just press `ctrl+c` over the line and
+that's it. I don't remap anything. I use the defaults. The only thing
+I did was change a default theme. And I choose one who is bundled with
+the editor. That was it!
+
+The same goes for [Tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux). I don't use it
+anymore, but I need a multiplexer. I am used to it. Old dog, new tricks
+kind of a thing. I've used it for years and years. And Zellij is a modern
+take on [Tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux). Batteries included and
+with sane defaults. No config file on my system to make it usable.
+
+This elitism about personal setups is so exhausting. You should use
+your computer the way you want to use it, and I will use my the way I
+see fit. This herd mentality I see so often is so cringe. I'm so over
+taking people seriously when it comes to these topics.