Modal Editing Is a Weird Historical Contingency Through Sheer Happenstance
Posted2 months agoActive2 months ago
buttondown.comTechstory
calmnegative
Debate
20/100
Text EditorsModal EditingVim
Key topics
Text Editors
Modal Editing
Vim
The article argues that modal editing, a feature of editors like Vim, is a historical contingency rather than a deliberate design choice, sparking discussion on its implications and alternatives.
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Oct 27, 2025 at 10:40 AM EDT
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Discussion (2 comments)
Showing 2 comments
LanedoAuthor
2 months ago
1 replyIf vi didn't exist, it would not have been invented.
actionfromafar
2 months ago
ed is the standard editor
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ID: 45721517Type: storyLast synced: 11/17/2025, 8:05:31 AM
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