Kakoune vs Vim: What are the differences?

Key differences between Kakoune and Vim

Kakoune and Vim are both popular text editors used for coding, but they have some key differences that set them apart. Here are six specific differences between Kakoune and Vim:

1. Modal Editing: Vim is known for its modal editing, where users switch between different modes (such as insert, normal, and visual) to perform different actions. On the other hand, Kakoune takes a different approach by using selections, which allows for simultaneous editing of multiple selections and better support for non-rectangular selections.

2. Multi Cursors and Selections: Kakoune excels in multi-cursor and multi-selection editing, allowing users to edit multiple sections of code simultaneously. Vim also supports multi-cursor editing, but it generally requires the use of plugins or additional commands.

3. Extension Language: Vim has its own scripting language called Vimscript, which allows users to customize and extend its functionality. Kakoune, on the other hand, uses a more modern and familiar language like Lua or Python for scripting purposes, making it easier for developers who are already familiar with these languages.

4. Copy and Paste: In Vim, copying and pasting is done using a combination of different commands and registers. Kakoune simplifies this process by providing a unified copy-paste mechanism, making it easier and more intuitive for users to copy and paste text.

5. Built-in Autocompletion: Kakoune has built-in autocompletion features, allowing users to easily complete code snippets, function names, and variable names. While Vim also has autocompletion options, they generally require the use of additional plugins to achieve the same level of functionality.

6. Multiple Cursors in Search and Replace: Kakoune allows for multiple cursors in its search and replace functionality, enabling users to make changes to multiple occurrences of a pattern in a single command. Vim does support search and replace, but only with a single cursor at a time.

In summary, Kakoune offers a more modern and streamlined approach to editing code with features like multi-cursors, unified copy-paste, and built-in autocompletion. Vim, on the other hand, is known for its modal editing and extensive customization options through Vimscript.