Why do programmers code with Emacs, Vim rather than VS or XCode?

Question

I am constantly led to the impression that many expert programmers eschew all the benefits of Visual Studio style IDEs (with Intellisense autocompletion and so on) in favour of using Unix-based text editors like Emacs or Vim. I cannot figure out why on Earth this would be.

Do they use special plugins/extensions for Emacs etc. that provide all the useful autocompletion and layout and highlighting functions of VS? Or do they really just like to make life harder?

Answer 1

Many expert programmers prefer to use the "text only" simple editors since they are already accustomed to using them and they feel very comfortable doing so.

Answer 2

The answer can be complicated.



There are many, many, many people that DO like to just make their lives harder. They do it because it makes them feel more "manly" in the programming world. Like how some guys refuse to ask for directions, or punch through walls with their fists instead of using the door.



Others use it because they work on Linux and want to use the plain, standard version of C or C++ (or whatever it is they are programming in). Visual Studio is also a very heavy, bloated program -- granted, I love the thing, but it takes 3 hours to install. That should tell you something. It's also temperamental and can break itself. :P



Emacs or Vim can give some programmers that feeling of working on OpenSource or stickin' it to "the man." It's like going Green. But not. Not to mention you can get Emacs and Vim for free, and Visual Studio has a $1000+ price tag if you're not being sponsored through a school with an MSDNAA license.

Answer 3

I've been using vi since 1985. I have vim installed on EVERY computer I touch (for long periods of time).



An editor is a tool.



It depends on exactly what I'm doing as to which tool I reach for. If I'm writing a Perl program, I'd reach for my copy of Komodo. If I'm searching a file for, and/or replacing text, vim will be on my screen.



Simply because it LOOKS old fashioned and more difficult does not mean it's slower or outdated. If it gets the job done faster and more accurately, I'm grabbing vim, sed, awk, grep or any other tools I have in my l'il toolbox - and sometimes that means my IDE!

Answer 4

Some prefer the simplicity. It's also easier to use a simple text editor if you need to quickly edit files on a remote server.



IDEs like Eclipse etc. can be good for certain things. But if you really know what you're doing, or you're doing something those environments don't specialise in, it's easier to just use a text editor. One web development project I'm working on just now, I'm using ssh to connect to a remote server, then editing files with vim. It's quick and easy.



Vim will syntax highlight CSS, XHTML/XML and PHP, so it's easy for me to use.



I guess it's like cars. Some people like the automation and simplicity of automatic cars, some prefer the freedom of manual transmission / stick shift cars.

Answer 5

Xcode Intellisense