For the longest time, I was a dedicated VS Code user. Microsoft’s popular editor provided me with an intuitive GUI, a rich extension ecosystem, and a smooth developer experience. However, over time, VS Code became too cumbersome, too tied to the Microsoft ecosystem, and increasingly reliant on AI. While there is an alternative in VSCodium, I decided to give a terminal-based editor a chance—and I’m happy with the change.
The Appeal of Neovim #
Neovim is more than just an improved version of Vim—it’s a modern, extensible, and performance-oriented text editor. Here are the main reasons why I made the switch:
1. Escaping the Microsoft Ecosystem #
While VS Code offers a lot, its deep integration with Microsoft’s services and AI-driven features started to feel like too much. I wanted something leaner and more under my control, which led me to explore Neovim.
2. A Terminal-Based Workflow for Efficiency #
Switching to keybindings and a keyboard-centric workflow was initially confusing, but I soon found it to be incredibly intuitive. Without needing a mouse, my workflow became much faster and more efficient.
3. More Control and Customization #
Neovim gives you the ability to customize everything about your editor, from themes to key mappings to plugins. Unlike VS Code, where extensions work within predefined constraints, Neovim allows for a deeper level of customization.
4. LSP Plugins Make Coding Feel Familiar #
Once I integrated LSP (Language Server Protocol) plugins, the coding experience started to feel very similar to what you would expect in a traditional GUI-based editor. This made the transition much smoother.
5. Better Performance & Lower RAM Usage #
One of the biggest advantages of Neovim is its efficiency. Unlike VS Code, which can be resource-heavy, Neovim runs much leaner and consumes significantly less RAM. This makes it an excellent choice for performance-conscious developers.
6. Learning Lua for Configuration #
Unlike Vim, which relies on Vimscript, Neovim supports Lua as its primary configuration language. This not only makes scripting and automation easier but also gives you an opportunity to learn a new, lightweight programming language.
7. Choosing LazyVim as My Distribution #
There are many Neovim distributions available, but I decided to go with LazyVim. Here’s why:
- Easy Setup – LazyVim provides a great starting point with sane defaults.
- Popular & Actively Maintained – It’s one of the most widely used distributions, ensuring good community support.
- Optimized Plugin Management – LazyVim uses
lazy.nvim, an efficient plugin manager that speeds up startup time and makes managing plugins seamless.
Final Thoughts #
Making the switch from VS Code to Neovim wasn’t easy—it required learning new keybindings, setting up configurations, and getting used to a new workflow. But once I crossed that initial hurdle, I found my development experience significantly improved. The efficiency, flexibility, and control I now have over my editor make the transition completely worth it.
If you’re considering switching to Neovim, I highly recommend giving it a shot! Start with a distribution like LazyVim to ease the learning curve, and soon enough, you’ll wonder how you ever used anything else.