I have no issues with vscode as an editor for creating source code and the file explorer is essential. However, refactoring makes wish I'd have learned vim. I get the job done going mouse to keyboard to mouse to keyboard but it's definitely not optimal.
> I get the job done going mouse to keyboard to mouse to keyboard but it's definitely not optimal.
I've seen the rise of Vim popularity from the sidelines, I learned it at the same time as I learned eclipse, continued using vim while learning Sublime Text, IntelliJ, Netbeans and VSCode and I still use Vim.
Here are my thoughts:
If only people had spent half the time they waste on learning enough Vim to impress others learning and setting up VS Code, eclipse, IntelliJ (or tjeir language variant), NetBeans - or even I guess even though I don't like it myself - Visual Studio (the old one).
Please, please, please: at least for those who use modern languages with IDE support, take the time to consider learning the basics of an IDE.
The correct way to refactor moden code isn't to learn to study Vim for years to do it in half the time or with half the shortcuts, but to navigate to the correct line (down, down down), the correct place (2 x ctrl + arrow right) mark the code in question (5 x shift + arrow down to get the majority of it, then shift end to the end of the line) and ctrl + shift + p or something, extra(ct variable), name it and finished.
And this is just the straight forward way for someone knowing nothing but standard text navigation on Linux/Windows: if someone spends a fraction of the time some use on Vim they'll find that there are shortcuts to expand selection to scope built into modern IDEs by default.
The above can be shortened to:
- four times arrow down (we go into the middle of the mess)
- ide specific shortcut (or your chosen shortcut, they can be exported and imported) to expand selection to scope
- ctrl + shift + p to open command palette
- ext (since it is near the top of the list anyway), rename, done
Edit: there exist one good reason to use emacs and vim - they won't be integrated with Github and dumbed down over night, see for example https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29461226
Personally I rather learn IntelliJ, Netbeans, eclipse and VS Code somewhat fluently though.
If VSCode isn't giving you help with refactoring, either you haven't configured it properly, or the language you're using probably doesn't support refactoring in any environment.
Vim is a text editor, not an IDE, and has limited refactoring capabilities and a poor plugin ecosystem. For fast code editing and refactoring, Vim will only slow you down.
