Yesterday I was writing a git commit message. I have my terminal configured to use vim to do this. I wrote half of a lengthy explanation with a very long chain of thought and paused for a second to proofread. Then I turned around and accidentally mashed a button which pasted my clipboard all over my nice message. I was like fuck I’ll just undo, but I guess I hit more than one key because after hitting undo i was left with a blank message.

I thought I had to start writing from scratch and then remembered that vim has time travel. I’m not joking. You just say :earlier 2m and it goes back to the state two minutes ago. But here’s the thing it actually has branched history, kind of like git. If you undo and then make some modifications you have made an alternate branch in the history. I hit g- (or g+ I forget) and got my message back.

Having flipping time travel with every possible history is an absolutely batshit insane thing to implement into a “simple” editor, and I seldom use this feature, but it actually saved my ass and I’m glad people like Bram spent what was probably an eternity on implementing stuff like that.

:wq!

Truly remarkable tool.

Rest in peace…Vim modal editing completely changed the way I approach text editing. I’m glad we have Neovim and other derivatives, Bram’s legacy lives on!

:wq

RIP, a true legend.

His legacy will continue, truly a remarkable person.

Sad, sad day. vim is / was the best text editor of all time.

RIP, modal editing will live on

I had just started getting deep into using Vim a couple of months ago and it continues to impress me in it’s usefulness. Shame to hear that the creator has passed on.

RIP to a great one, pouring one out for Bram

I shall enter a week long fast as my time of mourning, and all of my themes will be dark with a black background.

This solemn day will not be forgotten. Not since Stalin has anyone else accomplished so much.

fuck :( that sucks