Emacs vs. Vim — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 3, 2024
Emacs is an extensible, customizable text editor with a Lisp interpreter, suited for a variety of programming tasks; Vim, characterized by its efficiency and command mode, focuses on speed and minimalism.
Difference Between Emacs and Vim
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Emacs is renowned for its highly customizable nature, allowing users to modify almost any aspect of its functionality via Emacs Lisp. This extensibility makes it more than just a text editor; it's often described as an "integrated development environment" within a single framework. In contrast, Vim emphasizes efficiency and a modal editing philosophy, where users switch between different modes for typing and command execution. This approach minimizes the need for keystrokes, which can lead to faster editing once the learning curve is overcome.
One of the most distinctive features of Emacs is its built-in Lisp interpreter, which can be used to extend the software far beyond typical editing tasks. Users can write new commands and applications within the editor itself. Vim, on the other hand, offers a powerful scripting language called Vimscript, which, while powerful, is primarily focused on enhancing the editing capabilities rather than extending them to the breadth of an entire development environment.
Emacs typically uses a graphical user interface with menus and toolbars, which can be more welcoming to new users. It provides a robust environment for not only coding but also for other tasks like email and calendar management. Conversely, Vim is a text-based interface that relies heavily on keyboard commands rather than mouse navigation, which can be daunting for newcomers but is highly efficient for seasoned users.
In terms of resource usage, Emacs is often criticized for being bloated, as its large size can lead to slower startup times and more memory consumption. Whereas Vim is designed to be lean and fast, which makes it ideal for use on remote systems or where system resources are limited.
Community support and resources vary significantly between the two. Emacs has a smaller, but very dedicated community that contributes to its vast array of custom extensions and packages. Vim benefits from widespread usage and has a vast array of plugins and community resources that help users navigate its steep learning curve and maximize its functionality.
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Comparison Chart
Design Philosophy
Extensible and customizable IDE
Efficient, minimalist text editor
User Interface
Graphical with menus and toolbars
Text-based with keyboard-focused command mode
Customization
Via Emacs Lisp
Via Vimscript
Resource Usage
Generally higher, can be slow to start
Lean and fast, minimal memory usage
Typical Use Cases
Integrated development environment, multipurpose
Editing text quickly and efficiently
Compare with Definitions
Emacs
A comprehensive text editing platform and development environment.
Developers use Emacs to code, debug, and manage projects.
Vim
Uses Vimscript for customization and automation.
Vim configurations and plugins are written in Vimscript.
Emacs
Known for its extensibility through Emacs Lisp.
Users customize Emacs extensively with Emacs Lisp.
Vim
Operates primarily in a text-based interface.
Vim users utilize keyboard shortcuts for most functions.
Emacs
Integrates tools for email, calendar, and more within the editor.
Emacs can be configured to send emails directly from the editor.
Vim
A highly efficient, modal text editor.
Vim uses different modes for editing and command inputs.
Emacs
Offers a graphical interface by default.
Emacs users often interact with its graphical menus and toolbars.
Vim
Preferred for its speed and low resource usage.
Vim is popular on remote servers due to its efficiency.
Emacs
Can be resource-heavy and slower to start.
Emacs may take longer to load compared to other editors.
Vim
Features a steep learning curve but offers high efficiency.
New users often find Vim challenging but rewarding.
Emacs
Emacs or EMACS (Editor MACroS) is a family of text editors that are characterized by their extensibility. The manual for the most widely used variant, GNU Emacs, describes it as "the extensible, customizable, self-documenting, real-time display editor".
Vim
Energy; enthusiasm
In his youth he was full of vim and vigour
Emacs
(computing) Any implementation or reimplementation of Emacs.
Vim
Liveliness or energy; enthusiasm.
Vim
Ready vitality and vigour.
Vim
Power; force; energy; spirit; activity; vigor.
Vim
A healthy capacity for vigorous activity;
Jogging works off my excess energy
He seemed full of vim and vigor
Vim
An imaginative lively style (especially style of writing);
His writing conveys great energy
Common Curiosities
What is Emacs primarily used for?
Emacs is used as a customizable text editor and integrated development environment, suitable for programming, writing, and more.
What makes Vim challenging for new users?
Vim's modal operation and reliance on keyboard commands create a steep learning curve compared to more traditional text editors.
How does Vim's efficiency benefit its users?
Vim's efficiency through modal editing and minimalistic design speeds up text editing tasks, especially for experienced users.
Is Emacs suitable for beginners?
Emacs can be daunting due to its complexity and breadth of features, but its GUI might be more approachable than Vim's text interface.
Does Emacs support multiple programming languages?
Yes, Emacs supports multiple programming languages through its extensive package ecosystem, allowing users to install language-specific modes that provide syntax highlighting, code completion, and more.
Is Vim available on multiple operating systems?
Vim is available on a wide range of operating systems including Windows, macOS, and various flavors of Unix and Linux, making it a versatile choice for users across different platforms.
What are the main modes of Vim?
Vim operates primarily in two modes: Normal mode for commands and Insert mode for entering text. This allows for efficient switching between editing and navigating within a document.
Can you extend Vim's functionality like Emacs?
While Vim is extensible with Vimscript, its capabilities are more focused on editing rather than serving as a full IDE like Emacs.
Can Emacs run shell commands?
Emacs can run shell commands directly inside the editor, and even includes full-fledged terminal emulators like ansi-term or eshell, which allow users to interact with the system shell without leaving the editor.
How do you customize key bindings in Vim?
Key bindings in Vim can be customized by editing the .vimrc file, where users can assign new commands to keys or modify existing bindings to suit their workflow better.
How does Vim handle plugins compared to Emacs?
Vim uses a variety of plugin managers like Vundle or Pathogen, which facilitate the installation and management of plugins that extend Vim's capabilities. Emacs packages can be managed through its built-in package manager.
How do users handle multiple files in Emacs?
Emacs allows users to handle multiple files through its powerful buffer system, enabling them to open, edit, and switch between several files within the same session conveniently.
What is Emacspeak and how does it benefit users?
Emacspeak is an audio desktop application providing comprehensive speech output for nearly all Emacs functionalities, making it an invaluable tool for visually impaired users.
Does Emacs have a version control system integration?
Emacs integrates seamlessly with version control systems like Git through packages like Magit, providing a user-friendly interface for committing changes, branching, and other version control tasks.
What are some essential Vim commands every user should know?
Essential Vim commands include :w to save changes, :q to quit, i to enter insert mode, / for searching, and :help to access Vim's comprehensive help system.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
