From: Eric Schulte <schulte.eric@...>
Date: 2008-08-09T01:25:46+09:00
Subject: Re: Ruby IDE

To piggy-back on and emphasize the importance of Dana's point,

If you are or intend to become a programmer you should commit to
learning either VI or Emacs.

They are both ubiquitous, can be used on any language or file type and
have the same core of essential features...

- Indenting, reformatting.
- Syntax highlighting.
- Auto-completion
- Frames
- Regions
- Unlimited undo and redo.
- Multiple cut and paste clipboards.
- Spell checking.
- Multiple language support (including Unicode, R-to-L for Hebrew, Arabic, etc.)
- Extensible
  - Macros and functions.
  - Fully customizable keys vs. actions. 
- Handle text strings, full lines, rectangles.
- Adapt to type of file (.txt, .c, .html, etc.) being edited.
- No line length or file size limits, within reason.
- Automatically handle UNIX, MAC, DOS line endings (LF, CR, CRLF respectively).
- Binary file editing.
- Well documented, both internally and via available books and ebooks. 
- Large user/support community

that allow your text editing to expand to true sensi black-belt
olympic telepathic grand-master 9-Dan ninja-type powers.  ultimately
the effort spent learning the tool will be more than re-payed in your
increased efficiency.

Sorry if this turned a little proselytising.

Thanks -- Eric 

I took the feature list mainly from
http://www.prismnet.com/~dierdorf/emacsvi.html which incidentaly is
the first google hit for "vim emacs"

On Saturday, August 9, at 01:01, Dana Merrick wrote:
 > Jayson Williams wrote:
 > > I think I will give VIM a whirl.
 > 
 > If you're gonna go with Vim, I highly recommend you buy O'Reilly's book on 
 > learning Vi/Vim. Vi isn't like any other text editors that you have used before.
 > 
 > That being said, I encourage you to learn Vi, for in my opinion it is one of the 
 > most valuable skills a programmer can have.
 > 
 > -Dana
 > 
 > 
 > -- 
 > Dana Merrick - System Administrator
 > Integrated Computer Solutions, Inc.
 > 54B Middlesex Tpke, Bedford, MA 01730
 > 617.621.0060 x112 - http://www.ics.com
 > 

-- 
schulte