Vim

About Vim

Vim is an extended version of vi. It has all the benefits of vi plus some improvements. Vim is not as readily available on Linux systems as vi is, but when it’s available it can really help streamline your web editing. Vim is not specifically a web editor, but as a text editor it’s long been one of my favorites. There are also lots of scripts created by the community to help improve Vim.

Target Market(s): Professional Web Developers

Review last updated: November 2, 2011.

Vim Version: 7.3
Score: 117
Percent: 35%
This score was generated using the methodology listed in the article: Finding the Perfect Web Editor.

See all Web Editor Reviews or write a review of your editor.

Operating System(s): Windows Macintosh Linux or UNIX

Vim Features

• Text editor
• Color coding
• Search and replace
• Extended search and replace (across multiple documents)
• Edit multiple files/tabbed file editing
• Special character tools
• Can edit PHP, ASP, or JSP
• Edit XML and/or RSS
• Spell checking
• Customizable or extendable
• Upgrade discounts or freeware
• No limits on free or trial version
• No subscription fee required
• Slightly easier to use than vi

What’s Missing from Vim

• WYSIWYG editor
• HTML validator
• Accessibility validator
• CSS validator
• XML validator
• Page preview
• Alternate browser or OS preview
• Mobile device preview
• Mobile scripts, functions, or links
• Create mobile web applications
• Package mobile apps for delivery on app stores
• Save pages as HTML with DTD
• Write HTML 5 documents
• Write XHTML documents
• Tag completion
• FTP or Site manager
• FTPs or Secure FTP
• Edit images
• Connects to graphics software
• Multimedia functions
• Assistance with adding videos to websites
• Ability to add video and audio using HTML5 with fallback options
• Save Adobe AIR files
• Save files as PDF
• Link checker
• Can edit JavaScript
• Helps with Ajax JSON, or jQuery pages
• Can edit CSS
• Additional CSS assistance
• CSS 3 properties and selectors
• CSS3 media queries tools built-in
• Dynamic page rendering and editing with server-side programming languages (PHP, JSP, ASP, CFM, etc.)
• Database connectivity
• Google sitemaps
• Save snippets of code
• Writes to blogs
• Free templates
• Free scripts
• Form wizard
• Photo gallery builder
• Ecommerce tools
• SEO assistance built-in
• Captcha support or other methods of protecting forms
• Version control
• Support for teams editing the site (beyond version control)

Full price: Free

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This product was reviewed using the free version of the software and information on their website. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.