Gearing towards terminal first development

It’s about time.

I’ve been using the terminal for many years but largely just to manage git commands or the odd program to install using apt (since I’m on Linux). But for any development - I’ve always been running the show on trusty ol vscode.

But I have a small secret to admit….I’m not proud… but I’ve started using a pretty serious drug….

VIM.

This shit is like software cocaine. I had to use it because in certain environments it just became easier to pull up VIM to edit a text file than vscode. I never intended to stick around with VIM and was gearing up for my next project in VS Code…but then something happened.. actually having to navigate in vscode… it just felt like molasses.

“You mean I actually have to click ALLLL THE WAY HEEERE to get my cursor back to the top of the file??”

The more I tried to code the old way, the more agonizing it began to feel. I am not even some VIM master or anything, I just know my basic navigation and hopping around , I barely use counts or anything either so I’m not even close to maxing this thing out and it’s already got me feeling like this. Another unintended consequence became: the terminal became fun and I saw what a clean and optimal environment it really is compared to VS Code. VS Code just feels so extra and over the top compared to the terminal.Do I miss anything about VS Code? Probably intellisense and parsing through those options but I’m sure there’s some terminal/VIM plugin way to do it - I just haven’t gotten there yet.

Even if there isn’t, I would gear more towards a specific IDE for a project at that point like a JetBrains product than come back to VS Code.

Is there anything uniquely hard about using the terminal?

There is a lot to remember sometimes but honestly a quick internet search gets you there in no time + there’s a certain lack of dopamine I suppose that comes in the terminal. VS Code is very engaging and intuitive in its own way so when its nothing but you and the text (and whatever plugins you got going on) then it honestly hurts my head sometimes trying to relearn patterns that are pretty deeply ingrained. But I assume its like a muscle, over time you get more comfortable with it/“acclimatize” to full time terminal usage.

Here’s how I’m going to prioritize it (alongside vim ofc)

1. VIFM: a vim based file manager
2. CLI Password manager: a password manager like bitwarden but the cli version (I’m using Gopass)
3. CLI AI Agent: Many popular AI tools have a CLI version, use what works for you
4. TMUX: for window management and whatnot
5. I’m debating a tiling window manager but I’m not sure I really need it, I work on two monitors , I don’t mind having one monitor be miscellaneous and one monitor being a terminal with tmux going.
6. Vimwiki: This feels like what a scrap notes/ lab journal should be. Obsidian feels like I’m drafting a novel, not taking notes.

Should be interesting! I wonder what’s gonna happen, do I go crawling back to VS Code out of convenience? Do I power through and find zen in terminal land? Stay tuned to find out!

PS- Yes I know you can get VIM Emulation within VS Code, but that feels like just getting a lazy handjob. That’s it? If we are gonna commit to this much already, why on earth would we stop here? Go all in while the iron is hot and if it gets too hot, then sure, maybe pull back ;)