This is the 3rd post in the 5 part series:
- VScode – leader of the pack
- NeoVim – modal editing experience
- VSCode with Vim – the allure of vim bindings in VSCode
- WebStorm – the premium editing experience
- Zed – the newcomer
After discussing Neovim as a standalone editor, let’s examine another approach: using Vim-style editing within VS Code through extensions. For those who appreciate Vim’s keyboard-centric editing but want to retain VS Code’s ecosystem, two main options exist: VS Code Vim and the VSCode Neovim extension.
While these extensions seem to offer the best of both worlds, my experience suggests they create more problems than they solve.
The Fundamental Integration Problem
The core issue with these Vim extensions is their architectural approach. Rather than truly integrating Vim functionality into VS Code, they essentially embed a separate editor within VS Code’s interface. This creates a disconnected experience where Vim modal editing works within text windows but the broader IDE remains mouse-focused. You’re constantly switching between two different interaction paradigms.
This dual-editor approach lacks the consistent, cohesive experience that makes pure Neovim so powerful. In Neovim, everything follows the same keyboard-focused philosophy with consistent shortcuts and modal editing principles across the entire environment.
Technical Limitations and Bugs
The split personality of this approach creates several technical issues:
Dual Undo/Redo Stacks
The Vim plugin maintains its own history of changes, while VS Code simultaneously tracks its own undo/redo stack. This can lead to confusing situations where:
- Undoing might not restore what you expect
- Navigating back through edit locations becomes unpredictable
- In severe cases, text can become corrupted when the two systems conflict
Search Functionality Fragmentation
When you initiate a Vim-style search with /, it doesn’t leverage VS Code’s native search functionality. Instead, it:
- Shows what you’re typing in the status bar
- Uses its own search implementation
- Creates redundancy with VS Code’s
Ctrl+F/Cmd+Fsearch
Stability Issues
These extensions occasionally enter “weird states” where the Vim functionality stops working correctly, requiring you to restart the extension or even VS Code itself.
The Productivity Impact
While having familiar Vim keybindings might seem like a productivity boost, the cognitive overhead of constantly switching between two interaction models often negates any gains. You end up:
- Using some VS Code features and some Vim features
- Learning two sets of shortcuts for similar operations
- Troubleshooting integration issues rather than focusing on your code
For most users, either fully embracing VS Code’s native interaction model or switching completely to Neovim provides a more consistent and ultimately more productive experience.
When Vim Extensions Might Make Sense
Despite these limitations, Vim extensions can work well for:
- Users who primarily care about text editing efficiency but still need VS Code’s ecosystem
- Developers gradually transitioning from Vim to VS Code who want a stepping stone
