/helixdots

My helix config

HelixDots

My helix dotfiles.

Installation

Install the dotfiles

git clone https://github.com/godalming123/helixdots.git ~/.config/helix

Install rust (if not already installed)

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

Install helix

git clone https://github.com/helix-editor/helix.git
cd helix
cargo install --path helix-term --locked
ln -Ts $PWD/runtime ~/.config/helix/runtime

My thoughs on helix

General

  • I like how everything needs much less configuration, for example git integrations are setup out of the box
  • It feels like my editor is helping me as I go like auto suggesting commands
  • In helix I have to type more letters but the command is more memorable EG: vgld in helix vs D in neovim (helix-editor/helix#165)

Appereance

  • The file picker does not have rounded corners
  • Git signs look much nicer
  • The status bar looks nicer
  • Helix includes good themes out of the box
  • LSP diagnostics are placed in the top right corner which makes them much easier to see than vim/neovim where they are crammed after the lines of code

Writing text

  • The LSP is slightly better in helix than it is in vim/neovim

Editing text

  • I like being able to use x and X to quickly make visual line selections
  • Multiple cursors is a really useful feature that vim/neovim needs a plugin for, but helix has out-of-the-box:
    • This makes using find/replace much easier since helix shows you exactly what you're doing as you do it, rathor than having to remember a regex command in vim/neovim to do find/replace

Navigating text

  • I think both helix and neovim do a good job of this

Sometimes PRs that that make objective improvements take their time to get merged

  • Add a way to only show just the horizontal or vertical position in statusline (ISSUE PR)

Missing some functionality

  • Be able to jump across projects/files within projects effectively:
    • Code cannot be folded (ISSUE)
    • The jumplist cannot have directories in it
    • The jumplist cannot be saved across multiple sessions
    • You cannot remove items from the jumplist without exiting the session (ISSUE)
  • When you search for things helix should show how many results their are (helix-editor/helix#2811)
  • Be able to hide the blankline below the status bar when it is empty (helix-editor/helix#10818)

Things that will probably get solved with plugins (plugins discussion plugins PR)