[Cyph0n]

Incremental search needs to be enabled, yes, but it’s just one line in your .vimrc.

What do you mean by “type to search”? Sounds like you’re omitting the “start search” key combo.

Your example in Vim:

* / to start a forward search

* type in the word and hit enter

* n/N for next/previous match

To modify the search:

* q/ opens your search history with the cursor at the last searched string

* modify the search string using standard Vim keys

* hit enter to search

[flowerlad]

> type in the word and hit enter

That's the problem. When you hit enter you have left incremental search. In emacs you can refine the search string without leaving. Ctrl+s and Ctrl+r goes prev/next and you can simultaneously refine the search string (by typing any other char) without leaving incremental search. Given how important search is (for a programmer) this alone is worth the price of entry. But there are many more things.

[kagevf]

Thank you for that note on q/ ... I knew about q: for command history, and was wondering if there was an equivalent for search history.