[scutrell]

As a decade long vim user, I just gave nvim a try this year, and I really wanted to like it.

In most every way it is a straight upgrade, but I find myself kind of bummed out that it is still so barebones on install. Really, I was hoping that something like Lazyvim would be the default because I would love a more "out-of-the-box" solution. I don't want to have to worry about keeping the LSP etc. up to date.

So instead, I've been looking more into Helix. Still not sold on the bindings, but what you get just by installing it is great.

[WuxiFingerHold]

I've settled on LazyVim after many happy years with Jetbrain IDEs and very few unhappy years with VS Code. I have the impression that most Neovim users are building their own config, which is great, if you have the knowledge and personal resources.

I would still recommend spending some time understanding how the config generally works (e.g. by reading kickstart and watching TJs video or/and typecraft's videos). But then, I'd recommend to the person who just wants the best IDE experience to just use LazyVim (or other full blown distributions like AstroNvim). Great discoverability. Lots of features. I use LazyVim with LazyExtras. No customization except the color scheme and adding LSP and TS for Svelte and Rust. I got to work on my projects immediately.

My problem with Helix is that there're many for me important IDE features missing (which you get with LazyVim or AstrNVim or NVChad), decisions of the maintainers regarding the priorities and the that vim keybindings are ubiquitous.

[WhyNotHugo]

The goal of neovim is to be a minimal, extensible base editor. If you want something with all the bells and whistles, you probably want one of those distributions like lazyvim (disclaimer: haven't tried that one; I just know that it's a popular one).

[tiffanyh]

> bummed out that it is still so barebones on install.

Helix might be your cup of tea then.

https://helix-editor.com

(Though it will take awhile getting use to the inverted keybindings)

[behnamoh]

you should use neovim distributions like LazyVim.

[scutrell]

I did use Lazyvim. It was definitely better (though I spent a fortune in time modularizing is plugins).

It just doesn't feel like a great solution for a variety of reasons. You're still a little on the hook for plugins and LSP configs. You're beholden to the distro e.g. if Lazy ever grows obsolete, Lazyvim could go too.

In a perfect world there would be a neovim core (what it is now) and a formal neovim distro.

[kzrdude]

There's just a lot more innovation and development in the offshoot projects than in the big projects. The main project is gradually agreeing on /some/ default key bindings for lsps, as seen in this release (core does a great job on neovim no offense meant there.)

In the same time, LazyVim and AstroNvim have built whole worlds of configuration and LSP integration because they are free to tinker, at a speed far outpacing core neovim. Because the core project wants/needs to cater to everyone. Even you said it was a straight upgrade (to Vim, I assume) and just keeping it that way is not easy.

[WuxiFingerHold]

> You're beholden to the distro e.g. if Lazy ever grows obsolete, Lazyvim could go too.

That is my only concern, too. But I decided not to worry. Getting into LazyVim was very easy, so I'm not concerned potentially having to switch to another distro or IDE.