The Helix Text Editor
4 days ago
- #productivity
- #terminal
- #text-editors
- The author enjoys using niche, nerdy tools like Rust, Linux, and split keyboards.
- Helix is a modal terminal text editor with good defaults and a selection-first action model.
- Helix features include modal editing, terminal-based UI, and built-in language server support.
- Installation on Mac is straightforward via Homebrew, and Helix can be launched with simple terminal commands.
- The editor lacks a built-in file explorer but offers a file picker for quick navigation.
- Using Helix requires adapting to its modal key bindings, which the author found intuitive and powerful.
- Language Server Protocol (LSP) integration works well but configuring additional tools can be cumbersome.
- Criticisms include terminal limitations like fixed text size and lack of deep integration with other tools.
- The author appreciates Helix's speed and simplicity but desires better integration for a full IDE experience.
- Future updates, like a plugin system, could address some of Helix's current limitations.