About

Neovim is a highly customizable, terminal-based text editor designed for power users. It is a modern fork of Vim, focused on improving extensibility, performance, and usability while maintaining compatibility with Vim’s core features.

Features

  • Built-in Language Server Protocol (LSP) Support

    • Native LSP client integration
    • Provides IDE-like features such as code completion, diagnostics, and more

  • Built-in Lua Scripting

    • Enables powerful and flexible configuration
    • Lua offers improved speed and efficiency over Vimscript

  • Improved Plugin Architecture

    • Supports asynchronous plugins
    • Allows for more advanced and capable plugins

  • Performance Enhancements

    • Faster startup time
    • More efficient memory usage

  • Active Development

    • Frequent updates and new features
    • Supported by a large and active community

  • Improved Default Settings

    • More sensible defaults for new users
    • Optional features like virtual text and floating windows

How I Started

Like many others, I began with Vim a few years ago. I was initially drawn to its modal editing and powerful text manipulation capabilities. Although my productivity declined at first, I eventually became comfortable with its keybindings and workflow. Over time, my efficiency improved significantly.

Later, I discovered Neovim, which aimed to modernize and expand on Vim’s strengths. Its enhanced extensibility and built-in support for modern tooling made it a compelling upgrade.

I initially configured Neovim using kickstart.nvim , which provided a clean, minimal base for customization. However, maintaining a custom setup proved time-consuming due to the rapid evolution of the plugin ecosystem. To address this, I decided to try a curated Neovim distribution.

LazyVim

After researching various options, I chose LazyVim , a distribution developed by folke , the author of several popular Neovim plugins.

I currently use LazyVim with minimal modifications. It offers a robust foundation with sensible defaults and a well-integrated set of plugins that enhance the Neovim experience. The distribution balances ease of use with deep customizability.

One of LazyVim’s most useful features is its support for Extras —optional, preconfigured plugin modules that can be selectively enabled to extend functionality for specific languages, tools, or interface enhancements.

If you’re interested in trying out my LazyVim configuration, you can find it here .

Installation

Installation instructions vary depending on your operating system. Detailed instructions can be found here .

Linux

Neovim is available on all major Linux distributions. However, most do not include the latest version in their package repositories. It’s recommended to install Neovim from source unless you’re using a bleeding-edge distribution like Arch Linux , which typically provides the latest version in its repositories.

macOS

Neovim can be installed on macOS using Homebrew :

brew install neovim

Windows

On Windows, you can install Neovim using Chocolatey or by setting it up through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) .

Closing Notes

Neovim offers a modern alternative to Vim with improved performance, extensibility, and usability. Its built-in support for Lua and the Language Server Protocol makes it well-suited for modern development workflows. Distributions like LazyVim simplify setup while remaining highly configurable. Whether using a minimal or curated configuration, Neovim provides a flexible platform for efficient text editing.