1991 founded Standing
editors · vim.org
Vim
the moat is real
34 years 292 days and counting
Bram Moolenaar released Vim on 2 Nov 1991 as Vi IMproved. Still the editor you find on a box you do not own.
Why it lasted
- Muscle memory is a moat. hjkl is a tattoo.
- It is everywhere: every server, every SSH session, every container that forgot to install nano.
- Neovim forked the future without killing the original. The modal religion split and both churches stayed full.
Times it almost ended
- Bram's death in 2023 could have ended it. The community kept shipping.
- IDEs promised you would never need a terminal editor. Then they all added a Vim mode.
What would finish it
- A default OS install that ships a nicer modal editor and finally drops vi.
- Nothing. This one outlives products on purpose.
Questions
Is Vim still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 1991.
How long has Vim been around?
Vim has been up since 1991-11-02.
Why did Vim survive?
Muscle memory is a moat. hjkl is a tattoo.
Could Vim still die?
A default OS install that ships a nicer modal editor and finally drops vi.