# Vim
**Wikidata**: [Q131382](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131382)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vim_(text_editor))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vim

## Summary
Vim is a free and open-source, keyboard-oriented text editor and an improved version of the vi editor, created by Dutch programmer Bram Moolenaar in 1991. It functions as a modal text editor, source code editor, and console application available across multiple operating systems including Unix-like, Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms. The software is known for its extensibility via Vimscript and its efficiency in text editing tasks.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** November 2, 1991.
- **Developer:** Bram Moolenaar (1961–2023), a Dutch programmer and electrical engineer.
- **License:** GNU General Public License and Vim license.
- **Latest Versions:** Version 9.1 (released January 2, 2024) and Version 9.2 (released February 14, 2026).
- **Operating Systems:** BSD, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Haiku, MorphOS, Unix-like operating systems, DOS, and AmigaOS.
- **Classifications:** Source code editor, modal text editor, text editor, console application, integrated development environment, free and open-source software, and computing platform.
- **Based On:** Vi and Stevie.
- **Derivative Work:** Neovim.
- **Scripting Language:** Vimscript.
- **Primary Competitors:** Visual Studio Code (inception November 14, 2015) and GNU Emacs (inception 1984).
- **Country of Origin:** Netherlands.
- **Programming Languages Used:** C and Vimscript.
- **Supported Languages:** Go, HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, TypeScript, and Python.

## FAQs
**Who created Vim?**
Vim was created by Bram Moolenaar, a Dutch programmer, electrical engineer, and citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who lived from 1961 to 2023.

**What operating systems does Vim support?**
Vim is highly portable and runs on BSD, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Haiku, MorphOS, Unix-like operating systems, DOS, and AmigaOS.

**What are the recent stable versions of Vim?**
Version 9.1 was released on January 2, 2024, followed by Version 9.2 on February 14, 2026. Previous major versions include 9.0 (2022), 8.2 (2019), 8.1 (2018), 8.0 (2016), and 7.4 (2013).

**Is Vim free to use?**
Yes, Vim is free and open-source software available under the GNU General Public License and a specific Vim license that includes charityware aspects.

**What distinguishes Vim from other text editors?**
Vim is a modal text editor that distinguishes between command and insert modes, and it is an improved version of the Vi editor. It is also known for its extensive use of keyboard commands and scripting via Vimscript.

## Why It Matters
Vim matters as a highly efficient, modal text editor that improved upon the original vi, becoming a staple tool for programmers and system administrators. Its cross-platform availability, from Unix-like systems to mobile devices like Android and iOS, ensures accessibility across diverse computing environments. As free and open-source software, it has fostered a large ecosystem of plugins and derivatives like Neovim, influencing modern text editing standards and workflows.

## Notable For
- Being an improved version of the Vi keyboard-oriented text editor.
- Utilizing a modal editing interface that distinguishes between command and insert modes.
- Scripting and extensibility through the Vimscript programming language.
- Long history of development with major stable versions including 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 9.0, 9.1, and 9.2.
- Availability on a wide range of platforms, including mobile operating systems (Android, iOS) and niche systems (Haiku, MorphOS).
- Derivative works such as Neovim.
- Aliases including GVim, VImproved, and Vi Imitation.

## Body

### History and Origin
Vim, an acronym for "Vi Improved," was created by Bram Moolenaar, with its inception dated November 2, 1991. The software is named after the Vi text editor and is also based on Stevie. It is classified as free and open-source software and has its country of origin listed as the Netherlands. According to source data, it is also associated with Universitas Ottow Geissler, a higher education institution in Jayapura, Indonesia.

### Development and Versions
The development of Vim has seen numerous stable releases over the years. Version 7.4 was released on August 10, 2013, followed by version 8.0 on September 12, 2016. Subsequent updates included version 8.1 on May 17, 2018, and version 8.2 on December 12, 2019. Version 9.0 was released on June 28, 2022, introducing new features. The most recent versions listed are 9.1, released on January 2, 2024, and 9.2, released on February 14, 2026. The project is licensed under both the GNU General Public License and a charityware license referred to as the Vim license.

### Technical Specifications
Vim is a modal text editor and source code editor, functioning also as a console application and integrated development environment. It is written in the C programming language and utilizes Vimscript for scripting and configuration. The editor introduces features such as syntax highlighting, find and replace, cut, copy (referred to as "yank"), paste, undo, redo, extensibility, indentation, and word wrap. It supports programming languages including Go, HTML, Cascading Style Sheets, TypeScript, and Python. The software uses a man page titled `vim.1` and a writable file format known as Vim swap.

### Platform Availability
The software is highly portable and runs on a vast array of operating systems. These include Unix-like operating systems, BSD, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Haiku, MorphOS, DOS, and AmigaOS. It is available through various package managers and repositories, such as Debian (vim), Ubuntu (vim), Fedora (vim), Gentoo (app-editors/vim), Arch Linux (vim), Homebrew (vim), Chocolatey (vim), Flathub (org.vim.Vim), and Nixpkgs (vim). It also has specific ports for FreeBSD (editors/vim), OpenBSD (editors/vim), and NetBSD.

### Ecosystem and Derivatives
Vim has influenced the development of other software, most notably Neovim, which is listed as a derivative work. It competes with other editors such as Visual Studio Code (inception 2015) and GNU Emacs (inception 1984). The editor is associated with the Vimscript programming language. It maintains a presence on various community platforms, including a subreddit (r/vim), GitHub (username: vim), Stack Exchange (vi.stackexchange.com), and an IRC channel (#vim on Libera Chat).

### Identifiers and Aliases
Vim is known by several aliases, including GVim, VImproved, Vi improved, Vi Imitation, Vimiste, Evim, and KVim. It holds numerous database identifiers across different systems, such as the GND ID (4847632-8), VIAF ID (293937874), Freebase ID (/m/07zh7), and Library of Congress Authority ID (no2012155317). Its official website is hosted at vim.org.

## References

1. Free Software Directory
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/uganda.html#license)
4. [Source](https://vimhelp.org/uganda.txt.html#license)
5. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/blob/master/LICENSE)
6. [Source](https://www.openhub.net/p/vim/analyses/latest/languages_summary)
7. [Vim 7.4 released!. 2013](http://www.vim.org/news/news.php)
8. [Source](http://www.vim.org/news/news.php)
9. [Source](https://groups.google.com/forum/?_escaped_fragment_=topic/vim_announce/EKTuhjF3ET0#!topic/vim_announce/EKTuhjF3ET0)
10. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1428)
11. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1431)
12. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1433)
13. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1438)
14. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1442)
15. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1473)
16. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1497)
17. [vim/vim](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1563)
18. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1608)
19. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1630)
20. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1648)
21. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1768)
22. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1780)
23. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1782)
24. [Source](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.0.1783)
25. [Source](https://www.vim.org/vim-8.1-released.php)
26. [Release v8.1.0240](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.1.0240)
27. [Release v8.1.0936](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v8.1.0936)
28. [Release 7.4.900. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.900)
29. [Release 7.4.901. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.901)
30. [Release 7.4.902. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.902)
31. [Release 7.4.903. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.903)
32. [Release 7.4.904. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.904)
33. [Release 7.4.905. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.905)
34. [Release 7.4.906. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.906)
35. [Release 7.4.907. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.907)
36. [Release 7.4.908. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.908)
37. [Release 7.4.909. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.909)
38. [Release 7.4.910. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.910)
39. [Release 7.4.911. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.911)
40. [Release 7.4.912. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.912)
41. [Release 7.4.913. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.913)
42. [Release 7.4.914. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.914)
43. [Release 7.4.915. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.915)
44. [Release 7.4.916. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.916)
45. [Release 7.4.917. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.917)
46. [Release 7.4.918. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.918)
47. [Release 7.4.919. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.919)
48. [Release 7.4.920. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.920)
49. [Release 7.4.921. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.921)
50. [Release 7.4.922. 2015](https://github.com/vim/vim/releases/tag/v7.4.922)