Vi/Vim's Normal Mode Needs Renaming

DrJuanNadie

DrJuanNadie

In today's world, describing something as “normal” is old-fashioned, inappropriate, and even risky. Some struggling or failing writer (I declare myself guilty on both counts, your honor) could think: “Hey, I spend most of my time in ‘insert mode.’ How come ‘insert mode’ isn’t the ‘normal’ mode?” Or something worse: “What do they mean by ‘normal’ mode? Perhaps that the other modes are NOT normal? What’s wrong with the other modes?! I feel so offended right now in the name of the other modes!!”

As a precautionary measure in order to avoid the kindhearted community of users of Unix-like OSs being accused of backwardness, or lack of sensibility, I propose changing Vi/Vim’s normal mode’s name to something more modern and appropriate.

These are some possible options:

—Initial mode.
—Smart mode.
—Genie mode.
—Obedient mode.
—Editing mode.
—Premium mode.
—Expert mode.
 
"Normal" just desribes something that either adheres to a standard or corresponds to the most widespread / most common state of things in the given context. Taking offense here is just ridiculous (as long as it's not used to describe people, where there's unfortunately a history of value judgment attached to "conforming to the norm", but that's an entirely different story).

That aside:
DrJuanNadie said:
Hey, I spend most of my time in ‘insert mode.’
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In classic vi without any extensions, you couldn't even move your cursor without leaving insert mode.

Normal mode is the initial mode on startup and the mode allowing you to control your editor (which includes exiting it for example). Insert mode is only entered temporarily.
 
zirias@ said:
Normal mode is the initial mode on startup and the mode allowing you to control your editor (which includes exiting it for example). Insert mode is only entered temporarily
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I respect how you use current Vi/Vim, but current Vi/Vim, especially current Vim can be used in many other fashions, which are all valid. If I want to spend my life in insert mode, I will spend my life in insert mode (Ctrl+o makes this easy). It's my decision. It works. It's valid. Programs are tools.
 
missthepoint-the.gif
 
DrJuanNadie said:
I respect how you use current Vi/Vim, but current Vi/Vim, especially current Vim can be used in many other fashions, which are all valid. If I want to spend my life in insert mode, I will spend my life in insert mode (Ctrl+o makes this easy). It's my decision. It works. It's valid. Programs are tools.
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Normalize your vectors!
 
vim -c 'startinsert' so you can be different :)
Just make some alias for few vim starting points , whats the point start vi/vim/nvim in INSERT mode when opening directory with it so its only when new , empty file ( so for this reason you can make alias ) .
I actually tried to open file in insert mode and tried to quit - found extra buttons to press as exhausting and pointless. Imagine how many times you will have to pres ESC and type :q! and its 2 key press to much ... .
 
DrJuanNadie said:
.vimrc
Code: 
inoremap <C-a>q <C-o>:wq^M
inoremap <C-a>1 <C-o>:q!^M

Result:
Ctrl+A q > Save and quit from 'writers mode.'
Ctrl+A 1 > Quit without saving from 'writers mode.'
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Dang, i need to make something like this for neovim lol ( im not using vi/vim ) and have not thought about this. Im always using :q or :q!
Maybe you can create a script where you have MODE by your choosing when opening vi/vim. My suggestion is if you use from terminal, but you might be able to implement this when you inside vi/vim? if you in explorer/tree mode you can use NORMAL mode if you inside file - INSERT mode.
But im sure there is a reason why this is not a standard mode in these editors ... imagine if people quiting vi/vim/nvim by hard reset - your MODE`s would be disaster for newbies ... world would burn and old "how to quit" would be inaccurate lol.
 
GlitchyDot: My man, I don't know anything about the explorer/tree mode. And the reason you ask is what zirias@ explains in his first answer to this post: history. But history starts with the ex editor, which is still part of vi, and yet no one uses ex mode to work. By the way, I don't recommend my second "inoremap", it's better:

Code: 
inoremap <C-a>1 <C-o>:q^M

Without the "!." This way, you cannot lose your last changes by mistake.
 
IDK, should this be funny or something? ?‍♂️ ... If you want a similarly powerful modeless editor, try emacs...

But side question, was it even called "normal mode" in the original vi/ex manual? Question comes to mind because the term "command mode" seems to be just as commonly used.
 
zirias@ said:
IDK, should this be funny or something? ?‍♂️
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Well, not for you, that's clear. Thankfully, it's free of charge.

zirias@ said:
modeless
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Am I complaining about modes? Nope. I like vi/vim. I like using it. I don't mind changing to "editing mode" when I need to do much editing.

zirias@ said:
was it even called "normal mode" in the original vi/ex manual?
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I've done some research, and I've found the following info, that sounds plausible:

In the original vi/ex manual, the default mode was not referred to as "normal mode." Instead, it was commonly called "command mode." The original vi editor, developed by Bill Joy in the late 1970s, primarily used the terms "command mode" and "insert mode" to distinguish between the modes of operation.

The term "normal mode" became more prevalent with later derivatives like Vim (Vi IMproved). Vim introduced additional modes and functionalities, leading to the adoption of the term "normal mode" to describe the default mode where users can navigate and execute commands without inserting text.
 
If you take issue with the word normal, start vim(1) in Chinese, then it’s the 正常 (zhèngcháng) mode. ??​
Bash: 
LANG=zh_CN.UTF-8 vim # needs locales installed and set up properly
In Japanese (ja) it’s the ノーマル (nōmaru) mode ?? but maybe this wording is too close to the sound of normal, apparently it is even borrowed from the English word normal. ?? Hardcore vi(1) users use the Vietnamese (vi) version with its thông thường mode.​
zirias@ said:
[…] Question comes to mind because the term "command mode" seems to be just as commonly used.
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Indeed, the Russian edition uses режим команд (rezhim komand), command regime. ??

PS: Although “unimproved” vi(1) is part of the base installation, its source residing in the contributed sources directory (nvi) should be a tell‑tale sign that it’s a third‑party project. ?‍☠️ Therefore it’s probably best to direct your concerns there; as far as I understand the FreeBSD project mainly ensures its inclusion is reasonable (e. g. no security flaws) and seamless integration.​
 
DrJuanNadie said:
In the original vi/ex manual, the default mode was not referred to as "normal mode." Instead, it was commonly called "command mode."
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure, That tends to be an alias for "ex mode". As in when your cursor is at the bottom left of the screen and you are ready to type "ex" commands. There are basically 3 modes:
  • Normal mode
  • Insert mode
  • Command mode
The great thing is that you can call them whatever you like. It just means that you will have to map the labels you have given them as you read documents regarding the editor.

If the editor was still in active development, perhaps you can push for the name change. But since it has been feature complete for many decades now and doesn't even really need a maintainer, that ship has sailed and it is probably not a good use of your time trying to change things at this point.
 
The original nvi/nex manual uses command mode and text input mode. From the text input mode you switch to the command vide via ESC. From command mode you switch to the text input mode via one of A a C c I i O o R S s commands. This manual uses visual mode for full screen vs ex mode for single line starting with a : but command vs text input mode are valid in either visual or ex mode.
 
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