Remembering Bram Moolenaar: A History of Vi and Vim
2025-04-18
The passing of Bram Moolenaar, creator of Vim, prompts a reflection on the rich history of UNIX text editors. This article traces the evolution from ed to Vim, recounting the stories of Ken Thompson's ed, George Coulouris' em, Bill Joy's vi, and numerous vi clones like Stevie and Elvis. Their development is intertwined with the evolution of UNIX and computing itself, showcasing the enduring spirit of open-source software. Vim, initially an Amiga port of Stevie, grew into a powerful editor still widely used today.
Development
UNIX editors