Software Alternatives & Startups

LXDE VS Vim

Compare LXDE VS Vim and see what are their differences

LXDE

Why will you like it? Less resource needs. You can use it on your less-pricey embedded board or salvaged computer. Component-based design. Don't want something in LXDE, or you don't want to use LXDE but only part of it?

Rating
0 reviews
Vim

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Vim should be more popular than LXDE. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
1 vs 10
Desktop Environments popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
42 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

LXDE
Vim
Website lxde.org vim.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

LXDE 5 features
Vim 6 features
  • Lightweight
    LXDE is designed to be lightweight, making it ideal for older hardware and systems with limited resources.
  • Fast Performance
    Due to its low-resource usage, LXDE provides fast and responsive performance even on less powerful machines.
  • Customizable
    LXDE is highly customizable, allowing users to modify the interface and functionalities to suit their needs.
  • Low Memory Usage
    LXDE uses significantly less memory compared to more feature-rich desktop environments, maximizing available system RAM.
  • Modular Components
    LXDE consists of modular components that can be used independently or replaced, offering flexibility to users and developers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Basic Appearance
    LXDE's default appearance is considered quite basic and lacks the visual polish seen in more modern desktop environments.
  • Fewer Features
    LXDE sacrifices some features and functionality to maintain its lightweight footprint, which may limit advanced user needs.
  • Inconsistent User Experience
    Due to its modularity and simplicity, there might be inconsistencies in user experience compared to more integrated environments.
  • Development Pace
    The development and updates of LXDE are slower compared to other desktop environments, potentially leading to a lack of new features and slower bug fixes.
  • Limited App Integration
    Some applications may not integrate as seamlessly with LXDE as they do with other desktop environments like GNOME or KDE.
  • Efficiency
    Once learned, Vim can significantly speed up text editing with its modal editing, keyboard shortcuts, and commands that allow for quick navigation and manipulation of text.
  • Lightweight
    Vim is a very lightweight editor, consuming minimal system resources, making it highly performant even on systems with lower specifications.
  • Customizability
    Vim is highly configurable and extensible through plugins and user-defined settings, allowing users to tailor the editor to their specific needs.
  • Ubiquity
    Vim is available on almost every Unix-like system and even on Windows, making it a ubiquitous tool that you can rely on being available in most environments.
  • Support for Multiple Programming Languages
    Vim supports a wide range of programming languages out of the box and offers syntax highlighting, which can be enhanced through plugins.
  • Powerful Search and Replace
    Vim offers robust searching and replacing functionalities, including support for regular expressions, which can be a powerful tool for developers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Vim's modal editing and extensive set of commands can be daunting for new users, requiring significant time and effort to master.
  • Minimal Default Config
    The default configuration of Vim is quite minimalistic, which may necessitate additional setup and customization to meet modern development needs.
  • Limited GUI
    Vim primarily operates in a terminal, and while there are graphical variants like GVim, they are not as feature-rich or user-friendly as modern GUI editors.
  • Plugin Management
    While Vim is highly extensible, managing and configuring plugins can be cumbersome compared to more modern editors that offer integrated plugin management.
  • Inconsistent Behavior Across Platforms
    There may be inconsistencies in behavior or available features of Vim across different operating systems, which can complicate its use in certain environments.
  • Lack of Integrated Modern Features
    Vim lacks some modern IDE features like integrated debugging, advanced code introspection, and refined autocompletion, which often require third-party plugins to achieve.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

LXDE
Vim

Overall verdict

  • LXDE is good for users who prioritize performance and simplicity over a more visually intricate and feature-rich environment. It provides a stable and reliable experience with essential features while maintaining fast responsiveness.

Why this product is good

  • LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) is known for its simplicity, speed, and minimal use of system resources. It is particularly well-suited for older hardware, computers with limited processing power, or users who prefer a more traditional and straightforward desktop interface. Its modular design allows for greater flexibility and customization, making it a preferred choice for users who want to build their desktop environment according to their needs.

Recommended for

  • Users with older computers or limited hardware resources
  • Those seeking a lightweight and fast desktop experience
  • Linux enthusiasts who prefer a traditional desktop interface
  • Users requiring a customizable and modular environment

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Vim is a good text editor, especially for users who invest the time to learn its powerful commands and features. Its steep learning curve may be challenging initially, but once mastered, it significantly enhances productivity.

Why this product is good

  • Vim is considered a powerful text editor because of its efficiency and versatility. It offers extensive features, such as syntax highlighting, a robust plugin system, and support for numerous programming languages. Vim is highly configurable, enabling users to customize its environment to fit their needs. It is particularly appreciated for its speed and the ability to perform complex text manipulations using simple commands.

Recommended for

    Vim is recommended for programmers, developers, and system administrators who require a highly efficient and customizable text editing experience. It is especially useful for those who work extensively in terminal environments or need a quick, resource-light text editor for remote systems.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

LXDE 2 videos + Add
Vim 3 videos + Add

Desktop December - LXDE Review

More videos

  • - Lubuntu 18.04 LTS Review - Perhaps the last with LXDE

What Vim Is and Why You Should Learn It

More videos

  • - JAC Vapour VIM Review - JAC does a side by side mod...
  • - Jac Vapour VIM - Quick Look

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
LXDE
Vim
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
IDE
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using LXDE and Vim. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

LXDE no reviews yet
Vim no reviews yet
  • 9 Best Linux Desktop Environments to Use in 2023
    geekflare.com · Jan 2023

    Another elegant and portable desktop environment is LXDE. LXDE stands for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment. It uses minimal RAM compared to other desktop environments since it uses so few resources. LXDE is better...

  • Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020
    www.journaldev.com · Jan 2021

    Lightweight and Low-resource can be considered the same, but in this case, there’s a difference. XFCE is a lightweight desktop environment even with a whole lot of built-in customizations and UI perks. LXDE, on the...

  • The 12 Best Linux Desktop Environments
    linuxhint.com · Nov 2020

    LXDE is a user-friendly, energy-efficient, and lightweight Linux desktop environment. It is based on the GTK+, so LXDE can be a good alternative to Xfce if it runs slower on your system. It proves that LXDE is...

  • Boost Your Productivity with These Top Text Editors and IDEs
    convesio.com · Nov 2023

    Vim offers a variety of features like split windows, macros, and extensive customization options. It has a steep learning curve, but once you master it, you’ll be amazed at the speed and productivity it brings to your...

  • 13 Best Text Editors to Speed up Your Workflow
    kinsta.com · Sep 2023

    It’s tough to say which developers would enjoy Vim as a text editor. It’s an old system with an outdated interface. Yet, it still has the charm and powerful feature-set that the average developer needs. I would...

  • 12 Best LaTeX Editors You Should Use
    beebom.com · Dec 2021

    The entire installation process is perfectly documented on their Sourceforge page, which you must definitely pay a visit. There is another standalone Vim software, known as the gVim that brings a GUI-based interface...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

LXDE 1 mention
Vim 10 mentions
  • Touchpad Settings on Qtile with GUI App
    That said, you can look into lxinput https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Openbox#GUI_configuration https://lxde.org or... I don't know if kde-config-touchpad is still valid. Source: about 4 years ago
  • regular Vim has lua?!
    Lua is quite small, encouraging distros to include it. The ubuntu gvim has, and the gvim AppImage linked from vim.org does. The default Makefile from github is set up to not include it, but you can uncomment one line there to get it. Source: over 3 years ago
  • is there a way to make highlighted text persistent after quit when using something like [match Search /\%'.line('.').'l/] ?
    I've not used vimwiki locally (tho I'm old enough to remember the Vim wiki on vim.org :), but I think what you are wanting to do is extend vimwiki's syntax file. I presume it installs one at $VIMRUNTIM/syntax or or ~/.vim/syntax. If... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • vim.org - Is there a reason for this 1800s-esque design?
    Vim.org has 242k total visitors, tailwindcss.com has 4.4m, planetscale.com has 412k, jpl.nasa.gov has 2.6m, all built with Tailwind, all several years younger than Vim's website. Unnecessary comparison, unnecessary defence. It's a... Source: almost 4 years ago

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Alternatives to LXDE and Vim

When comparing LXDE and Vim, you can also consider the following products.