Software Alternatives & Startups

Select Star SQL VS Vim

Compare Select Star SQL VS Vim and see what are their differences

Select Star SQL

Education & Reference

Rating
0 reviews
Vim

Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Vim seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 10 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 10
Online Education popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
12 vs 240+

Base details

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

SSS
Select Star SQL
Vim
Website selectstarsql.com vim.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SSS
Select Star SQL 5 features
Vim 6 features
  • Completely Free
    Select Star SQL is entirely free to use with no paywalls, subscriptions, or hidden costs. This makes it accessible to anyone who wants to learn SQL regardless of their financial situation.
  • Interactive Hands-On Learning
    The platform provides an interactive SQL environment directly in the browser where learners can write and execute real SQL queries against actual datasets, reinforcing concepts through practice rather than passive reading.
  • Real-World Dataset
    The course uses a compelling real-world dataset about Texas death row executions, which makes the learning experience more engaging and meaningful compared to abstract or contrived examples.
  • Well-Structured Progressive Curriculum
    The course is organized in a logical progression from basic SELECT statements to more advanced concepts like aggregations, joins, and subqueries, allowing learners to build knowledge incrementally without feeling overwhelmed.
  • No Setup Required
    There is no need to install any software, set up a database, or configure an environment. Learners can start writing SQL queries immediately in their web browser, removing a significant barrier to entry for beginners.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Scope
    The course covers only fundamental SQL concepts and does not address more advanced topics like window functions, CTEs, indexing, database design, or performance optimization, which are essential for professional SQL usage.
  • Single Database Dialect
    The platform teaches SQL using SQLite, and does not cover syntax differences or features specific to other popular database systems like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle, which learners may encounter in real jobs.
  • No Certificate or Credential
    Completing the course does not provide any formal certificate, badge, or credential that learners could use to demonstrate their SQL skills to potential employers or on professional profiles.
  • Limited Practice Exercises
    While the course includes some exercises, the total number of practice problems is relatively small compared to dedicated SQL practice platforms, which may not be sufficient for learners who need extensive repetition to solidify their skills.
  • Single Dataset Can Feel Restrictive
    Using only one dataset throughout the entire course means learners do not get experience working with diverse data schemas, table relationships, or different types of data, which limits exposure to varied real-world scenarios.
  • 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.

SSS
Select Star SQL
Vim

Overall verdict

  • Select Star SQL is an excellent free, interactive online book for learning SQL, praised for its engaging, hands-on approach that lets you write and run queries directly in the browser while working through a compelling real-world dataset.

Why this product is good

  • It's completely free and accessible online with no signup required
  • Features an interactive interface where you can write and execute SQL queries directly in the browser
  • Uses a compelling, thought-provoking dataset (Texas death row executions) that keeps learners engaged
  • Teaches SQL through active problem-solving rather than passive reading
  • Progresses logically from basic concepts to more advanced topics like window functions and self-joins
  • Includes exercises with solutions to reinforce learning
  • Well-written and clearly explained, making complex concepts approachable for beginners

Recommended for

  • Complete beginners who want to learn SQL from scratch
  • Self-taught learners who prefer hands-on, interactive practice
  • Students and professionals looking to build a solid foundation in querying databases
  • Aspiring data analysts and data scientists
  • Anyone wanting a free alternative to paid SQL courses
  • People who learn best by doing rather than just reading theory

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.

SSS
Select Star SQL 0 videos + Add
Vim 3 videos + Add

No Select Star SQL videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
SSS
Select Star SQL
Vim
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
IDE
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

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

SSS
Select Star SQL no reviews yet
Vim no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Select Star SQL yet. Be the first one to post

  • 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.

SSS
Select Star SQL 0 mentions
Vim 10 mentions

Tracking Select Star SQL since May 2026.

  • 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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