I strongly suggest learning to use a command-line modal text editor
intended for writing code.
For those of you new to command line text editors, I recommend the
following, in order:
Helix (Vim/Vis/Kakoune inspired modal editing, with reversed
verb-object order):
Helix is very discoverable, easy to learn, powerful, interactive,
multi-cursor.
hx has an object-verb grammar, which is better than the
primary verb-object in nvim/vim/vis.
https://helix-editor.com/
This one is probably best for newcomers to start modal editing.
Kakoune (Vim-like modal editing, but with reversed verb-object order,
and simplified normal/visual mode):
Kakoune is very discoverable, easy to learn, powerful, interactive,
multi-cursor.
kak has an object-verb grammar, which is better than the
primary verb-object in nvim/vim/vis.
https://kakoune.org/
If you are comfortable with Linux/Unix, this is an easy place to
start.
Vis (Vim-like modal editing, but with multiple cursors, and better
structural regular expressions):
Vis is vim-like, with multi-cursor, interactivitiy, and structural
regular experissions.
vis can do verb-object and object-verb actions.
https://sr.ht/~martanne/vis/
https://github.com/martanne/vis
I mostly use vis, though sometimes use nvim -d
for differences.
NeoVim and Vim are powerful, but less so than Helix, Kakoune, or
Vis.
nvim and vim can do verb-object and
object-verb actions.
https://neovim.io/
https://www.vim.org/
http://www.viemu.com/a-why-vi-vim.html
https://danielmiessler.com/study/vim/
https://thevaluable.dev/vim-commands-beginner/
https://www.reddit.com/r/WatchPeopleVim
http://vimcasts.org/
https://devhints.io/vim
https://learnxinyminutes.com/docs/vim/
https://openvim.com/
https://www.vim.so/
https://vimmer.io/
https://vimtricks.com/p/category/tips-and-tricks/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqoJQft5R2E
For most editing, dedicated modal text editors are more efficient
than a full IDE.
However, there are a number of scenarios where full IDEs with debuggers
and data display are better:
Data exploratation
Stubborn bugs
Really big projets
etc.
The boundary between text editor and IDE is not binary.
For example, you may like https://vscodium.com/
In general, language-specific IDEs will be more powerful for
specialized purposes.
For example, for python, nothing beats: https://www.spyder-ide.org/
or for C/C++, this one is best: https://www.qt.io/product/development-tools
Helix, kakoune, and vis have powerful interactive features.
These can be approximated by nvim/vim macros, and other advanced
nvim/vim features.
However, in nvim/vim, such features are vastly less usuable, and less
useful than the equivalent interactive actions.
vis is formally more powerful than all three, though not
quite as newcomer friendly as hx and
kak.
My suggestion for newbies is to start with hx!
Pseudo-IDEs like VSCode are accessible, though my recommendation to
use the following instead:
1. Use a real modal command line text editor for the bulk of your
editing.
2. When you must, fall back on a special-purpose, language-specific
dedicated IDE.