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---
title: "Trying out Helix"
date: 2025-09-22T09:08:19+02:00
index: true
---
## Intro
So I recently learned about the [helix editor](https://helix-editor.com). If you try to use it you will see that Helix is similar to Vim and has the same three main editing modes.
On a ton of distros it's easy to install it, on Arch you can just go:
```sh
sudo pacman -S helix
```
Normally, you use the helix binary with the `hx` command. But on Arch, you have to spell the whole `helix` word out, so you should probably make an alias in your shell's config if it bothers you.
```sh
alias hx="helix"
```
## The actual Helix
### Basic stuff
Helix comes pre installed with LSP support, color schemes, a fuzzy finder similar to telescope, native syntax tree with tree sitter, auto closing characters such as brackets, parenthesis and quotes and more.
Helix and [Neovim](https://neovim.io) feel different to me, because with Neovim, I spend more time making the **perfect** configuration instead of having work done. With Helix you have almost nothing to setup. Some people might say that compared to Neovim/Vim, Helix is bloated, but I really think that this 'bloat' feels awesome and will find it's own audience.
### Conf
Helix uses a `config.toml` file in your `~/.config/helix` folder, so since it's using the TOML format Helix configuration files are way more user-friendly than learning to use Neovim's init.lua
### Usage
Of course, using Helix might be weird at first glance if you are used to vim motions.
It uses an _object-verb_ system : you first specify the object, then the action you want to perform on it (yank, delete, replace etc). So you might feel a bit confused with the keybinds because vim does the opposite (verb-object). You should really go checkout helix's website as it gives you everything you need to help you use their text editor. They even have a guide [for us](https://docs.helix-editor.com/from-vim.html) vim users.
After using Helix for roughly 5 mins, I can say that I feel more comfortable **learning** Helix rather than Neovim. The Keybindings make more sense and are more intuitive.
## Conclusion
You must have your own opinion on the subject, stop reading stupid blog posts about helix and just give it a shot :)
If you want to see my helix and neovim config here are my [dot files](https://codeberg.org/mielota/dox/src/branch/main/home/.config)
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