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---
title: "Trying out Helix"
date: 2025-09-22T09:08:19+02:00
---
## 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 are different [Neovim](https://neovim.io/) as helix works out of the box, you have nothing to configure. 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 feels weird 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 will 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.
## Conclusion
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.
You must have your own opinion on the subject, stop reading stupid blog posts about helix and just give it a shot :)
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