Yes, that's right.. This site was created with VIM under Linux

If you're thinking "So What?", then read on!

There are a few programs out there nowadays that help in the construction of HTML documents, or more commonly referred to as Web Pages.

While many of these programs simply are text file editors with buttons that relieve you the burden of remembering HTML's commands (such as HTMLedit32), people seem to want to use more 'automatic' programs. These automatic programs include Netscape Navigator Gold's WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, America Online's AOL Press web software, Microsoft Office 97, or numerous others which simply let you type, insert images, and allow you to simply point-and-click your page together. While this is all well and good for the average web publisher, experienced programmers wince their face in disgust when they view the code that these programs generate.

So what's the problem with that?

The problem does not lie in simple pages with simple text. For example, this page that you're reading RIGHT NOW is not that complicated. However, throw a couple tables in and a couple fancy features, and these generators blurt out more code than is necessary.

So why is this a problem? Because the Internet is clogged enough as it is! Why should the extra overhead (read: more information than is necessary) generated by these tools slow down the already over-burdened Internet? Maybe that statement is a little too anal, but the idea that I'm trying to convey is that the same effect can be created by a good text editor versus an automatic generator. It may take a little more time to do, but when you're loading pages over the internet, every second you save does count.

This site was created with VIM 5.3. Based upon the UNIX standard VI, VIM stands for VI Improved, as it adds unbelievable amounts of functionality to the VI program. For more information and how to download VIM, check out the VIM Homepage.

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Last Modified: October 18, 1998
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