5 New Vim Books Reshaping Text Editing in 2025

Discover new Vim books authored by leading experts like Ruslan Osipov and Duy Tran offering fresh perspectives for 2025

Updated on June 26, 2025
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The Vim landscape changed dramatically in 2024, with new editions and evolving workflows capturing the attention of developers worldwide. Vim remains a cornerstone of efficient text editing, but these recent books bring fresh strategies and insights that reflect the cutting-edge developments of 2025. Whether you're customizing Vimscript for automation or mastering navigation on Linux, staying current is key to leveraging Vim’s full potential.

These five books, authored by practitioners deeply embedded in software development and education, share a common thread: practical, tested techniques that respect both Vim’s legacy and its future. Ruslan Osipov, a Google engineer, and Duy Tran, an experienced instructor, among others, offer perspectives that balance foundational skills with forward-thinking customization and productivity enhancements.

While these books provide a solid foundation for the latest Vim capabilities, if you're looking for a more tailored learning experience, consider creating a personalized Vim book that adapts the newest insights to your unique background, skill level, and goals. This approach helps you stay ahead of trends and maximize your Vim proficiency efficiently.

Best for advanced Vim customization
Ruslan Osipov, a self-taught software engineer at Google, channels years of personal experience into this guide. Since 2012, his evolving Vim notes formed the foundation of this book, which reflects his deep interest in optimizing development workflows through Vim's extensibility. His practical approach makes this book a useful resource for developers eager to leverage the latest Vim 9 features and Vimscript for efficient, tailored editing.
2024·300 pages·Vim, Software Development, Text Editing, Vimscript, Plugin Management

While working as a software engineer at Google, Ruslan Osipov developed this book as a deep dive into Vim's evolving capabilities, especially focusing on Vim 9 and Neovim. You’ll learn to navigate text more swiftly, customize Vim through plugins, and write Vimscript to automate and enhance your workflow, with practical Python examples sprinkled throughout. The chapters cover everything from basic editing to complex tasks like refactoring with regex and managing builds and tests, making it a solid choice if you want to truly harness Vim as a development environment. If you're aiming to integrate Vim seamlessly into your daily coding, this book offers a clear path without overcomplicating things.

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Best for beginners learning Vim basics
Duy Tran brings eight years of experience teaching Cisco networking courses in Vietnam to this practical guide, blending his technical expertise with a passion for technology. His methodical focus on visuals and incremental learning reflects his background in instruction, aiming to make Vim accessible for beginners. This approach equips you with essential Vim skills through clear examples and encourages consistent practice to build proficiency quickly.
Vim For Everyone book cover

by Duy Tran··You?

2024·150 pages·Vim, Software Development, Text Editing, Command Line, Keyboard Shortcuts

The methods Duy Tran developed while teaching Cisco networking courses clearly influenced his approach to writing this book, emphasizing clarity and step-by-step visuals to accelerate your Vim learning. You’ll find focused chapters that cover everything from basic navigation commands like hjkl to more advanced tasks such as configuring vimrc and using visual block mode, with explicit examples to practice daily. This book suits beginners eager to grasp Vim efficiently without getting overwhelmed by theory, helping you build confidence from opening files to managing buffers and running commands. If you want a straightforward introduction that respects your time and learning pace, this book delivers exactly that.

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Best for custom Vim workflows
This AI-created book on Vim workflows is crafted based on your experience and specific goals in mastering the 2025 developments. You share which aspects of Vim customization and efficiency matter most to you, and the book focuses on guiding you through those precise areas. By aligning with your unique interests, it delivers the latest insights and techniques that make learning more relevant and effective.
2025·50-300 pages·Vim, Vim Basics, Advanced Navigation, Vimscript Customization, Plugin Integration

This tailored book explores the latest Vim workflows and customization techniques emerging in 2025, designed specifically to match your background and goals. It examines new developments in Vimscript, advanced navigation, and automation to help you unlock exceptional efficiency. The content is tailored to focus precisely on your interests, addressing the evolving landscape of Vim tools and plugins that enhance productivity. By centering on your unique experience and objectives, this book reveals how cutting-edge features and personalized configurations come together to transform your Vim practice. It invites you to discover new insights and workflows that keep you ahead of ongoing innovations in text editing.

Tailored Guide
Workflow Innovation
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Best for intermediate Vim users enhancing skills
Eric Frick has spent 30 years across software development and IT operations, bringing a wealth of real-world experience to this book. His background as a developer, architect, and educator informs a practical approach to Vim that balances foundational knowledge with advanced editing and customization skills. This guide reflects his dedication to teaching IT topics effectively, aimed at helping you harness Vim’s power whether you’re starting out or refining your workflow.
Vim Essentials book cover

by Eric Frick··You?

2023·156 pages·Vim, Software Development, Text Editing, Vim Navigation, Macros

Eric Frick brings three decades of hands-on software development and IT operations experience to this guide, aimed at unlocking Vim’s potential for users at any level. You’ll explore Vim’s evolution from a Unix text editor to a powerful tool favored by developers, mastering navigation commands, text manipulation techniques including macros, and customization through plugins and themes. The book also dives into coding features like syntax highlighting and code folding, making it relevant for programmers seeking efficiency. If you want a straightforward path to becoming proficient in Vim’s unique environment, this book lays out practical skills without fluff, though it’s less suited for those looking for deep Vim plugin development or niche workflows.

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Best for hands-on Vim practice and notes
Infinite Boop’s Vim Cheat Sheet and Notebook stands out as a unique, hands-on resource for anyone aiming to sharpen their Vim skills. It combines a concise, ready-to-use cheat sheet with ample space for you to capture your own commands and techniques, making it a personalized learning tool. This approach benefits developers, writers, and anyone who navigates text intensively by encouraging active practice and note-taking. Its design addresses the challenge of retaining complex Vim shortcuts by providing a dedicated space for you to track progress and experiment, helping transform Vim from a daunting editor into an accessible productivity ally.
2023·120 pages·Vim, Text Editing, Productivity, Command Line, Shortcut Keys

Infinite Boop's Vim Cheat Sheet and Notebook serves as a practical toolkit designed specifically for those looking to deepen their command of Vim's text manipulation capabilities. Rather than a traditional guide, it offers a potent cheat sheet upfront and 120 college-ruled pages to jot down personalized commands, scripts, and notes, making it ideal for hands-on learners who benefit from active engagement. If you’re coding, writing, or frequently editing text, this resource helps you internalize Vim's efficiency-enhancing shortcuts and workflows. Its straightforward layout suits those who want a compact, interactive companion to experiment with and document their Vim journey, rather than a dense manual.

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Best for Linux users mastering Vim
Master VI And Vim On Linux offers a focused exploration of Vim's capabilities within Linux environments, guiding you from basic commands to advanced techniques. This book emphasizes practical learning and customization, enabling you to adapt Vim to your personal workflow efficiently. Its clear step-by-step approach addresses the real needs of both newcomers and experienced users aiming to deepen their command line proficiency. If you want to master Vim's powerful editing features on Linux, this concise guide serves as a straightforward resource to enhance your productivity and command mastery.
2023·96 pages·Vim, Linux, Text Editing, Customization, Command Line

What started as a simple guide to Vim commands on Linux evolves into a thorough manual that bridges the gap between beginner curiosity and advanced proficiency. Kour Lenga walks you through foundational commands and progressively unfolds complex techniques, ensuring you grasp not only how but why certain commands work. The book also ventures into personalizing Vim, helping you tailor the editor to your unique workflow, something often overlooked in other texts. If you're looking to gain practical skills that improve your efficiency in Linux environments, this concise 96-page guide keeps things focused and accessible without overwhelming you.

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Best for future-proof skills
This AI-created book on Vim workflow is tailored to your skill level and specific interests, focusing on preparing you for the newest features and workflows in 2025. By sharing your background and goals, you get a book that helps you explore emerging Vim innovations directly relevant to how you work. This personalized approach makes learning more engaging and efficient, as you focus only on the advancements that matter most to you.
2025·50-300 pages·Vim, Vim Fundamentals, Advanced Navigation, New Features, Workflow Integration

This tailored book explores the evolving landscape of Vim as it prepares you for the upcoming 2025 features and workflows. It examines newly introduced capabilities, emerging editing patterns, and future-oriented customization options that match your background and goals. By focusing on your interests, this personalized guide reveals cutting-edge insights to keep you ahead in your Vim proficiency, transforming how you approach text editing challenges with the latest innovations. The book delves into practical examples and evolving practices, encouraging you to engage directly with future Vim developments in a way that resonates with your individual workflow and skill level.

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Conclusion

Together, these five books reveal a clear pattern: Vim’s power lies not just in commands, but in how you adapt and automate your environment. They emphasize mastering navigation, customizing workflows, and integrating Vim deeply into daily development tasks. If you aim to stay ahead of the latest research and trends, starting with "Mastering Vim" and "Vim Essentials" will deepen your expertise, while "Vim For Everyone" and "Master VI And Vim On Linux" offer accessible paths tailored to beginners and Linux users.

For practical, hands-on learning, "Vim Cheat Sheet and Notebook" encourages active engagement and personalization. Combining these resources builds a robust foundation and a forward-looking Vim skill set. Alternatively, you can create a personalized Vim book to apply the newest strategies directly to your workflow and learning style.

These books deliver the most current insights for 2025, helping you stay ahead in Vim mastery and text editing efficiency. Embracing these approaches ensures your skills evolve with the editor’s ongoing innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with "Vim For Everyone" if you're new to Vim; it offers clear, step-by-step guidance. If you have experience, "Mastering Vim" dives deeper into advanced customization and scripting.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to Vim?

Not at all. "Vim For Everyone" is designed for beginners, while others like "Vim Essentials" bridge intermediate skills, making the collection suitable across experience levels.

Should I read these books in a specific order?

Begin with foundational books like "Vim For Everyone" or "Vim Essentials," then progress to advanced texts such as "Mastering Vim." Use "Vim Cheat Sheet and Notebook" anytime for practice.

Do these books focus more on theory or practical application?

They emphasize practical application, with clear examples, commands, and workflows. For instance, "Master VI And Vim On Linux" focuses on real-world Linux use cases and customization.

Will the 2025 insights in these books remain relevant next year?

Yes, these books cover enduring Vim principles alongside recent updates, ensuring their techniques remain valuable as Vim evolves gradually.

How can I tailor Vim learning to my specific goals beyond these books?

Great question! While these books offer expert insights, you can create a personalized Vim book tailored to your skill level and interests, keeping your learning efficient and current.

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