Why does the choice of programming language matter to the end user?
Because every single JavaScript UI I use is a bloated, slow mess - even “optimized” apps like vscode feel like sludge to me compared to Sublime Text or Nova.
Last thing I want is a sluggish file manager that uses a crap tone of memory with a bunch of “ui renderer processes”.
Check out Pathfinder for a power user file manager done right.
Interface responsiveness matters
The native Mac Finder app is very unresponsive and clunky and I don't think there's any JS involved.
Well, it may scan the file system, which takes a heck of a long time, even on an NVMe drive. Or they broke the fuzzy finder/caching mechanism
Try Pathfinder, worth every penny in my opinion.
Programming in languages other than assembly or C doesn't preclude you from implementing a responsive GUI
Sure, yet apps like Spacedrive use sluggish React with shadow DOM
VSCode (an electron app) is pretty responsive in my experience
VSCode devs do some magic trickery to improve Electron's performance, but it is by design not in the league of Neovim or even fully fledged Qt Creator in terms of responsiveness.
Considering the popularity of VS Code over NeoVim and Qt Creator, I guess it's responsiveness is good enough for the vast majority
Whatsapp is good enough for the vast majority too. Doesn't mean that I'll subject myself to it.
I use all these editors, and I'd say that for purely editining purposes Neovim feels incredibly responsive, it's something that requires the whole UI framework to be fast. What keeps me from switching from VSCode are its great plugins
It is popular yes. But with NeoVim I feel so damn productive. VS Code feels sluggish compared to NeoVim. At least for me.