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Comment by Repulsion9513 | Hacker News Reader

A lot of these are nice, but honestly, why not use the arrow keys? You can prefix them with a number just the same as `hjkl`, and jump around by words with Ctrl, just like you're already used to.

Taking the first example I would instead do: `<UP>f.i<Ctrl+W>this<ESC><End>i;<ESC>`, which is probably a couple more keystrokes but also much less foreign to people today...

Edit: `<UP>f.i<Ctrl+W>this<End>;<ESC>` - no need to end and restart insert mode

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The benefit of hjkl is that it keeps your fingers on home row. I see your point that it could be considered dogmatic, though. Personally, I'm a fan of hjkl.

I believe it's just ergonomics. There's no reason to use the arrow keys if your fingers are already on hjkl. The pinky motion is highly impractical, and moving your whole hand is also. Therefore the only reason to use them is because you have the habit, and the idea is to replace that habit while editing with the hjkl keys.

You know, that's fair. I touch type but I also peck, so I don't really notice it. So long as I don't have to go to the number pad or, god forbid, the mouse - it's no difference to me.

No reason but personal preference; here is me using the arrow keys:

https://www.reddit.com/r/unixporn/comments/jtjol5/cinnamon_l...

Of all things people get stubborn about regarding Vim, "use hjkl!" is probably the silliest. The whole notion of text object is meant to make character-wise navigation irrelevant.

Arrow keys suck on most laptop keyboards.

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