PEP 762 – REPL-acing the default REPL

> The new REPL released in Python 3.13 aims to provide modern features

No `vi` mode and not planned. Very modern.

https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/118840

Honestly, even as a neovim user, I don’t find vi mode to be very ergonomic for interactive prompts, and I prefer emacs-style keybindings in these cases. The only time I feel the need for vi mode is when I want to copy something, but in that case I already have that capability through tmux copy-mode. I would prefer if the team prioritizes python-specific functionality first and foremost.

I will be staying on ptpython then.

Yeah it is. Vi is ancient and not at all modern or use friendly. Look at that bug report! They're complaining they can't go up to the previous command by pressing ESC k. Instead they have to press.... up. Ye gads.

vi fanatics are a weird bunch.

Knowing how to use vi can be useful, but I absolutely cannot fathom how someone can prefer it over an actual IDE as their daily driver for writing code. What's especially disappointing is how often they say things like "I like vi because I can do X" and every time, without fail, X is something any reasonable IDE has been able to do for 10+ years.

No idea why they're so fascinated by using letter keys to move around rather than arrows, as if it takes significant effort to slide you hand 6 inches. You do it often enough and you can go back and forth without even looking.

Me too, but I actually think the complaint is totally valid. I mean, somebody does use it, and it isn't some horribly obscure feature, it's built into most terminals, it's pretty much standard Linux functionality at this point, and old REPL does support it, so when you introduce new default REPL, but then say "uh, no, we don't use that shit you use, so fuck off and use the old REPL, loser" it's not very nice. (And even if they didn't outright call him a loser in that thread, it's still not very nice.)

In short, the fact you, me and these guys don't understand why anybody used vi-mode doesn't mean shit. It came before us, apparently still exists, and well may outlive your neovim and PyREPL. Prioritizing other stuff is one thing, dismissing and closing the issue because "nobody (i.e., me) needs that shit" is another.

>>Knowing how to use vi can be useful, but I absolutely cannot fathom how someone can prefer it over an actual IDE as their daily driver for writing code.

Given Python has to be installed every where. A light weight editor like vi is the best choice for editing on servers.

To that extent it might not be a full fledged IDE but is perfect for what it is designed to do.

> What's especially disappointing is how often they say things like "I like vi because I can do X" and every time, without fail, X is something any reasonable IDE has been able to do for 10+ years.

I’ve been switching between 10 to 20 editors over span of my career. You seriously think I’m going to learn how to do basic things in every special snowflake software because editor X thought it is more ergonomic?

And I’m not even going into limitless possibilities of Vi, those are widely available online.

VSCodeVim has 7 millions installs. VSCodeNeoVim has half a million installs.

IdeaVim has 16 mil installs.

Hate it or like it - Vi is here to stay.