# Helix — A Post-Modern Modal Text Editor

> Helix is a post-modern modal text editor inspired by Kakoune. Written in Rust with batteries-included defaults: Tree-sitter, LSP, multi-cursor, selection-first editing, and beautiful themes. Zero-config replacement for Vim for most users.

## Install

Save the content below to `.claude/skills/` or append to your `CLAUDE.md`:

## Quick Use

```bash
# Install
brew install helix                       # macOS
sudo apt install helix                   # Debian/Ubuntu
cargo install --locked helix-term        # From source

# Launch
hx file.rs
```

Config `~/.config/helix/config.toml`:
```toml
theme = "onedark"

[editor]
line-number = "relative"
mouse = true
bufferline = "multiple"
cursorline = true

[editor.cursor-shape]
insert = "bar"
normal = "block"
select = "underline"

[editor.indent-guides]
render = true

[editor.lsp]
display-messages = true
```

Key idea: **selection first, then action** (opposite of Vim).
- `w` — select word
- `x` — select line
- `s` — select matching pattern
- `d` — delete selection
- `c` — change selection
- `%` — select whole file

## Intro

Helix is a post-modern modal text editor inspired by Kakoune and Neovim. Written in Rust with a batteries-included philosophy: Tree-sitter, LSP, multi-cursor, fuzzy file picker, and themes are all built in — no plugin manager needed for most workflows. Selection-first editing model where you pick targets before applying commands.

- **Repo**: https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- **Stars**: 43K+
- **Language**: Rust
- **License**: MPL 2.0

## What Helix Does

- **Multi-cursor native** — selection + cursors as first-class primitives
- **Tree-sitter** — semantic selection via `Alt+o/i` (expand/shrink)
- **LSP** — built-in client for any LSP server
- **Fuzzy picker** — `space+f` file picker with preview
- **Pickers** — buffers, symbols, workspace symbols, diagnostics
- **Themes** — 100+ built in
- **Tutor** — `hx --tutor` for interactive tutorial
- **No plugins yet** — scheme-based plugin system WIP

## Architecture

Rust terminal editor. Uses Ratatui for rendering, crossterm for events, Tree-sitter for parsing, tower-lsp for LSP. Selection-first model: every action operates on the current selection.

## Self-Hosting

CLI editor, single Rust binary.

## Key Features

- Batteries-included (no plugin hunt)
- Multi-cursor first-class
- Tree-sitter semantic selections
- Built-in LSP client
- 100+ themes
- Fuzzy file picker
- Visual tutor
- Fast startup
- Crash-safe autosave

## Comparison

| Editor | Model | Config | Plugins | Batteries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helix | Kakoune-like | TOML | WIP | Yes |
| Neovim | Vim | Lua | Huge | No (DIY) |
| Vim | Vim | Vimscript | Large | No |
| Kakoune | Own | kakrc | Scripts | Partial |
| VS Code | Mouse + shortcuts | JSON | Huge | Yes |

## FAQ

**Q: Is it usable without plugins?**
A: Built-in features already cover 80% of the Vim plugin ecosystem (LSP, tree-sitter, pickers, git). A plugin system is in development.

**Q: Can Vim users adapt?**
A: Expect to spend an hour or two switching from Vim's verb-noun to Helix's noun-verb order. E.g., Vim `dw` → Helix `wd`. Run `hx --tutor` for a structured walkthrough.

**Q: What's the performance like?**
A: Written in Rust. Startup is <50ms and large files stay smooth. An order of magnitude faster than VS Code.

## Sources & Credits

- Docs: https://docs.helix-editor.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/helix-editor/helix
- License: MPL 2.0

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/helix-post-modern-modal-text-editor-6ed079cf
Author: Script Depot