Bash Editor Comparison: Vim vs VS Code for DevOps

The vim vs VS Code debate runs deep in DevOps teams. Both are excellent bash editors, but they excel in different scenarios.

This comparison helps you choose the right bash editor for your workflow. For a broader overview of options, see our bash editor guide.

Quick Comparison

Aspect	Vim	VS Code
Startup time	Instant	1-3 seconds
Memory usage	~10MB	~300MB+
Learning curve	Steep	Gentle
Remote editing	Native	Via extension
GUI	Optional (gvim)	Required
Customization	Vimscript/Lua	JSON + Extensions

Vim as a Bash Editor

Vim is the default choice for server-side editing.

Strengths

Ubiquity: Vim (or vi) is installed on virtually every Unix system.

# Almost always available
vi /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
vim ~/.bashrc

Speed: Opens instantly, even for large files.

vim huge-log-file.log  # No delay

Remote native: Works perfectly over SSH with no additional setup.

ssh server "vim /etc/config"

Efficiency: Once mastered, text manipulation is incredibly fast.

" Delete all commented lines
:g/^#/d

" Replace in all .sh files
:args *.sh | argdo %s/old/new/g | update

Weaknesses

Learning curve: Productive vim usage takes weeks to months.

Plugin management: Requires manual setup (vim-plug, Vundle, etc.).

Modern features: LSP, debugging, and Git integration require plugins.

Vim Setup for Bash

Minimal .vimrc for bash editing:

" Basic settings
set number
set expandtab
set tabstop=2
set shiftwidth=2
syntax on

" Bash-specific
autocmd FileType sh setlocal makeprg=shellcheck\ %
autocmd FileType sh nnoremap <buffer> <F5> :!bash %<CR>

" File type detection
autocmd BufNewFile,BufRead *.sh set filetype=sh

VS Code as a Bash Editor

VS Code dominates local development.

Strengths

Intuitive: Standard keyboard shortcuts, familiar interface.

Extensions: Rich ecosystem for every use case.

# Essential extensions for bash
code --install-extension timonwong.shellcheck
code --install-extension rogalmic.bash-debug
code --install-extension ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh

Integrated terminal: Run commands without leaving the editor.

Remote Development: Edit files on remote servers with full IDE features.

Debugging: Step through bash scripts with breakpoints.

Weaknesses

Resource usage: Electron-based, consumes significant memory.

Startup time: Noticeable delay, especially with extensions.

Server dependency: Remote extension requires server-side agent.

VS Code Setup for Bash

settings.json for bash development:

{
  "[shellscript]": {
    "editor.tabSize": 2,
    "editor.insertSpaces": true,
    "editor.formatOnSave": true
  },
  "shellcheck.enable": true,
  "shellcheck.executablePath": "/usr/local/bin/shellcheck",
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "bash"
}

Scenario Comparisons

Writing a New Bash Script

Vim approach:

vim deploy.sh
# Write script with syntax highlighting
# :w to save, :!bash % to test

VS Code approach:

code deploy.sh
# Write with IntelliSense hints
# ShellCheck shows errors inline
# F5 to debug, Ctrl+` for terminal

Winner: VS Code for new scripts (better error catching), Vim for quick scripts.

Editing Files on Remote Server

Vim approach:

ssh production
vim /etc/nginx/sites-available/app.conf

VS Code approach:

# Requires Remote SSH extension setup
code --remote ssh-remote+production /etc/nginx/sites-available/app.conf

Winner: Vim for quick edits, VS Code for extended remote sessions.

Debugging a Failing Script

Vim approach:

bash -x script.sh 2>&1 | less
# Or add: set -x at script start

VS Code approach:

# Set breakpoints in UI
# Step through with F10/F11
# Inspect variables in sidebar

Winner: VS Code (visual debugging is significantly faster).

Emergency Production Fix

Vim approach:

ssh prod-server
vim /app/config.yaml
# Make change, :wq

VS Code approach:

# Open VS Code
# Connect via Remote SSH
# Wait for extension to start
# Make change, save

Winner: Vim (faster for urgent situations).

The Hybrid Approach

Many DevOps engineers use both:

• VS Code for local development, complex scripts, runbooks
• Vim for quick remote edits, emergency fixes

Vim Keybindings in VS Code

Get the best of both:

{
  "vim.enable": true,
  "vim.useSystemClipboard": true,
  "vim.hlsearch": true
}

Neither Editor Runs Your Runbooks

Both Vim and VS Code are excellent bash editors. But editing is only half the story.

When you have a runbook with bash commands, both editors require you to:

1. Copy the command
2. Paste into terminal
3. Run and observe
4. Document the result

The edit-copy-paste loop breaks flow and discourages runbook use.

Stew: Beyond Bash Editing

Stew works with any bash editor. Write your runbooks in Vim or VS Code—they’re just markdown files.

But when you open them in Stew, the bash blocks become executable:

# Server Health Check

## Check load
​```bash
uptime
​```

## Check disk
​```bash
df -h
​```

Click to run. See output inline. No copy-paste required.

Join the waitlist and see your bash runbooks come alive.