GNOME Desktop and Developer platform 2.8.2

It lacks in areas like autotools and UI design, etc etc. But for straight-up sitting down and getting some work done, it can't be beat.

Open up eclipse and with a single command, comment every third line...now uncomment every line that's preceeded by three carriage returns. For that matter, global replace all instances of "int n" with "Integer n = new Integer", unless the string "primitive" appears anywhere in the next 5 lines following the substitution. On every 27th line only, substitute the first 5 instances of "get" with "set" unless "get" is followed by a non-whitespace character, or unless it's followed by a whitespace character and a sequence that contains a set of ( brackets ) between which no more than 2 commas are present. Be sure to ignore all remaining instances of "get" on the line.

Done yet? Good. Now close the Java code and do exactly the same thing with a VHDL file. Then repeat with some Perl code. Or Python. Or any one of dozens of languages for which syntax highlighting is supported and these types of operations are valid. My point is that while Vim doesn't always have complete integration with other tools, it can dance circles around other editors when it comes to actually editing (ie, getting some work done and coding the thing in the first place). If you need something autotooled, import your code into eclipse/anjuta/ide du jour and autotool it there. A few button clicks and you're on your way. However if you're serious about development there's no substitute for a good editor.

Personally, I *don't want* to "learn an editor". The devs didn't bother to make that program usable without a manual and I refuse to adapt(!) to every little ("great") unix program I might encounter.

Personally, I *don't want* to "learn to drive". The designers didn't bother to make that car usable without a license to use it, and I refuse to adapt(!) to every little ("great") revolution in mobility I might encounter.

Looks like I'm walking...hope I don't get left behind :)