Tips for using Cream to make Vim more user-friendly

The Cream add-on pack makes the Vim text editor easier to use by putting a more familiar "face" on top of it, while retaining Vim's functionality.

After I introduced Cream to them, their disappointment turned into satisfaction. Cream is an add-on package for Vim that makes Vim easier to use. Cream turns these Linux novices into strong advocates and loyal users of Vim.

Let’s take a look at what Cream is and how it makes Vim easier to use.

Cream installation

Before installing Cream, you need to install the GUI components of Vim and GVim on your computer. The easiest way I've found to accomplish this is to use the Linux version of the package manager.

After installing Vim, you can download the Cream installer, or you can use the Linux distribution's package manager again to install it.

After installing Cream, you can launch Cream by selecting it from the application menu (for example, Applications->Cream) or typing Cream in the program launcher.

Usage of Cream

If you’ve used Gvim before, you’ll notice that Cream barely changes the look and feel of the editor. The biggest difference is Cream's menu bar and toolbar, which replace Gvim's outdated menu bar and toolbar. The appearance and functional grouping of the new menu bar and toolbar look the same as those of other editors.

Cream's menu bar hides more technical options from the user, such as the ability to specify a compiler and the ability to run the make command. As you become more familiar with Vim through using Cream, you can more easily access these features by simply selecting options from Settings->Preferences->Behavior. With these options, you can (if you want) experience a powerful editor that combines the best of both Cream and traditional Vim.

Cream isn’t just menu driven. Although the editor only has two clicks or double-clicks, you can also use common keyboard shortcuts to perform operations, such as CTRL-O (open a file), CTRL-C (copy text). You don't need to switch between several modes or remember some difficult to remember commands.

After Cream starts running, open a file or create a new file, and then you can start typing. Several people I've introduced Cream to said that while Cream retains many of Vim's typical touches, Cream is more comfortable to use.

It’s not that Cream is a simplified version of Vim, far from it. In fact, Cream retains all the features of Vim, and at the same time, it has a series of other useful features. Some of the features of Cream that I have found useful include:

• A tabbed interface
• Syntax highlighting (especially for Markdown, LaTeX and HTML)
• Automatically correct spelling errors
• Word Count
• Built-in file browser

Cream itself also has many add-on packages that can add some new features to the editor. Features include text encryption, cleaning email content, and even a tutorial on how to use it. To be honest, I haven't found any of the add-on packs to be truly useful, but your feelings may vary.

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