alt Hacker News> The things about multiple cursors is that you think about the processing while doing it
That visual feedback is EXTREMELY useful because I learn of the edge cases to what I am editing in bulk (usually formatting code or tables or whatever) as I am editing it. When you do a macro, you have to try and get it right, and then try again from the start each time to get it right. `dot` et al are not enough in that regard. So the multiple cursors approach is better not because it's a different mindset, but it produces a different feedback loop to correct mistakes.
If you still prefer the macro approach over the multiple cursors approach, then you do you. But as an example in the article, I have seen people think they are being productive by their own standards, and they really aren't.
> That visual feedback is EXTREMELY useful because I learn of the edge cases to what I am editing in bulk (usually formatting code or tables or whatever) as I am editing it
I do not disagree with that
> When you do a macro, you have to try and get it right, and then try again from the start each time to get it right.
But you are wrong in that, because you assume that visual feedbacks are necessary. They are useful. Using vim and the likes is very much like playing the piano or driving a car. You’re always one step ahead of your actions because translating intent into operations is effortless as they are ingrained in muscle memories. I don’t even look at the cursor much of the time because it will be where I need it. I don’t care for mistakes because they are easily corrected.
Even then, I rarely use macros because they are at the high end of the power spectrum. Only writing your own commands is higher on the list. Easy macros are easy to create, powerful macros are created only when necessary and are worth the carefulness. I don’t think there’s something similar to named registers and emacs counters with multiple cursors solutions. Or the ability to have multiple macros ready to go at anytime (very useful for data cleanup).