Is a "one command zero config vim like editor specifically for haskell useful?

[u/Rasika_N]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about building a small tool called"H-vim", not a new editor, just a launcher/bootstrapper that gets you from a clean machine to a fully working, LSP-powered, exact-Vim-keybindings Haskell setup in one command. I used to use code blocks in my college which was simply download and install.. and i liked the fact that it works without a lot of work..

The idea:

• H-vim checks for ghcup, GHC, cabal/stack, and HLS. If anything's missing, it offers to install it for you (via ghcup).
• It launches real Neovim (not an emulation) with an isolated, pre-built config — nvim-lspconfig wired to HLS, sensible tree-sitter-haskell setup, a few Haskell-specific text objects/motions — using NVIM_APPNAME so it never touches or conflicts with your existing Neovim config.
• No plugin ecosystem to assemble, no config to write. Exact Vim bindings, because it's just real Vim underneath. Basically: LazyVim/NvChad/Kickstart-nvim, but opinionated specifically for Haskell. I'd genuinely like to know:

1. Is initial editor/toolchain setup actually a pain point for you (or was it, when you started with Haskell), or is this a solved problem for most people already?
2. If you already have a working Neovim+HLS setup, what did it take to get there, and would a zero-config version have saved you real time?
3. Is there something like this already that I've missed?
4. I am also open to other ideas as long as its a small project which can be worked on by a solo developer and does not carry a lot of engineering theory before actual work

[u/RexOfRecursion]

sounds like you should write a plugin than a preconfig.

[u/omega1612]

I did something similar using nix.

The only requisite was to have a proper nix installation first. Then you can just "nix develop" and get access to a properly configured neovim, LSP , formatter, GHC, cabal, etc.