{
  "id": 10263204,
  "title": "Installing NeoVim caused original Vim undo files to be deleted",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/installing-neovim-caused-original-vim-undo-files-to-be-deleted",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-27T14:45:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hacker News Best",
    "slug": "hacker-news-best",
    "url": "https://unsung.aresluna.org/they-had-no-concept-of-a-duty-of-care-to-their-users/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marcin Wichary, a UX designer, typographer, and front-end engineer, recounts an incident where installing NeoVim caused the original Vim undo files to be deleted. Chisnall, a computer scientist, has used Vim since 2000 and has written multiple books and articles with the software. One of his favorite features of Vim is the persistent undo, which allows users to revert changes made to a file even after a reboot or major version upgrade.\n\nWhen Marcin tried NeoVim, he found that undo didn't work. He then tried using Vim and noticed the same issue. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that Neovim had changed the format of the undo files, deleting the old ones and creating new ones that Vim couldn't read. He raised an issue about this, but was informed that the persistent undo format was unstable and data preservation was not guaranteed.\n\nMarcin expresses his disappointment with NeoVim's handling of undo files, stating that the developers showed a lack of responsibility towards user data. He highlights Jef Raskin's First Law, which emphasizes that a program should not harm or allow the harm of a user's data. Marcin finds it unacceptable that NeoVim would delete undo files, even if they were in a persistent format, as it demonstrates a lack of care for user data.",
  "summary": "Article URL: https://unsung.aresluna.org/they-had-no-concept-of-a-duty-of-care-to-their-users/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49867067 Points: 277 # Comments: 236",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}