GoKawiilPublished 2026-07-12
Last edited 2026-07-21
I like using Vim to make ASCII art. I don't use any plugins; Vim already has a bunch of built-in features that are super useful for making ASCII art!
_ _/_Z _ / |// / |/ \ \__/_/_/_/_/
This article is for people who have made ASCII art before and want to see what other tools are out there. If you've never tried making ASCII art before, I recommend you don't read this article! You don't need any of this information to make great ASCII art. Instead, just open up your favorite text editor and start typing. If you're not sure what to make, study the masters and study from life. After that, if you're still curious, then come back and read this.
Vim is not for everyone. I just use it because it's what I know. If you suffer from the same curse, or wish to, then read on!
I recommend having the basics down first (e.g. opening a file, switching between modes, saving and exiting). If you're new to Vim, you can teach yourself the basics with vimtutor !
With all those disclaimers out of the way, let's get into it.
Move your cursor past the end of the line
.--. .--. .--. .--. |@ @ | |@ @ | |@ @ | |o o | | | | | | | |~~~ | '^^^^' '^^^^' '^^^^' '^^^^'
... continue reading