Dutch Free Software Developer Bram Moolenaar Passes Away at 62

 Deborah Taylor  8 August 2023

Bram Moolenaar, a well-known Dutch free software developer, has passed away at the age of 62. Moolenaar is best known for his creation of the Vim text editor, which has become one of the most widely used Linux programs of all time.

Vim, being the default text editor included in most Linux distributions, has had a significant impact on the Linux community. Moolenaar’s code has likely touched more people than any other Linux tool, except for the kernel itself.

In addition to his contributions to the world of software development, Moolenaar was also known for his charity work. Since 1995, Vim has been “charityware,” with any income Moolenaar received from sponsorships going to the International Child Care Fund Holland (ICCF). The ICCF supports a school for AIDS orphans in Uganda, and Moolenaar served as the organization’s treasurer for the rest of his life.

Moolenaar’s dedication to Vim extended beyond just his coding work. He traveled to Uganda for a year to work on the school’s water supply system, all the while continuing to develop Vim on a specially-bought laptop powered by a car battery.

In the summer of 2021, Vim reached version 9, and Moolenaar’s co-contributor, Christian Brabandt, plans to continue the project in his absence.

Bram Moolenaar’s legacy goes beyond his contributions to the world of software. He was a talented photographer and a private man who let his work speak for itself. His passing is mourned by the techie community, and his charitable efforts will continue to make a difference in the lives of many.