edit:
I've updated & expanded the list (finished for today)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
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Well after doing some research and trying VIM and EMACS for a bit. I already know that I don't want to use VIM over nano because the features I want neither of them has so it's pointless to even start learning using VIM and nano is sufficient for the basic stuff but EMACS does have the features. However EMACS is just too much... It's like I want to crop an image so I download Blender. The thing is too scary to even start with and needs so much customization just to get me started that I just don't have the energy to attempt it at once with NixOS.
So I've decided to pick up Helix again after all because it also has the features I'm after and needs very little setup to start learning to use it.
Helix is a solid choice tbh. I'm not sure if it works on NixOS, but you could always try something like Doom Emacs that comes preconfigured, similar to things like Lazyvim on the Neovim side. But yeah Emacs is a lot to take in and can be a pain sometimes. I actually just got done troubleshooting and making some changes to my config to solve an issue i had where simple things like scrolling up and down in a file was causing very high cpu usage. I ended up figuring out the issue with the help from a kind redditor, but i was kinda on the verge of considering a different editor if i hadn't manage to solve it lol.