VimBell

With the increase in processing power of computers’ hardware components, developers were compelled to enhance the synergy between users and devices by moving beyond the confinements of DOS-based operating systems, thus culminating with the graphical interfaces employed by most PC users nowadays.

Given how the focus shifted from the keyboard-driven operation method to prioritizing the cursor in many versions of modern programs, those who prefer the instant response time of their hotkey combinations compared to dragging their mouse towards the desired function’s button may feel left out in the current app landscape, which is where programs such as VimBell come into play.

Initially designed for early iterations of computer terminals lacking certain buttons that are now quintessential for most modern keyboards, the Unix-based text editor known as Vi, later superseded by Vim, adopted an intuitive and highly influential series of shortcuts. One of the most notable examples was represented by the usage of the H, J, K and L keys in lieu of the arrows, which essentially let users keep their digits closer to the QWERTY area of their keyboard instead of shifting their right hand to the rightmost area.

The program at hand attempts to implement the same approach by focusing exclusively on the keyboard as the primary input device, making for a successful combination between an elegant, yet straightforward layout featuring a rotating analog clock’s background and a terminal-based interaction. Once the app is summoned, users can hit the Enter key to begin typing the title and context of their first alarm, before picking the appropriate time for its activation.

Where the app differs from other alarm programs is in the way in which one can create custom schedules in the form of “racks” for separate days of the week, different times of the day or other types of situations and contexts.

Whether Windows’ built-in alarm clock program feels inefficient, or your terminal-focused workflows leave you eager to rely exclusively on the keyboard, VimBell may be a solid alternative for longtime users of the popular Vim text editor.