I used to use bvi.
I am developing hexvi to overcome :%!xxd and bvi's limitations.
hexvi
Features
- vim-like keybindings and commands
- going to specific offsets
- inserting, replacing, deleting
- searching for stuff (PCRE regexes)
- everything is a command, and can be mapped in
hexvirc
- color schemes
- support for large files
- support for multiple files (via tabs)
- Python so the entry level to hack around should be lower than C's
- CLI through and through
Cons
- as of March 2016, it's alpha so features are missing, but I'm working on those:
- file saving
- undo/redo
- command history
- visual selection
- man page
- no autocomplete
bvi
Features
- vim-like keybindings and commands
- going to specific offsets
- inserting, deleting, replacing
- searching for stuff (text and hex)
- undo/redo
- CLI through and through
Cons
- regarding its vim capabilities - unfortunately, it understands only the most
basic things and definitely needs more love in this regard (example: doesn't
understand
:wq, but understands :w and :q)
- no visual selection support whatsoever
- no tab/split screen support
- crashes often
- no support for large files
- no command history
- no autocomplete
